Great book - Spam Kings - GoFuckYourself.com

grannytgp · 01-14-2005, 11:32 PM

Hello all,

Maybe this book has been mentioned on GFY before, but I just got finished reading "Spam Kings" from Brian McWilliams.... and I must say that it was one interesting read!

I know spammers are a hated group around here, but this book was a pretty in-depth look at the lives of many big spammers dating back to around 1998 to late 2004, and the grass roots movement primarily organized through newsgroups to try to stop them. I couldn't help but see some of the parallels to these guys business practices and many of the practices you see in adult. I then got thinking that a book similar to this one dealing with the rise and fall of some online adult empires would be a great read as well.

Here's the amazon link if anybody's interested:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

Joe Citizen · 01-14-2005, 11:33 PM

creative spam

grannytgp · 01-14-2005, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Citizen

creative spam

it's hardly creative spam... not using an amazon affiliate link or any bullshit, just really got into the book.

Wolfy · 01-14-2005, 11:54 PM

don't worry granny, Joe Citizen never reads threads and always has something to say. ;) thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Joe Citizen · 01-15-2005, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannytgp

it's hardly creative spam... not using an amazon affiliate link or any bullshit, just really got into the book.

Sorry, I thought I saw an affiliate code in the link.

My apologies.

Adulter · 01-15-2005, 12:22 AM

hmm.... looks interesting.. thanks ;)

grannytgp · 01-15-2005, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Citizen

Sorry, I thought I saw an affiliate code in the link.

My apologies.

No problem man, those amazon links do have a shitload of queries in them even for a standard link.

One thing I was thinking as I finished reading this book was I wondered if any of these particular spammers frequent any of the adult boards. The book focused on maybe half a dozen big names in the spam game, although the only one I was familiar with was good old Spamford Wallace. But he wasn't even a big focus in the book since the book kind of starts right at his retirement from spamming.

The stories of these guys are pretty nuts, and what really struck me odd is that these guys actually stock and fulfill all the orders themselves. Like the guys pushing penis pills actually warehoused thousands upon thousands of bottles of pills and had packing and shipping operations going. I would have thought they were simply promoting for the manufacturers, rather than promoting AND fulfilling the orders. But I guess there was more profit for them in buying the product wholesale, and handling the physical product delivery to the customers.

I think you can grab the 1st chaper in PDF format from Amazon. I definitely suggest checking it out if you're even slightly curious. I gobbled up the 300 or so pages of the book in a few hours I found it so interesting.

GTS Mark · 01-15-2005, 12:42 AM

I just ordered it

DH

Wolfy · 01-15-2005, 12:58 AM

lol so did I :P

Joe Citizen · 01-15-2005, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannytgp

No problem man, those amazon links do have a shitload of queries in them even for a standard link.

One thing I was thinking as I finished reading this book was I wondered if any of these particular spammers frequent any of the adult boards. The book focused on maybe half a dozen big names in the spam game, although the only one I was familiar with was good old Spamford Wallace. But he wasn't even a big focus in the book since the book kind of starts right at his retirement from spamming.

The stories of these guys are pretty nuts, and what really struck me odd is that these guys actually stock and fulfill all the orders themselves. Like the guys pushing penis pills actually warehoused thousands upon thousands of bottles of pills and had packing and shipping operations going. I would have thought they were simply promoting for the manufacturers, rather than promoting AND fulfilling the orders. But I guess there was more profit for them in buying the product wholesale, and handling the physical product delivery to the customers.

I think you can grab the 1st chaper in PDF format from Amazon. I definitely suggest checking it out if you're even slightly curious. I gobbled up the 300 or so pages of the book in a few hours I found it so interesting.

I just ordered it.

In fact, I just ordered five books from Amazon.com.

austinth · 01-15-2005, 01:35 AM

i just ordered it too.

grannytgp · 01-15-2005, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinth

i just ordered it too.

Awesome! When you guys get to reading it, we should chat some about the book. Man... now I'm sounding like Oprah's book club here!

But seriously, it would be pretty cool to shoot the shit about it. I'm even thinking of picking up a copy of "Spam Cartel" which is on the same page as another suggested read. These guys stories kind of remind me of the wild west days back in '97 when I first got into adult.... maybe that's why I liked the book so much, because it brings back memories of the good old days!

xlogger · 01-15-2005, 02:02 AM

Just ordered!! Thanks mate.

austinth · 01-15-2005, 07:12 PM

ive got a new program thats still being developed that will be better than email! Can't wait for it

grannytgp · 01-16-2005, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinth

ive got a new program thats still being developed that will be better than email! Can't wait for it

huh??

ytcracker · 01-16-2005, 10:30 PM

LOOK WHO IS FEATURED ON THE OFFICIAL BLOG of the BOOK

http://spamkings.oreilly.com/archive...is_slam_1.html

Pornwolf · 01-16-2005, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ytcracker

LOOK WHO IS FEATURED ON THE OFFICIAL BLOG of the BOOK

http://spamkings.oreilly.com/archive...is_slam_1.html

Now that is some funny stuff!

crockett · 01-16-2005, 10:47 PM

lol damn you should have used an affiliate link you would have gotten rich off of GFY... btw who says spammers are hated here?

01-14-2005, 11:32 PM	#1
grannytgp Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 269	Great book - Spam Kings Hello all, Maybe this book has been mentioned on GFY before, but I just got finished reading "Spam Kings" from Brian McWilliams.... and I must say that it was one interesting read! I know spammers are a hated group around here, but this book was a pretty in-depth look at the lives of many big spammers dating back to around 1998 to late 2004, and the grass roots movement primarily organized through newsgroups to try to stop them. I couldn't help but see some of the parallels to these guys business practices and many of the practices you see in adult. I then got thinking that a book similar to this one dealing with the rise and fall of some online adult empires would be a great read as well. Here's the amazon link if anybody's interested: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846 __________________ No sig = good sig

01-15-2005, 12:22 AM	#6
Adulter Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: EU Posts: 1,252	hmm.... looks interesting.. thanks ;) __________________

01-15-2005, 01:35 AM	#11
austinth Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Fantasy Island Posts: 1,770	i just ordered it too. __________________ Get A $25 Circuit City GIFT Card - *FREE*!

01-15-2005, 02:02 AM	#13
xlogger Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NY Posts: 9,507	Just ordered!! Thanks mate. __________________ ---------- XLOGGER [REFLECTED] [OH]

01-15-2005, 07:12 PM	#14
austinth Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Fantasy Island Posts: 1,770	ive got a new program thats still being developed that will be better than email! Can't wait for it __________________ Get A $25 Circuit City GIFT Card - *FREE*!

01-14-2005, 11:33 PM	#2
Joe Citizen Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,552	creative spam

01-14-2005, 11:54 PM	#4
Wolfy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 3,574	don't worry granny, Joe Citizen never reads threads and always has something to say. ;) thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

01-15-2005, 12:42 AM	#8
GTS Mark Vrume Mark Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 20,912	I just ordered it DH

01-15-2005, 12:58 AM	#9
Wolfy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 3,574	lol so did I :P

01-16-2005, 10:30 PM	#16
ytcracker stc is the greatest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: rip sean murray Posts: 12,403	LOOK WHO IS FEATURED ON THE OFFICIAL BLOG of the BOOK http://spamkings.oreilly.com/archive...is_slam_1.html __________________ www.ytcracker.com \| www.digitalgangster.com i love you

01-16-2005, 10:47 PM	#18
crockett in a van by the river Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 76,806	lol damn you should have used an affiliate link you would have gotten rich off of GFY... btw who says spammers are hated here? __________________ In November, you can vote for America's next president or its first dictator.