Spam: A Definition
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by Moishe
Most people that attempt to sell their particular product or products through mass messaging do not like to admit that they are using an age-old (in Internet years) method commonly known as "spam".
Here is one of many definitions of spam:
"Spam is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most spam is commercial advertising, often for dubious products, get-rich-quick schemes, or quasi-legal services. Spam costs the sender very little to send -- most of the costs are paid for by the recipient or the carriers rather than by the sender."
I recently received a message the subject line of which was "Cheap Weapon (not a SPAM)". This was sent to me by the FireFox Corporation which is, not unsurprisingly, from eIndonesia.
While this corporation did not necessarily "flood the Internet" they have, more than likely, flooded many eRepublikans with their message. It is, as per the definition, commercial advertising.
Now if I had limited messaging capabilities this message might have pushed an important message or a message from a friend out of my message queue causing me to lose something I valued for something I did not want.
I answered the message in much the same words as I write here.
I also congratulated them in the following manner:
"Be proud! You have now joined with the millions of messages people get about Viagra, Cialis, and the dozens of porn and weight loss sites advertised via this method."
Condemn spam in eRepublika!
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Comments
I disagree with you. The best advertising is through PMs and if someone takes to time to PM a billion people, that's their issue. Sending the message multiple times is spam.
"Condemn spam in eRepublika!" AMEN!
Hmmm....so sending out a PM to billions of people is not sending it out multiple times?
Perhaps the best advertising is through PMs but that does not mean it is still not spam. No doubt those millions of emails sent out to people result in huge sales (or they would not be done) but it is still spam.
So I get from what you are saying: "Spam is the best advertising."
I mean sending the message to the same person multiple times. The game does not really promote off market sales or little parties. The only way to spread the word to all players is through PMing them individually.
If it gets to a point where I get several messages a day I will be annoyed by it, but I have received a total of 1 of those advertising messages.
The practice will never be mainstream because it is so time intensive, but I see no problem with it provided the person has meaningful information in the message.
Actually i think spam is the only way we most know how to advertise- except through our newspapers, yet even those spam people about their newspaper.
There are no PMs in this game, only "messages."
If it was labeled "personal message" or "PM" I'd agree with you. As it is, it's just a messaging system.
Also, your definition of spam isn't completely accurate. But going by just that definition, the message doesn't constitute spam. Since the message was targeted, it doesn't align with the purported goal as described.
I sent a shout out that a new company was hiring. Would you consider that spam too?
Sorry, but advertising is our right. You can delete the messages as they come in, but I don't consider it spam if someone is trying to let you know what they have. Living in a spam free erep is like asking to live in a telemarketer free RW. It's just not happening.
lol thanx John
I agree, how are we going to advertise our products?
Point to the spammers.
I think we have no right to make spam illegal...but anyone who does it is doomed to be labeled an annoying pain in the ass. Find ways to advertise that don't piss people off. Like the Second Hand Shop, who sells a wide variety of used products instead of CHEAP Q1 WEAPONS!! 😉
People in erep throw the word Spam around to much. Like said before if someone is going to spent hours Sending messages to people then they have every right to do that. There is really no way to advertise except through newspapers and messages. In all my time that I have been in erep I have recieved no messages. Most people don't do this and the ones that do, are just putting extra care in their business. All you have to do is click twice and the message is deleted. Its really not that big of a problem, if it can even be called a problem.
As much as it is your right to spam, it's Mo's right to hate it. Point to civil rights.
Let's call it a draw then 🙂
czeckmaster makes a good point. there are other ways to advertise instead of just PMing
no he doesn't the only way he mentions is through newspaper. that leaves PM or IRC. SO he doesn't make any point
nice 🙂
Ouch...ice cold, Vlad.
😛
@M A V 1 C: Actually there are only PMs in the game. Each message is a "private message". And would you mind telling me your authority on defining what is or is not "Exactly correct" per what is SPAM? It is just opinion as is mine. 😛
@John Jay: It is a "right"? Exactly how do you define "rights"? I am interested in reading that.
@Donovator: You are not exactly unbiased are you? I mean, you are a major contributor to spam, right? 😃
I think it should be recognized that while it is a most efficient method of making sales the concept to sending out messages to people who are unknown purely for the sake of making a sale is, by definition, spam. That does not make it illegal, or legal. But to me it is annoying and I will voice my opinion. After all THAT is a right.
i seem to recall a certain military recruitment campaign that got me no less than 3 messages trying to recruit me... 2 from the same person, and the same exact message.
There are many uses for spam, and not all of them are bad. As long as people aren't being purposefully obnoxious, I see no problem in it.
Yes, Laffopuritain. Also that recruitment campaign was initiated by our beloved President and the only reason it was so obnoxious was because there was a cash prize for the winner. I am curious as to how many recruited during that time are still active. My preferred method of recruitment was posting newspaper articles and forum messages urging persons to enlist for patriotic reasons. Not for monetary gain.
Quote: no he doesn't the only way he mentions is through newspaper. that leaves PM or IRC. SO he doesn't make any point
True. Also, I believe that if you were to use the newspaper as an advertising tool, people would scream that you are spamming the media. I have seven companies. I believe I would be getting yelled at daily.
Quote: @John Jay: It is a "right"? Exactly how do you define "rights"? I am interested in reading that.
It becomes my right when I pay to play this game and sit at my desk and play it. My companies flourish when I advertise. And rather than pay someone to advertise in their newspaper, I send out private messages to get my brand name out. Is a commercial on television spam? Certainly not. Sure you can change the channel. But you can also delete my messages without looking at them. No harm no foul right?
'Rights' in a game can be tricky Moishe, I agree. Let's see if i can give you some of the 'rights' you enjoy in this game. The freedom to exist wherever you want. The freedom to start a company wherever you wish. And a GM to bitch to when someone pisses you off, violating YOUR rights as an erep player. I'd say all in all, we have freedoms in this sim that most others do not.
There's something you forgot: this definition of "spam" is inspired from a Monty Python's sketch; in which the word "spam" is repeated almost constantly. ("What is there to eat?" "Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam cheese, eggs, bacon and spam") or something like that.
Fhtagn!
(;,,😉