Re: Holy Spam!
On (04/10/03 01:40), David Palmer. wrote:
> On Fri, 3 Oct 2003 12:13:28 -0400 (EDT), Jon Earle said:
>
> > I sent _one_ post to the debian-users list yesterday. One. I neglected
> > to use an alias I'd created for posting to that list, and, due to their
> > open posting policy and their email-usenet gateway and the availability of
> > addresses in the clear within the list archives, within _minutes_, I
> > started receiving viruses, spam and other crap. My mail logs since
> > yesterday show a _ton_ of crap coming at me now! Unbelievable!
> >
> > This open list policy that so many lists have, while it _may_, and I'm
> > placing a lot of faith and emphasis on the 'may', offer the occasional
> > newbie or (individual who couldn't be bothered to subscribe multiple
> > addresses) the ability to post[1], that, coupled with gatewaying to news,
> > I feel is just plain irresponsible. It's a _very_ poorly thought out
> > policy that I feel does more to harm the list community that help
> > (particularly the list gateway to news).
> >
> > I understand their is a passion and an almost a cult-like religion to keep
> > things completely open, free, unencumbered, unfettered, etc, however,
> > _controls_, not restrictions, are neccessary to ensure the integrity of
> > the list environment. Users don't want spam, and they do want their
> > service providers to take reasonable, not intrusive, but reasonable
> > measures to reduce or eliminate their exposure to the spam industry.
> >
> > I've been forced to change my email address, thanks to the debian mailing
> > list. Is this a positive result of the desire for openness?
> >
> > Cheers!
> > Jon
> >
> > [1] Once the message is posted, how does said newbie receive replies if
> > those helping just reply to the list. The whole policy makes _no_ sense
> > whatsoever.
> >
> You're supposed to subscribe to the list, and that way you get a reply in your
> mail client.
> As far as the spam goes, you're not supposed to avoid it. I've been sitting
> back and watching people on this list hack their way round the situation.
> If you look back over the recent archival history, you will see scripts that
> have been created that have seen some of these people spamless. It has gone a
> long way towards helping configure mailing formats too. If you isolate yourself
> too much from the environment, you become ill suited to survive in it. The
> story of the human race.
> Regards,
>
> David.
>
Rock on ;)
I'm fighting spam and this stuff is "hard", but I've learnt more about email
in the last week or two, than I ever knew in some 20 years of using
computers ;)
Regards
Clive
--
http://www.clivemenzies.co.uk
strategies for business
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