Date:         Wed, 18 Apr 2001 22:51:53 -0230
Reply-To:     Karl Dawe <kdawe@MUN.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Dawe <kdawe@MUN.CA>
Subject:      LONG - The SPAM War (No Vanagon Content, just some "Common" Sense)
In-Reply-To:  <3ADE311D.93590DFA@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I have TRIED my best to stay out of this, but I just can't anymore.

The amount of SPAM on this list is amazing.  It doesn't matter if they are
trying to sell Viagra or pics of hot pussy (of course, I mean steaming
cats....).  SPAM is SPAM.

It also doesn't matter that we could delete it and forget about it, because
obviously most of us don't.  And that is generating a HUGE amount of mail.

It also doesn't matter if any of the content offends your employer.  In all
likelihood, if they're offended by that message they're probably upset that
you are receiving (though maybe not reading) anywhere from 50-150 personal
emails a day.  You're screwed anyway.  :)

If you so much as OPEN some of this SPAM, even in a "preview pane" using
Netscape Mail, or any of the myriad Microsoft products that allow you to
read mail, your computer can be made to send a copy of your personal email
address to a CGI collector script for the SPAMer to use next time and sell
to his buddies, all without notifying you.  And Netscape/Microsoft consider
this a "feature", not a bug, so don't bother complaining.  (I won't go into
the details here, if you want more information on this, pmail me and I'll
send it out to you, if I can still find the article.)

If the list gets moved to <insert generic web company (i.e. Yahoo! Groups)>
group forum, most of these have little clauses in their licence agreements
that allow them to use ANY of the posted material/content in their
marketing.  That means your posted pictures of your
Vanagon/Double-Cab/Single-Cab that you send out could be used to help them
generate revenue, for which you will receive nothing.  That doesn't sit well
with me personally.  Maybe you'll have no problem with it.

I could also spout here on the strange double standard that we have here in
North America where it's ok for your kids to see someone's brain's
splattered all over the wall behind them in gory detail, assuming that it
does them no harm, yet we seem to believe that if they see a person (or
persons) engaged any type of sexual activity it will harm them beyond
repair.  But that's another story.  And of course I didn't mean YOUR kids.
;)  I'm talking about North American society in general.  (I'd of said MY
kids, but I haven't got any. Yet. Maybe after I do I'll think differently,
though I doubt it.)

Anyway, there are more ways to effectively get around the closed list then
there are to effectively stop the spammers from using it.  It matters not if
the list email address was passed to the spammers by someone dropping it in
a porn box, or any other type of form.  The fact of the matter is that the
address is out there now, and if the list is not closed then there is no
"real" way to stop it all from reaching us, and then getting blown out of
proportion.

This might have been the first porn SPAM for the list, but I can almost
guarantee that it won't be the last.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks for taking the time to read it. It
wasn't meant to inflame anyone, so please, if you're pissed, pmail me only.
The group is getting tired of it.  I know I am.

I'd also like to note that I've owned my '84 Vanagon for about 6 weeks, and
I love it.  I subscribed to the list on the 22nd of March, and I've received
over 2500 messages.  The things that I have I have learned are amazing.
Thanks to everyone who is willing to share their knowledge.

It's been a long day.  :)

Karl.