Comments on: SPAM: Can It Be Stopped? http://blog.homesfornh.com/2005/08/spam-can-it-be-stopped/ Unvarnished Real Estate Truth And Consumer Rants Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:54:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Administrator http://blog.homesfornh.com/2005/08/spam-can-it-be-stopped/#comment-6 Administrator Fri, 26 Aug 2005 16:39:01 +0000 http://blog.homesfornh.com/archives/8#comment-6 I must disagree with Dave here, because I believe many of the messages I leave *are* being read, although perhaps only partially. And that's good enough for me. Here's why: I am presuming that many, or perhaps most of these "contact us" pages you see on spammer's web sites (and probably most web sites in general) result in the web site operator receiving any comments left there via e-mail. I know that is how it works with my sites. When I leave these, ahem, "choice" comments on the spammer's "contact us" page, I am always careful to leave a legitimate-looking, but bogus e-mail addresses, and I also use a legitimate- looking subject. For example, on one of those all-too-common pharmacy sites, I might use "Can I order Viagra from your site?" for a subject. I think we all know the answer to that question! It would be difficult for me to imagine a spam web site operator not opening an e-mail with a legitimate-appearing e-mail address and a subject like that, and having the pleasure of reading at least a few of my carefully-selected comments. This scenario still results in me putting more effort into leaving the message than it does the spammer to read it, but I still like the feeling that I'm wasting a little of their time. I don't do this in response to every spam message I receive. Just when my spam tolerance has surpassed its limits and I need to blow off a little steam. I must disagree with Dave here, because I believe many of the messages I leave *are* being read,
although perhaps only partially. And that’s good enough for me.

Here’s why:

I am presuming that many, or perhaps most of these “contact us” pages you see on spammer’s web
sites (and probably most web sites in general) result in the web site operator receiving any
comments left there via e-mail. I know that is how it works with my sites.

When I leave these, ahem, “choice” comments on the spammer’s “contact us” page, I am always
careful to leave a legitimate-looking, but bogus e-mail addresses, and I also use a legitimate-
looking subject.

For example, on one of those all-too-common pharmacy sites, I might use “Can I order Viagra
from your site?” for a subject. I think we all know the answer to that question!

It would be difficult for me to imagine a spam web site operator not opening an e-mail with
a legitimate-appearing e-mail address and a subject like that, and having the pleasure of
reading at least a few of my carefully-selected comments.

This scenario still results in me putting more effort into leaving the message than it does
the spammer to read it, but I still like the feeling that I’m wasting a little of their time.

I don’t do this in response to every spam message I receive. Just when my spam tolerance has
surpassed its limits and I need to blow off a little steam.

]]> By: Dave Diamond http://blog.homesfornh.com/2005/08/spam-can-it-be-stopped/#comment-4 Dave Diamond Mon, 15 Aug 2005 17:56:23 +0000 http://blog.homesfornh.com/archives/8#comment-4 They won't *really* know how you feel because they probably don't read the messages. And you're definitely wasting more of your time than theirs, but if it makes you feel better, knock yourself out. The spammers that plague me are mostly in Asia so there's precious little we can do about them. What we really need to do is close down the borders on the Internet -- at least on the mail protocol and force ISP's to close down their open mail ports and start using cryptographically signed messaging. Uggh, spammers. Don't even get me started. They won’t *really* know how you feel because they probably don’t read the messages. And you’re definitely wasting more of your time than theirs, but if it makes you feel better, knock yourself out.

The spammers that plague me are mostly in Asia so there’s precious little we can do about them. What we really need to do is close down the borders on the Internet — at least on the mail protocol and force ISP’s to close down their open mail ports and start using cryptographically signed messaging.

Uggh, spammers. Don’t even get me started.

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