[CS-FSLUG] Let's Talk About It: Web of Trust

[Ed Hurst]

Robert W. wrote:

> The problem is not spam. The problem is dishonest advertising. The  
> solution isn't cracking down on spam. It's tightening down on the  
> marketers manipulating us with false implications. That's a much harder  
> problem to solve.

Ah, that's another concern. It depends on how you view spam. To the 
activists on a certain newsgroup, it's more precise to say UCE/UBE. 
Indeed, if it's commercial and unsolicited, it's wrong in their eyes. 
Further, if it's sent en masse at all, and unsolicited, it's wrong. That 
covers just about everything. Their refrain is: "My server, my rules." 
If they wish to know about your products, they will ask. To them, email 
was never intended as an advertising medium. There is no legitimate 
advertising in email, aside from that which is double-opt-in (request 
plus confirmed) requested.

I tend to run that way, but I realize that's probably on the strict end 
of things. I can recall twice I've gotten solicitations out of the blue 
for which I had any appreciation. Saying so made the activists angry. My 
standard is, "Go ahead and try. If I'm not interested, I'll complain to 
your provider and hope you get disconnected. Sending me a solicitation 
is a gamble." I suppose it's based on my experience, in which only two 
out of thousands of messages was what I regard as legitimate advertising.

Could we expand your objection to a much larger demand folks quit 
deceiving on the Net in general?

-- 
Ed Hurst
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