** Forged spamming going on

Wed Dec 23 21:08:24 UTC 1998

At 12:08 PM 12/23/1998 -0800, Patrick Greenwell wrote:
>So what you are saying is that with marked increase in people getting on
>the Internet since the time that the RBL was created, that you haven't
>seen an increase in spam volume? I think most reasonable would consider
>that at least a marginal success in containment. 

Volume as been argued previous on other venues, is exactly the same issue
as used in the 70's against bulk postal mailers: 'If it isn't banned you'll
be literally buried by junk mail.'  Well, actually, there are market
constraints on the volume of (postal or email) mail totally independent and
unrelated to the RBL.  Economics and psychology control the volume.  And
the economics aren't related much to the cost. Spam costs less than direct
mail which costs less than radio, which is less than TV.  There are
saturation points which aren't related to the system capacity to deliver
advertising.  So no matter what the system capacity, you aren't ever going
to be overwhelmned by advertising. But for some, any is too much. Those
people are generally categorized as being on the fringe.

RBL hasn't really contained anything. Except cause pain to ISP's who get
caught in the crossfire.

>> A gun has effective power too. Except that it should be used by Police
>> Officers to stop crime, and not by random vigilantes to shoot whomever they
>> please and ask questions later.
>
>It is heartening to see someone with such a high regard for the
>governments abilities in this area. Here I was labouring under the
>misconception that the government has been largely ignorant in these
>matters and ineffective in addressing them. Thanks for clearing that up
>for me. 

Well, its people like Vixie who abuse their power and abilities that make
it necessary for governments to intervene. I would hope that the industry
could police itself. But it doesn't seem to be able to come up with an
alternative other than a single capricious individual.  There used not be
any gun laws either.  Not that spammers are in any way faultless. Certainly
not. But as the saying goes, two wrongs don't make a right.

>> And like any powerful tool, there should be some responsibility for its use
>> and misuse.  Paul has none.
>
>A lot of reasonable people would disagree with you. 

Reasonable people who support power without responsibility?  I doubt it,
except they are the ones trying to wield the power.

		--Dean

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