The Demise OF Email
By Patrick Fargo
If something isn't done to control the mountains of spam on the internet, the use of email will soon become a thing of the past. As it is today, once you consider buying something or register to get some information, your email address is placed in databases that lead to hundreds of useless and many times pornographic emails. Yesterday, I received over 600 emails that were totally trash. Most have no way to opt out, and there are even warnings that if you opt out, you will confirm your address and be placed on even more lists. Consider the following attributes of the trash:
1). A majority of spam includes multiple advertisements about the same product with bogus senders and garbled subjects to avoid spam eaters. Each of these emails are based on a different occurrence of the database and even if they honored your request for removal you would have to remove yourself from each list. This would take hours a day. Currently I have experienced hundreds of emails for dick enlargement and drugs sold on line.
2). Spam eaters do not help if you expect email from unknown people. Since I am seeking employment and have placed my resumes on hundreds of job boards and sent my resume to thousands of recruiters, I cannot afford to have responses eliminated because the sender does not appear in my contract list.
3). Many of the emails have sexual content including pictures and I consider this filth unfit for general consumption. By just highlighting the email for deletion brings up many slut pictures.
4). If you use a slow modem connections you waste hours of time downloading and deleting the emails. It is hard to find the one or two emails you expect and sometimes you actually delete good messages you wanted because of the need to delete so many phony emails.
5). More and more emails are hoaxes trying to steal your identity. Recently, I am receiving Vermont Teddy Bear Cards that have a virus attached. I have received requests to update my Earthlink account asking for my passwords, date of birth, and even my credit card access numbers. I have had requests to update my EBAY account and forwarded this message to EBAY who confirmed it was an attempt to get my account information. This type of malicious crime must be punished severely.
6). Don't make the mistake to actually try and find an online drugstore or apply for a loan. Any attempt to buy or seek information will lead to an avalanche of new spam. My attempts to use lending sites and or home improvement sites has led to another 25 or so spam emails a day. If you contact a web based drug store, expect to receive 50 or so spam mails a day.
7). Don't play any contests until you read the fine print. Almost all advertisers on contests sell you list. Even sites like IWON sell your data to multiple other companies and all of a sudden you are receiving another 25 or so emails a day.
A new law supposedly takes affect on January 1, 2004. By requiring actual email addresses and notification that it is an advertisement should help. But I am sure the current off-shore spammers will find ways to continue business as usual. I have never been for control of information on the internet, but unless something is done soon, email will not be worth the effort. The only alternative left is to change your account every few months creating more overhead and traffic on the internet.
About the Author: Patrick Fargo is the author of various articles and books on management, software and the internet. He has a manuscript for a book titled, "Management Evolution: Why Companies are Failing" completed and is looking for a publisher. Visit his site to see some of his articles and other "works of art" at www.patrickfargo.com. Pat can be contacted via email at p_fargo@earthlink.net.