Easy Hair Removal…

…and so much more, all just an inbox away. It's enough to make Nick Gillespie learn to love spam.

Comments

[Prof. Moneybags]

That's a question I'd love to know the answer to aswell. Every so often, I get a "Someone at your email address recently signed up to...blah blah.." and I'm there thinking. "Erm...no I didn't."

[Warren]

I favor a free market solution (as opposed to a legislative one) but it's getting to be rather silly to suggest that one isn't needed. The cost of SPAM is rapidly becoming THE primary problem associated with all internet activity.

[Hank]

As a former spammer I assure the way they get your address is just as underhanded (if not more so) than how the way they sneak around your filters. There are many easily acquired software programs whose sole purpose is to "mine" email addresses off the web.

From these programs (and others that actually hack your ISP's email [SMTP] server for address lists) one can quickly compile lists of millions of addresses to hit. Now, a great many of these will be bad addresses, but at virtually zero cost to the spammer, who cares?

However, here's a tip for those who do not already know. Unless the email is from company that is reputable, or you know you subscribed to their mailing list, never, I mean NEVER click the Unsubscribe link! Those who click this link then go into another "gold" list of VERIFIED live email addresses. Addresses which are immediately sold to other spammers for buckoo bucks because they know there is a real live person on other end.

Please don't hate me because I was once a spammer, I've since reformed. Now if I could just quit smoking...

[Jim]

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of people's right to advertise their products via email, but when they start using deliberate methods of getting around my spam filters (you know, by spelling certain sex-related words "differently"). Then I consider it the equivalent of a salesman forcing his way in my home and trying to sell me his goods. The spam filter is my way of answering the door and saying "no thanks", which it would seem is not proving effective, as the spammers are then doing the equivalent of breaking in through the window because someone will not let them come through the door.

Sorry, reason magazine, I'm not with you on this one. My inbox is my private property, like my house and I will not have salesmen breaking in when they know full well that "no" will be the only answer they will get.

[Plutarck]

Your inbox automatically accepts all communication, no matter what, and there is no form of "authorization required for entry" either expressed or implied - anyone can send anything to anyone, and anyone can accept anything from anyone.

You are, naturally, free to switch to a by-approval-only system of communication.

[Russ]

Before people start going haywire about how their inbox is their private property (I think their inbox is gone once they stop paying their ISP), the question that needs to be answered is "How did these people get my email address?"

[Mailman]

Your mailbox on the street accepts all forms of communication, no matter what. There is no form of authorization occasion or necessitation requirement for penetration -- either expressed or implied. Anyone can send anything to anyone, and anyone can accept anything from anyone else.

You are, naturally, free to switch your USPO box to a by-approval-only system of mail.

(I think.)