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For Those Of You Who Haven't Figured Out Buying From Spam Is Bad

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from the you-probably-won't-notice-this dept

Fri, Feb 10th 2006 9:29am — Mike Masnick
We all know that there are still some people who do click on links in spam messages and do buy from them. The majority of people know better -- but not everyone. However, how likely is it that those who don't know any better are suddenly going to be convinced because some security firm tells them not to click on Valentine's Day related spam? Why single out spam for Valentine's Day. Shouldn't they just be telling people not to buy from spam, period?
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21 Comments

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  1. identicon
    Smaca, 10 Feb 2006 @ 10:03am

    Spam?

    Oh-boy, I enjoy spam like no other. By this time next year my penis will be 29inches & a full head of hair. Not to mention all the drugs I can purchase.


    Isn't this a wackey world we live in?

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    TK, 10 Feb 2006 @ 10:21am

    No Subject Given

    I think the point is to isolate and target that specific type of spam. Yes, it is common sense (well, not common...but most savvy users should know) not to buy something from Spam. However a lot of newbies don't necessarily consider marketing from something that looks like a legit company, or a legit company spam. So highlighting V-day targeted advertising makes them aware "Oh, so even though it's coming from The Gap, if I didn't ask for it...it is spam. I see!"

    It's just one more way to raise awareness.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Big Dog, 10 Feb 2006 @ 10:30am

    Re: Spam?

    Valentine's day?
    Spam with chocolate...yummm...

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Elzeard, 10 Feb 2006 @ 10:41am

    Re: No Subject Given

    (slight detour)

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Elzeard, 10 Feb 2006 @ 10:44am

    Re: No Subject Given

    (slight detour) - "Common Sense" is an Oxymoron. If it's Common, can it be sensible?

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Elzeard, 10 Feb 2006 @ 10:48am

    Re: No Subject Given

    doik! proving my own point

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    cucjr, 10 Feb 2006 @ 11:41am

    No Subject Given

    "Sophos revealed that nine per cent of web users have bought goods sold via spam. "

    But so many of the e-mail I get seem to be from other countries where the legend of "the brother-in-law's next door neighbor's best friend was able to make a killing" via spam... I mean the engrish is so funny! I have to assume it is from folk that have think the % is 90% not 9%

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    SmallTwig, 10 Feb 2006 @ 1:00pm

    Spam on eggs and cheese

    Why do I get the feeling that the same guy who forgot to log out of his @yahoo.com account is the same guy who complained about spam via Vday and therefore brought about this "V - Day spam warning"?

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Tim Wesemann, 10 Feb 2006 @ 1:35pm

    What about good ol' propaganda?

    When you ride with that miracle gas saving device that you bought from spam or adware, you're riding with Hitler...

    When you are having relations with the aid of an erectile drug that you bought through spam or adware, you're having relations with Osama...

    The possibilities are endless...

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    matt maier, 10 Feb 2006 @ 1:50pm

    Would they even understand a warning?

    If they are reacting to spam by monetizing it how likely is it they would a) read a warning not to click on [insert any words here] spam? and b) actually understand what "don't click" and "spam" are in the first place?

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    the unknown, 10 Feb 2006 @ 2:06pm

    slam the spam

    if i was a hacker, i'ld hack it in the mo-o-orning
    i'ld hack it in the evening, all over this land
    i'ld hacker out justice, i'ld hacker out freedom
    i'ld hacker out all the spamers and destroy their computers so they'ld have no chance to ever start it again

    (okay it doesn't rhym but you get the jist of it)

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    blugreen, 10 Feb 2006 @ 2:07pm

    Re: Spam?

    Hahaha. It's craziness.

    http://www.starterupsteve.com/flash/html/wonders_of_email.shtml

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Simon, 10 Feb 2006 @ 2:25pm

    Re: Spam?

    Why would you want the head of your penis to be hairy? On second thoughts, please don't answer this....

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    A Funny Guy / The Poison Pen, 10 Feb 2006 @ 2:28pm

    Re: Spam?

    Wonders why anyone would want their penis head to have a full ' head ' of hair........

    Wonders again....then goes off to do something more important... like watch paint dry

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2006 @ 2:29pm

    Re: Spam?

    Your penis will have a full head of hair??

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    Lew, 10 Feb 2006 @ 3:19pm

    The Bell Curve

    No matter what century or country, there are those poorly provisioned by nature. It is these that respond to spam, telemarketers and political speech.
    Natural selection says we need them in the gene pool, who are we to object?

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    Bob, 10 Feb 2006 @ 4:47pm

    Unsubscribe

    Recently I got fed up of deleting spam or "reporting it as junk" which never does anything, so I started going through every spam in my inbox and clicking on unsubscribe (usually something to do with the CAN-SPAM thing). I've gone from 20 unfiltered spam emails in my inbox a day to 1 every day or two!

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    Fool in the Rain, 10 Feb 2006 @ 4:51pm

    Re: No Subject Given

    Your comments make NO sense... Common, or otherwise.
    ;)
    ... I suppose i just proved my own point too. (redundant)

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    Confused, 10 Feb 2006 @ 6:57pm

    Wait...

    Your telling me that I shouldn't download the free tax software that was offered to me through email. Hmm I wonder why

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  20. icon
    ntlgnceatwork (profile), 11 Feb 2006 @ 7:59am

    BLACKLIST ALL FORCED ADVERTISERS.

    I would assume that there has always been people clicking on those annoying ads.

    I think we should all work together, to eliminate forced advertiseing. The popups that wont go away. The popups that have to load before the page loads. CNN is a good site for this.. The advertisers lie too. (clicking this ad will not effect your download), the heck it dont, it makes the download slower... games open longer.. If I dident have to wait for the ad to get done running I would already be playing the game.. Back to CNN, The news clips, (movie). Why is it that the add always seems to play perfect when the clip comes up, i get to see 3 or 4 seconds of it then I have to wait, then maybe 2 seconds. then wait. and the video never plays right. The ads sure do though... BAN ALL FORCED ADVERTISERS.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    Sohrab, 12 Feb 2006 @ 11:55am

    Re: BLACKLIST ALL FORCED ADVERTISERS.

    or then you can get CNN pipeline, pay and no more adds ;) its free son. live with it

    also, connection must suck cause I never wait for their vids to load? it just streams fine

    [ link to this | view in thread ]


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