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Good Spam or Bad Spam...What is the Difference?
Copyright 2006 By Sara Hardy


"Are you Good Spam or Bad Spam?"- This is the question I find echoing
in my head sometimes when I am going through my email, as if it is part
of some electronic Wizard of Oz. Have you ever given any thought to the
fact that there really is a difference in spam? Not that I am defending
anyone, but let me make my point and then you can decide for yourself.

Spam is such a hot issue and no one knows the "right" view of spam that
fits everyone.
You either:
- will take all measures to prevent people from sending it to you
- don't mind it at all and happily delete, delete, delete every day
- OR hate it sometimes and ignore it other times.

I think I fall in the last category, which is what started me thinking about
good and bad spam. My point of view has now developed into this:

BAD Spam-
It is bad spam when you reply to it to be removed and it is returned to you
because the address is made up. It is bad spam when the removal link does
not open a real url. It is bad spam when you paste the message source into
Spam Cop and the info you get back before clicking the "Send spam
report" shows tons of dead ends and made up domains, etc.

This means that this "Cowardly Lion" harvested your address, and went to
great lengths to cover their tracks in order not to get caught sending spam.

GOOD Spam-
It is good spam when there is an actual person on the other end,
apologizing for inconveniencing you. What made it good spam? Because
here is spam that you most likely will not get again, because it is more
legit then the bad spam. These people are not out to break any rules, upset
anyone, or ruin your day. 9 times out of 10 they really don't know any
better and will learn, very quickly I might add.

Also, keep in mind that the Scarecrow in us does not ALWAYS remember
every email we sign up for. It is possible to have signed up for something
and a week later be flipping out because you are getting email from some
unknown. If we only had a brain sometimes (Speaking for myself, of
course).

It is also highly possible that someone is having fun subscribing you to
things. Never count that one out, it happens all of the time.

GOOD vs BAD
Personally, I would much rather get good spam. Bad spam demonstrates
that the sender KNOWS what is not acceptable and went to all of this
trouble and expense to hide behind this long trail of fake addresses. That
they took the time to do that is malicious, in my way of thinking. Do they
really think that what they are trying to sell in this manner is actually
worth it? These are the people we should be upset with. These are the
people that we need to be telling, "I'll get you my pretty, and your little
server too!"

So, whether you agree or disagree, just try to keep in mind that
1. The whole world is not out to get you.
2. Not every piece of spam is sent with the same intent. And...
3. As the world around us continues to change, we will be seeing more and
more companies resorting to sending their junk mail through email rather
then the post office. (I think this is becoming a more desirable thing to us
all, as it would be much safer.)

Now is the time to try to adjust our view and approach the issue with a
level head. If we don't we will drive ourselves mad, and for what purpose?
The changes in our world cause the internet to change. Soon you probably
will find yourself saying, "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore".

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Written by Sara Hardy
Owner of MarketingTrendz, and Publisher of
The OnLine Exchange Ezine.
To subscribe to her ezine goto:
http://marketingtrendz.com/subscribe.htm
This will automatically make you a member of The Profit Zone,
a FREE Members Only Club that gives you unlimited access
to FREE marketing tools, ebooks, resources and more!

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