It’s fortunate you were able to intervene on behalf of the non-profit you’re associated with, and we can hope that others will have the chance to short-circuit other well-meaning but misguided efforts.
But it seems that even if spammers were inclined to learn by good example, two fundamental problems will forever prevent much spam from transitioning to more ethical/conventional advertising media.
First is cost. The economics of spam are driven by the fact that the mailer can avoid most, if not all, of the cost of delivering the advertising message. Even if the most reasonable of prices and substantial of discounts were to be provided, we can be fairly sure the advertiser is unlikely to want to bear the cost.
Second is what I’ll call editorial control, for lack of a better term. I think it’s a fair generalization to state that most spam advertises products which are of dubious value or legality – stock shills, all and sundry forms of pornography, and so on. Most newsletter publishers won’t want to be associated with such ‘products’ and are unlikely to accept related advertising, at any price.
Dale
on 4/19/02 2:50 AM, Leland Maurello at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
If it's of any help to the group to hear a good note, I've been subscribing to "This Is True" for over two years now, and it always entertains me. It's supported by ads - short 3 or 4 lines that go at the top, middle and bottom of the 'newsletter'. (It's sort of like News of the Weird).
Randy Cassingham, who runs, and IS 'thisistrue.com' - presents as a very ethical, open, and frank commentator on funny/stupid/odd news, and also ethical in his advertising practices.
This is one way it SHOULD be done. A non-profit I work with was thinking of spamming ("It wouldn't be spam, because we're for a good cause!" says the non-profit liaison. Several firm NO's from me put that on the back burner.) THIS newsletter advertising we're considering.
And BTW, I'm not endorsing subscriptions to This is true... it does not suit everyone's tastes, and some might be offended by it, I'm just using that as an example of good advertising practice.
