Why Is Spam So Useless?

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OK, so we are living in a 'post-privacy' era where ones every purchase offline and move online can be tracked by the eager eyes of marketers. So why aren't marketers able to spam me with stuff I actually want?? Are my tastes THAT bizarre?

Tom (Groke), Thursday, 5 September 2002 05:49 (twenty-two years ago)

You mean you dont want a bigger penis?

gazza, Thursday, 5 September 2002 05:51 (twenty-two years ago)

That's what I should have said in the question heading - "why oh why cant I have more adverts for a SMALLER penis, mine is TOO HUGE"

OK, what I'm talking about is actually buyable goods (or visitable sites) that might appeal to me - the enormous dicks and Nigerian finance ministers and so on are a hazard of the interweb I think.

Tom (Groke), Thursday, 5 September 2002 05:59 (twenty-two years ago)

A quick survey of my inbox reveals the following headings.

How To Make the Fat Melt Away****
Women Agree - Size DOES matter!
4 More inches = A lot more confidence!
Hypnotize Women Into Bed
Clear Away All Tax Debt Now****

I have no idea why its so useless - they must think everyone on the internet is in debt with a small penis?

gazza, Thursday, 5 September 2002 06:09 (twenty-two years ago)

The disturbing thing is there must be people who actually respond to spam.

stevo (stevo), Thursday, 5 September 2002 06:11 (twenty-two years ago)

spam is so cheap, that targeting doesen't matter. You only need a few people to respond and then you are in profit. (I heard this on some TV show)

jel -- (jel), Thursday, 5 September 2002 07:18 (twenty-two years ago)

get thin while you sleep!!

mark s (mark s), Thursday, 5 September 2002 07:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Sleeping isn't going to make you fat - unless you eat in it.

Pete (Pete), Thursday, 5 September 2002 07:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Will dribbling while you sleep make you thinner?

gazza, Thursday, 5 September 2002 07:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I get about 15 spams a day, right now I have:

Look Younger! Lose Weight! Feel Better!

Friend, How To Put Vitamins In You Body

Give Stuff Away - and make money 

100% guaranteed penis enlargement


amongst many many others. At least it can be funny some time. Myabe that's the purpose.


Elisabeth, Thursday, 5 September 2002 08:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Hotmail gets so much spam it isn't even funny...and a lot of it is disturbing, to say the least. Even with junk mail filters a lot gets through, and half the time it has something to do with increasing penis size or talking any woman into bed. Not exactly relevant to my life.

Nicole (Nicole), Thursday, 5 September 2002 10:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I even get spam offering to give me bigger breasts. A friend tells me that he keeps getting spam about cesspits. It is true that the cost is pretty much zero to send spam, but these addresses have to be gathered somehow - some lists are sold, but I guess a lot comes from for instance Hotmail directories. I confidently expect the quality to improve as time goes on. I'm sure advertisers don't give a fuck that most people delete stuff without reading it, but if you could offer a list of demographically apt addresses with info about their consuming habits, that would still be a valuable commodity, and that gets more feasible and sophisticated by the day.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 5 September 2002 10:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Liberty Mouse! Feed the birds not the squirrels!

jel -- (jel), Thursday, 5 September 2002 10:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Spam shits me so much that I got rid of the email address I'd had for 8 years to excape from it. It hasn't discovered my new one yet, thankfully.

toraneko (toraneko), Thursday, 5 September 2002 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

your taste is too good and you are too intelligent. the only companies who would send out most of this crap are peddling widgets to idiots.

ron (ron), Thursday, 5 September 2002 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

What are you talking about, useless? Why, I got an unsolicited email only last week from a gentleman in South Africa asking me to 'look after' a few million quid for him, and I am now stupendously wealthy.

And I have a huge penis, I'm setting up my own pyramid selling in my own home, and to top it all some hotty called SexMandi wants to get her claws into me....

Life is sweet...

misterjones (misterjones), Thursday, 5 September 2002 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

[...]the enormous dicks and Nigerian finance ministers and so on are a hazard of the interweb I think.

Best mental image of the day. "Look that up on Google... GOOD GOD LOOK OUT FOR THE ENORMOUS DICK!"

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 5 September 2002 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

isn't spam tinned meat or have I lost the plot here?

Jolene Beevers, Friday, 6 September 2002 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

NIGERIAN PLASTIC SURGEON ASSOCIATION. . . WE HAVE DEVELOPED AN EFFECTIVE AND RELIABLE METHOD FOR LENGTHENING YOUR PENIS, BUT WE NEED VOLUNTEERS NOW. . .

DeRayMi, Friday, 6 September 2002 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

they're getting sneakier tho. just the other day dave239832409834 (or some variation thereof) asked me in my subject line if i'd "heard from mom?"

i had.

mitch lastnamewithheld, Friday, 6 September 2002 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Spam is directed to the lowest class of people, because that is the same people who believe fake advertising, and who would (foolishly) spend money on something spam is advertising. They advertise the obvious things that this class would want sex & money. As for hotmail, I use the total junk option where everything is junk unless the address is in my accepted list.

A Nairn (moretap), Saturday, 7 September 2002 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

You don't know from spam. Try having an email address with kim@mail... and the amount of stuff you get from Korea is UNBELIEVABLE.

Kim, Saturday, 7 September 2002 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Are you serious, A Nairn? (I don't even know what a Nairn is.) I want sex and money, and I went to a public school and Cambridge and am a homeowning professional. Spam is directed at anyone with an email address, not specifically at some social class. This is aside from the fact that if class means anything non-circular at all in what you say, it is obvious nonsense anyway.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 7 September 2002 18:17 (twenty-two years ago)

"I went to a public school and Cambridge and am a homeowning professional."

So you wouldn't send your bank account number to a Nigerian King who wants you to hold $10 million for him, right?
And I think the people who send this spam realize that you wouldn't respond, but they expect some people to.

A Nairn (moretap), Saturday, 7 September 2002 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

So, what, working class people are stupid? They are trying to get at the bank accounts of poor people? For the record, I have recieved that scam about ten times so far. Do you have evidence of the social class (assuming that is what you mean) of people who have been suckered by this, or the demographic of those who respond to sexual spam, or anything at all other than prejudice?

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 7 September 2002 19:43 (twenty-two years ago)

also, the chinese army has a hive mind

boxcubed (boxcubed), Saturday, 7 September 2002 20:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I only ever get the 'hot and horny teenage sex' ones. Someone must feel very sorry for me.

Mr Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 7 September 2002 20:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh no, working class people are not stupid. I'm just trying to figure out what type of people would reply to a spam in general. The marketers of these scams must be getting some responses, or else they wouldn't make them.

I would never bother looking into any sex, lose weight, or make money messages because I don't believe they could actually be beneficial to me. Maybe if it was something like "rare LPs for sale" I would be interested.

A Nairn (moretap), Saturday, 7 September 2002 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

This is what I meant when I talked about the circular definition - you seem to have said that this class (meaning the kind of people who go for this nonsense) are the kind of people who go for this nonsense.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 7 September 2002 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, but sometimes it can be very inventive!@#

Chex0r out thiz near-novelistick Xperience that landed in my in-tray thiz eve!@#


Hi there,

Just a short letter to say thank you for your e-mail and phone call today, I just started to think you
forgot all about us because you were so quiet.

I actually considered getting a boyfriend in case you were not interested anymore!! Unfortunately I
dont really move in the right circles to meet someone.

The kids are now in bed and I have a few quiet moments. I just said to my mom that even though I
don't have to worry about the normal things like washing and cooking anymore, I am still exhausted!
I guess this is a process with little kids that will go on until they don't demand so much of your time
and energy! Especially little Julian is starting to really take a lot out of me now, he doesn't want to
go to just anybody, sometimes he clings to me like a little koala! He does not want to go into the
walking ring anymore, he will sit and play and then crawl to me and pulls himself up on my pants so
that I have to pick him up and then you have to watch him all the time as he pulls himself onto all
the furniture and everything he can get to grab on. Little Carlo refuses to sleep now in the
afternoons with the result that by about 7 o'clock he is so tired that "the divil" starts to possess
him!! He starts to throw tantrums and then I know that the only thing to do is taking!
him to bed! Tonight he had to get a bit of a smack before bed!! He pushes and pushes me until I
have no choice but to smack him even though I hate doing it, he doesnt give me a choice because I
warn him and warn him but he tries me anyway!! Last night we went for tea at Anel's house
because they invited their neighbours whose little girl is just 10 days older than Carlo. Carlo then
behaved like the perfect little "angel" the whole night. He and the little girl danced and kissed and
hugged, it was too gorgeous to see. Some nights I just wish I had more wisdom for the two kids!
When they are in bed I wonder what I could have done better to be a better mom to them, you know
I wonder if I am too soft, I pick Julian up too quickly when he cries at night, Carlo gets away with too
much before I actually smack him..... etc.

Michael has in the meantime let it all go to his head. He bought the Porsche, and has started
setting aside money for the kids tutoring. It looks as if our lifes taken a new turn.

Michael gets his bet information from Colin Davey, who has apparently made over 10 million from
the bookies. Michael says he listens to him because Colins been in the horse-racing and betting
business for 18 years. I dont think Michael would listen to anyone else right now. Hes been
winning so often that well be able to move into a larger place by mid-October. Ill give you the UK
number its 0906 xxx xxxx. I know that theres a charge of 1 a minute. Nothing when you consider
what Michaels bringing home. Michael tells me that bookies are giving away money to attract new
registered punters. Are you aware that earnings from bets are tax free? You should try the service -
you'll realise how valuable it is.

You asked when we were coming, as I said we are looking at leaving here the 11th of September
and will then be there the 12th. It all depends on the flights as my parents are traveling first class.
Maybe we will just surprise you! Can you believe that we have been away two months already
tomorrow! Can you please phone Carlo's day care school and let the owner, her name is "Ingam"
know that Carlo will be back on the 12th and if he can come back to school the following week,
probably the 17th.

Hope you have a good week, love Paula


N0RM4N PH4Y, Sunday, 8 September 2002 20:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Gah, I forgot to delete the phone number. Can a moderator delete it?

DO NOT PHONE THE TLELPHONE NUMBER IN THE ABOVE MESSAGE!@# IT WILL COST YOU ONE POUND A MINUTE FOR NOTHING!@# [done and done: a passing moderator]

N0RM4N PH4Y, Sunday, 8 September 2002 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Hello,
We are a 5-Star Caravan & Leisure Park company who have four fantastic parks on the beautiful North Wales coast.

We are totally against spam, and that is why we would like your permission to tell you more about our parks and Holiday Home ownership.

(I understand that I can OPT OUT at any time).

OR

If you wish to have your address permanently removed from further
e-mail please click on the 'Remove Me' link below:

Talacre Beach Caravan Sales Ltd. registered in England No. 01288058

gareth (gareth), Wednesday, 18 September 2002 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

haha I just interrupted my time on ILX to check on a message I had received at a dating site. It was from someone in Nigeria wanting to pass $25m through my bank account. Their research to find the right trustworthy person was clearly a look at my dating ad! It's about the tenth one of these I've received this week => presumably everyone is getting loads => what miniscule plausibility it ever held cannot be sustained. Or, hey great, that's a quarter share of a total of $200m this week! Hoorah!

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 18 September 2002 19:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Q: " Would you like to Lose Your Accent ? "

- DO YOU FIND OTHERS HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO CONVEY?
- DO YOU FIND THE NEED TO REPEAT YOURSELF FOR OTHERS TO UNDERSTAND YOU CLEARLY?
- DO YOU FEEL EMBARRASSED OR LESS CONFIDENT WHEN TALKING TO WORK COLLEAUGES?
- DO YOU WISH TO COMMUNICATE YOUR THOUGHTS MORE EFFECTIVELY?

mark s (mark s), Friday, 27 September 2002 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

USE CAPITALS ALL THE TIME THEN!!!

mark s (mark s), Friday, 27 September 2002 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

You sure this isn't a personal e-mail, and not SPAM, mark?

david h (david h), Friday, 27 September 2002 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

that's why i posted it!!!

mark s (mark s), Friday, 27 September 2002 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

!!!

david h (david h), Friday, 27 September 2002 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)

mark - 'member ILM?

david h (david h), Friday, 27 September 2002 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

one of the main ingrediants of SPAM : "mechanically separated chicken".

unknown or illegal user (doorag), Friday, 27 September 2002 22:12 (twenty-two years ago)

* ingredients oops

unknown or illegal user (doorag), Saturday, 28 September 2002 01:33 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...
haha the most beautifully ironic email ever:

From Luke Levine
Subject RE: Join the thousands who are now sp@m-free

amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 8 December 2003 07:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I occasionally get spam about these trance techno raves. They sound really good, except they are in Australia.

DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 8 December 2003 10:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I get them as well dv!!!

Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 8 December 2003 11:13 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...
addis
appropriate
conscription wiremen deneb judge rick peaceable conspiratorial hurst calamus caliper vengeance geisha approximable ortega crime linebacker algeria flexural lawmake ablaze deviant comptroller edwardian choice incomparable confessor
A ?????????? ?????????? ??????????????? ????????????
H ?? ?????? ????????- ???????????????, ?????????????????
G ?????????, ? ????? ?????? ????????, ???????? ? ?.?.
a ???? ???????????????:
D ??? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ?????????????
J ??????? (?? ????? ???????? ?????? XEROX DC12) ?? 400 ??? ?? ????????? ?? ??????????
j ???????? ??? ? ????.
u ???. 258-2543 F
mien
tempera

cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 16 March 2004 21:54 (twenty-one years ago)

ugh we just had to switch email servers at work and our new, not-controllable-by-us server doesn't have a spam filter.

teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 16 March 2004 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...
I just received one from a girl named 'Amy', and the subject is "I need ebony pole." Nice, eh?

Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Saturday, 17 April 2004 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

About me:
I urgently need a business partner in Nigeria. I'm looking to refinance my mortgage. I don't know where to get generic Viagra online. Can anyone help me copy up to 14 DVDs? All the girls say size does matter, so I am desperate to increase my penis size. I also want to save up to 27% on gasoline. I'm in debt up to my ears and need to reduce my student loan payments and/or get a new cell phone and/or domain name. Someone please tell me how to remove unwanted hair! I'm also looking for old classmates, and printer ink. I need to increase my breast size and lose weight now. How do I get generic drugs from Canada, such as Xanax, Valium, Vicodin, DMT, Soma, Fioricet, Ultram, and Adipex? I want to lower my payments, play poker online, get my own hair back, and watch Amber get wild with a horse, and her kinky roommates Kim and Tiffany engage in water sports. And that's just today! Don't even ask me about yesterday... I am lonely, depressed, and urgently need a penpal, girlfriend, bored housewife, GFE, sensual massage with a "happy ending", a "real" coed with a webcam. I want my dominant/submissive fantasies fulfilled, my balls tortured, my pancreas pierced, my body modified, my brain friend, my ashes hauled, my mind made up. Someone please help.

Who I'd like to meet:
I am lonely, depressed, and urgently need a penpal, girlfriend, bored housewife, GFE, sensual massage with a "happy ending", a "real" coed with a webcam. I want my dominant/submissive fantasies fulfilled, my balls tortured, my pancreas pierced, my body modified, my brain friend, my ashes hauled, my mind made up.

Orbit (Orbit), Saturday, 17 April 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow.

Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Saturday, 17 April 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Best Spam rant evah, it's from a friend of mine's myspace profile.

Orbit (Orbit), Saturday, 17 April 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

four months pass...
from an interview with cyborg rights activist Steve Mann:

You say that you can take a snapshot of an ad on a sign or billboard and then instruct your eyetap computer never to display it again. But ads are becoming digital. Won't they alter themselves as quickly as spam does?
I guess I could envision theft of human thought resources as being something that those who wish to steal the CPU cycles of your brain would attempt by getting more sophisticated. And therefore, the theft prevention mechanism would have to get more sophisticated. Spam could be thought of as theft of resources.

Sébastien Chikara (Sébastien Chikara), Monday, 13 September 2004 02:54 (twenty years ago)

Cornbread brocolli pie (back to index)

8 1/2-oz pkg cornbread mix 10-oz pkg frozen broccoli spears
12-oz can SPAM, cubed 1/2" thawed and drained
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 400. Prepare cornbread according to package directions. Stir in SPAM. Spread into greased 9" pie plate. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cornbread is almost done. Arrange broccoli spears on top of cornbread; sprinkle with cheese. Return to oven; continue baking for 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and cornbread is completely baked. Yield: 6 servings.

Speedy (Speedy Gonzalas), Monday, 13 September 2004 04:14 (twenty years ago)

spam rage!

Sébastien Chikara (Sébastien Chikara), Monday, 13 September 2004 06:31 (twenty years ago)

When I get spam, not only is it from a stupid email address Stan1349087509825098409183410 for example, but then the subject of the email is always something like "123JS @ # $bigger Penis*&&^£$". Is it difficult to create spam without garbled subjects or is that to avoid spam filters? If it's the latter it's kind of dumb cos the most important spam filter (my brain) tells me that probably isn't actually from one of my friends named Stan.

Craig Gilchrist, Monday, 13 September 2004 12:21 (twenty years ago)

eighteen years pass...

Prepping to become ILLEGAL?

Steps are already been taken to BAN prepping... especially stockpiling food right here in America.

For example, *Trump* has signed an executive order that gives the government authority over and EVERY resource and infrastructure in the USA.

(how long since trump had exec order powers? come on spammers, update yr templates)

koogs, Friday, 3 March 2023 15:00 (two years ago)

Aha! that's where you're wrong.. he's the *true* president running the real government from Mar-a-Lago

Andy the Grasshopper, Friday, 3 March 2023 17:41 (two years ago)


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