Mr. Deltoid

Greetings, as you may have noticed, this is my first post. I felt I should introduce myself with a subject near and dear.

I firmly believe that the practice of Internet spamming should not be prohibited or regulated.

First of all, where does one draw the line in respect to classification? If, for example, I dispatched a cold cover letter via e-mail to a large number of potential employers, one could easily argue that I have "spammed" the employers in question.

Secondly, what's with the glaringly apparent double standard? Snail mail spam is legal, and highly prevalent. Credit agencies generate substantial profits by marketing mailing lists to 3rd parties. Those 3rd parties then proceed to mail unsolicited advertisements to consumers.

Thirdly, as a consequence of Internet spam, an entire industry has arisen. The anti-spam industry. Quite simply, spam is good for business, on both sides of the fence.

The anarchistic nature of the Internet must be preserved, that's what has made it so great to begin with. Central authorities should be prohibited from restricting harmless activities.

Spam should be fought via technical means, not legal means.

c0py-BANNED FOR LIFE

problem is some people are too fucking greedy

D

CAN-SPAM guidelines pretty much set the stage for what distinguishes "Spam" from legitimate solicitations.

__________________
-D.
ICQ: 202-96-31

After Shock Media

Junk mailers pay postage, spammers use up internet bandwidth for no extra cost. Perhaps you should make an arguement that spammers should be able to apply for a junk email license or per email fee.

I can easily enough press delete or set up filters to prevent your messages. Just like I can open up my junk mail, fill the prepaid response envelope with other received junk mail offers and mail it back to them on their dime. Which sure it is a time waster it provides me with a sense of satisfaction.

As for phones I can add myself to DNC lists, same with my cell. So again maybe a DNS list could be made, or well you could use licensed or purchased opt in mailing lists just like the junk mailers do.

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Mr. Deltoid

I'd consider that to be a minor externality, especially given the ever-decreasing price of bandwidth.

After Shock Media

Do you pay for that bandwidth?
You are aware with increasing user speeds, lack of updating the infastructure, and new services that are being offered that eat up even more of what bandwidth is available.

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psili

Here's how I see spam - Internet or in my mail box:

1. I should get paid to deal with it.
or:
2. Anyone sending me unsolicited mail / email should be hung, drawn, quartered, fed to a smelly fat chick and then dipped in slow dissolving acid.

My $0.02.

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Your post count means nothing.

Mr. Deltoid

Should those who dispatch electronic mail, escaping the legal definition of "spam", be accountable for the cost?

Should mail service providers institute a "postage" fee?

papill0n

Since when do you receive an offer to join double anal fisting in your mail box ?

Spammers are the scum of the earth. They don't care who they mail to. Too bad if my 10 year old daughter opens her email box and there is some bitch being fisted and covered in a load of cum. They are fucking assholes.

If you are a spammer

Kelli58

Speaking as someone who gets more than 10,000 "junk" emails per day for years now, I say that all spammers should die.

Actually that's to easy. I think they should be round up, stripped naked publically, have a pellet gun shoot at their nuts at least 4 times, hung upside down by their balls and then left to die slowly in that position.

Mr. Deltoid

Unsolicited only in contexts you see fit, right?

papill0n

Now we're talking!!!

After Shock Media

Nah but why can you not use opt in lists?
Many of them same offline junk mail companies are also collecting valid categorized email addresses too and thier job is to sell such information.

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Juicy D. Links

Quack Quackkkkk

BlackCrayon

Like others have said, spamming isn't illegal but some of the methods ie botnets,proxies are for good reason.

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you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

BlackCrayon

Mailing uses bandwidth.

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you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

psili

"Unsolicited" in that I made a personal effort to request it.

__________________
Your post count means nothing.

Mr. Deltoid

One could extend your criticism of the indiscriminate nature of "spam" to pop-ups, web sites in general, and even television broadcasts.

The market offers filtering tools.

After Shock Media

With your logic burglars also help the economy and have spawned another industry which would be the alarm and house security industry.

They do make locks, alarms, and all sorts of stuff to prevent an unsolicted guest from entering my house.

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Mr. Deltoid

Indeed. Unfortunate, but true.

Mr. Deltoid

Just as household fires once provided a viable market for private firefighting companies.

papill0n

Sorry but that is a pathetic response. The internet is used by kids just like it used by adults. To compare spam to 'websites in general' is absurd. People visit a website if they choose to. By clicking on a link or an image. That is fundamentally different to having the websites thrust down your throat when you open your email client. As for television I can safely sit my kid in front of nickelodeon and know they aren't going to see hardcore porn. Another absurd comparison.

You are obviously a spammer and you couldn't give two shits who you mail too.

Mr. Deltoid

To view one's inbox it is necessary to launch an application, and if web-based, visit a specific address. It is your responsibility as a parent to be pro-active.