Have The Anti Spam Groups Lost Touch With Reality?

By John Colanzi
Posted Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Every time I think the anti spam hysteria has gone as far as they can to make marketer's lives miserable, they prove me wrong and push the envelope even further.

The sad part of this problem is there are so many marketers that sympathize with them. One well know marketer has even gone so far as to compare myself, and other marketers who feel this situation has gotten out of hand, to the X-Files.

I really have to laugh at the pot calling the kettle black.

Here are two incidents from one day that will show how absurd this situation has become.

I received an email from one of my subscribers complaining they were unable to remove themselves from my list. I emailed them and let them know I would contact my list provider and do my best to have the situation corrected as quickly as humanly possible.

I also asked them to please let me know if they received future mailings so I could find out why support hadn't corrected the problem.

What was their response?

I received an email two days later. You are still sending me emails and if it keeps up I'll have to report you as a spammer.

Amazing! How understanding, how charitable.

Imagine the rush it must give someone to be able to hold a sword over my head. Imagine their feeling of power.

Well I'm sorry to disappoint everyone, but I wouldn't care if they held a gun to my head, the situation was beyond my control and their efforts would be better served making their business grow.

Ah! The X-Files get even thicker!!

On that same day I receive an email to my abuse department.

I don't have an abuse department, but nobody said these groups were populated by geniuses.

The story even gets better. They were emailing me to report a spam complaint against a fellow publisher.

Maybe it's me, but it seems slightly foolish to send a complaint to:

1. A Non existent spam department.

2. Asking a board member of E-crucible to reprimand a fellow publisher.

Wait here's the kicker!!

I should punish him because one of my articles was in his newsletter.

I must be dumb as a stump. I never considered punishing a publisher for running my articles.

Whoa Daddy!! I'm an X-Filer and they're the politically correct, sane, rational masters of the internet.

If these are the geniuses ruling the web, I'm more than satisfied being the dullest ax in the shed.

I owe them a debt of gratitude. Every time I find myself becoming too complacent, they send one of these foolish threats and get my blood flowing.

In the words of Pat Benatar, "Hit me with your best shot, fire away."

I'm content being the "Unforgiven,"

Wishing You Success,
John Colanzi

About the Author
John Colanzi. Does Internet marketing drive you crazy? Tired of wasting your money and/or time on programs that don't work? Visit our Free Online Marketing Library where marketer's reveal their most important, time- proven, and successful methods. (http://johncolanzi.com/freeware.html)