The Spammer Next Door

I totally thought I was done seeing 'legitimate organizations' utilizing spam lists. Especially spam lists that came from pushers of penis pills.

I was wrong.

Yesterday I received a campaign announcement 'thanking me for being a grass roots supporter' of a politician for whom I have *never* volunteered. At this point, he is not someone I would ever vote for unless he were to apologize for sending spam and -- this is the big one -- STOP sending anyone else spam. I want to opt out from their list ONCE. I want to opt out one time, yet this spunky little spammer says unless I give him each and every address, every time they spam me, there is nothing he can do. He also refuses to give me his physical address.

If he would simply stop sending out emails claiming that the recipient is a 'grass roots supporter' unless the campaign has actually been given such a request by each recipient. Federal spam law refers to this concept as 'affirmative consent' when an email marketer can verify the email address requested mailings with the proper documentation. In this case, the sender cannot provide any form of affirmative consent.

They have a dirty list spam problem. They have no idea who IS and who is NOT really a willing recipient of their emails. Their lists 'come from several sources'.

As I wrap up production of my first feature film I realize that America doesn't have the foggiest clue concerning the world's spam problem. The spammer next door is the problem. Your cousin who promotes a cruise line. Your best friend's daughter who works for a university's Internet marketing department. Your 24 year old son who just got himself a great position on a re-election campaign.

Spammers are everywhere and we do business with them every day.

We just don't know it.

This fall the world finds out why they have such a spam problem. The reason is so shocking you may find it hard to believe.