Comments on: Users are Ignorant, Badly Behaved, and the Leading Cause of Spam http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/users-are-ignorant-badly-behaved-and-the-leading-cause-of-spam Internet Safety, Windows Updates, Internet News, and More Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:51:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Mad Eye http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/users-are-ignorant-badly-behaved-and-the-leading-cause-of-spam#comment-1473 Mad Eye Tue, 29 Mar 2005 19:32:49 +0000 /?p=475#comment-1473 Drug users/drug market really isn't a fair analogy. After all, 'if users didn't buy, the drug market wouldn't exist', but would spam stop if people didn't buy? The cost (near $0) and the reach (near universal - Internet universe, anyway) make SPAM an excellent medium for more than commercial messages. This is different than the drug market. (Besides, no human society has ever eliminated drugs; any society can eliminate SPAM - just turn off the 'net or its equivalent.) Drug users/drug market really isn’t a fair analogy. After all, ‘if users didn’t buy, the drug market wouldn’t exist’, but would spam stop if people didn’t buy? The cost (near $0) and the reach (near universal - Internet universe, anyway) make SPAM an excellent medium for more than commercial messages.

This is different than the drug market. (Besides, no human society has ever eliminated drugs; any society can eliminate SPAM - just turn off the ‘net or its equivalent.)

]]> By: Kelson http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/users-are-ignorant-badly-behaved-and-the-leading-cause-of-spam#comment-1448 Kelson Fri, 25 Mar 2005 17:28:05 +0000 /?p=475#comment-1448 It's only blaming the victim if you consider all users to be the same. Really there are two groups: those who accept spam (buying from it, clicking on links they shouldn't) and those who reject it (deleting, filtering, complaining, stalking, whatever). But for the most part, it's easier for spammers to ignore the difference and treat them as one group. It's like being back in high school gym class, where one goof-off does something stupid, but <em>everyone</em> has to run laps. It’s only blaming the victim if you consider all users to be the same. Really there are two groups: those who accept spam (buying from it, clicking on links they shouldn’t) and those who reject it (deleting, filtering, complaining, stalking, whatever). But for the most part, it’s easier for spammers to ignore the difference and treat them as one group.

It’s like being back in high school gym class, where one goof-off does something stupid, but everyone has to run laps.

]]> By: Jonathan Murray http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/users-are-ignorant-badly-behaved-and-the-leading-cause-of-spam#comment-1445 Jonathan Murray Fri, 25 Mar 2005 16:23:13 +0000 /?p=475#comment-1445 Actually, we do blame drug users for the market... eliminate the demand, the supply dies a quiet death (which is the point of all "just say no" type programs). In the case of Spam, though... I'd blame user ignorance more than the users themselves. Since users have technology thrust on them that they don't (and won't) understand, the responsibility for educating and protecting users (from each other) should fall on the ISP. Actually, we do blame drug users for the market… eliminate the demand, the supply dies a quiet death (which is the point of all “just say no” type programs).

In the case of Spam, though… I’d blame user ignorance more than the users themselves. Since users have technology thrust on them that they don’t (and won’t) understand, the responsibility for educating and protecting users (from each other) should fall on the ISP.

]]> By: Gary and the Samoyeds http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/users-are-ignorant-badly-behaved-and-the-leading-cause-of-spam#comment-1439 Gary and the Samoyeds Fri, 25 Mar 2005 13:12:11 +0000 /?p=475#comment-1439 If people wouldn't reply to the messages, or worse, BUY THEY'RE SELLING, then there wouldn't be much spam. So, to that extent I would blame the users, just like with drugs. If people wouldn’t reply to the messages, or worse, BUY THEY’RE SELLING, then there wouldn’t be much spam. So, to that extent I would blame the users, just like with drugs.

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