Shine On
The hot topic of internet discussion lately is "spam." In case you've been in a deep dark hole, "spam"
is unsolicited, junk e-mail, usually advertisements. The controversy revolves around the fact that since
many people pay for their internet time, they are also paying for people to advertise to them.
There are good arguments on both sides of this issue. The 'spammers' say they have the right to free
speech and they're doing nothing wrong. Just as junk mail has a right to reach your home mailbox,
spam has a right to reach your e-mail box. The "anti-spammers" say advertisers don't have a right to
send us e-mail that wasn't requested. They especially don't have that right when we have to pay for our
access. As we all can attest, spam is just annoying. We have to wade through it everyday (especially if
you post to Usenet).
All of these heated discussions are unnecessary. If the anti-spammers are a large enough group, there
won't be any spam, period.
One of the most important rights we have is Freedom of Speech. I am a staunch supporter of it. I don't
think this issue needs to use the first amendment as a rallying cry. I do believe that bulk mailers have a
right to send out what they want. The problem lies not with them, but with us. Let us not blame P.T.
Barnum for putting a horn on a goat and calling it a unicorn. Let's put the blame squarely where it
belongs—on our own shoulders.
Let me explain.
The spammers send out advertising for one reason, and one reason alone. They want to make money. If
they don't make money, they stop. If they do make money, they send out more spam. These companies
aren't Satan, they're companies. They must make a profit or go out of business. You can't blame them
for trying to feed and provide for their families.
When someone joins spamming community, they are intent upon making a living. Whether it's the
Psychic Friends Network or someone just selling trinkets out of their garage, they want to make
money. If people weren't reading those e-mails and purchasing products, there would be no such thing as
spam. Someone out there is giving bulk mailing companies cold hard cash. The offending companies must
pay for their internet connections and hardware somehow. This money comes from people that buy
their products.
If you don't like spam or if it costs you money, don't waste bandwidth sending them a reply saying, "I
hate you scumbugs!" Instead, don't buy their product. Don't hate them, put them out of business. There
would be no controversy if no one was buying their products. Every dollar in your wallet is a vote. The
companies you give it to are candidates you are voting into office. If you don't want spam, don't vote for
spammers.
If the proportion of people who hate spam is large enough, then the 'spammers' won't be able to turn a
profit. If, on the other hand, people continue to purchase their products, we will continue to receive it.
Many of the bulk mailers are small companies that work on a thin profit margin. If the bulk e-mail
stops providing them an income, they will move on to something else.
I get junk e-mail on a daily basis and it's annoying. I spend time marking it as "unread" and deleting it.
After all, it takes up space on my hard drive until deleted. I hate spam as much as the next person, but
it's important to protect everyone's first amendment rights. So next time you get a spam, just delete it
instead of shooting off a rude commentary. Don't read it, and above all else, don't send them money. If
everyone gets together and stops supporting these companies, we will have a spam-free internet.
It's as simple as that.
Chad Poland is a freelance writer who can be reached at 
<proedge@mindspring.com>.
Visit his website at <http://www.mindspring.com/~proedge> or say hello to
him on EFNet in #duality as "shiner."
Also in This Series
- Shine On · September 1997
- Hate Groups · June 1997
- Jobs’ Return · February 1997
- Keeping It Up To Code · December 1996
- To Flame or Not to Flame · October 1996
- Shine On · August 1996
- Complete Archive
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