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Spam: Definition
Spam is unsolicited and unwanted messages (usually advertising) which is sent
without the recipients' consent.
Usually the term "spam" is used to refer to email messages - but it
has also be applied to newsgroup postings (usually those violating a newsgroup's
charter or rules), discussion forum postings (usually posts which are blatant
ads on forums which do not allow them), and sometimes even other types of
messaging such as 'phone text messages, etc.
With regards to email, there is no single definition of spam that everybody
uses. For example:
- Many Internet novices tend to thing of spam as being any message that they don't
want to receive at the moment that they receive it.
- We do not think this is a fair or appropriate definition, because, it would
for example, include mailing lists that the recipiented voluntarily
opted into, but later didn't feel like receiving. In this case, the appropriate
response of the recipient would be to unsubscribe from future issues of
the mailing list - rather than yelling "spam!" - simply because
they got a mailing that they had asked for.
- In our opinion, a much better definition of spam, would be unsolicited mailings were the
recipient has not specifically opted in
to receiving the mailings. However, even this definition has some gray areas,
where opinions may differ:
- Some people, especially (we think) many marketers, would say that a
single opt-in process is sufficient.
- Some people, especially (we think) many anti-spam campaigners would say
that single opt-in processes do contain a possibility for some people to
be subscribed without their knowledge, and a
double opt-in process is required to avoid
this possibility.
- We think that most people would probably agree that if a person opts-in
to a mailing list, that they should be able to later unsubscribe if they do
not wish to receive future mailings from that list. Furthermore, we think
that most people would probably agree that continued further mailings from the list
after a person has unsubscribed should be considered "spam".
- In some jurisdictions there may be laws that either regulate the use of email
in business, and/or that may ban spam email messaging. In a legal setting,
any definitions in these laws (or created as the result of case law), would
presumably apply. We are NOT attorneys, so can not advise
you on legal issues. Please consult with an attorney should you need advice
on these types of matters.
This site, of course, only discusses sending opt-in email.
Our company does NOT send, and is opposed to, sending spam.
We'd advise you not to send spam either.
Apart from annoying many of the recipients (which we think is reason enough
not to send spam), you may also find that your ISP,
web host, affiliate programs, etc., take action against you.
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