Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 00:25:06 -0400
From: Jim Kling <jkling at nasw.org>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: SpamArrest
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

Ted White wrote:

>I gather some spammers consider themselves legitimate businessmen.  They
>are hired by people with products to move, and they provide the spam for
>this purpose.
>
The frustrating bit for me is that I've so far seen none of the
legitimate side of such a business: true opt-in marketing lists. I don't
mean the sort that web services ask you to sign up for (couched as
'offers from our partners'), but rather truly targeted advertising that
I would gladly accept.

For example, I'm an aquarium enthusiast. I would love to get
announcements when aquarium companies come out with new water treatment
or analysis products. I'd happily give my email address to a company
that could be trusted to take my email address and match it with
expressed interests. Seems like there's a bundle to be made by this, but
I guess spam has destroyed that business opportunity by sowing so much
fear of privacy violation. Alas.

--
Jim Kling
science writer
Rockville, MD
http://nasw.org/users/jkling