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Web Profits in the Gutter

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the storm-drains-clogged-with-spam dept.

The New York Times has an article about the web's one true growth industry: spam, fraud and porn. Societal meltdown or flourishing ecosystem? The talking heads debate.

8 of 388 comments (clear)

  1. They shut it down? by OzRoy · · Score: 3, Funny

    "When the Arizona attorney general's office recently shut down a Scottsdale company, CP Direct, it offered a glimpse into the spoils of the Internet's dark side. The company sold pills via the Web that promised to increase penis length, bust size and body height."

    I guess my pills aren't coming then :(

    Now I will have to send away for that tiger penis balm that is guaranteed to make me hung like a stallion and sexually attractive to women.

  2. Re:Nothing changes... by GigsVT · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've always looked at online spam as an opportunity

    Welcome to my foes list.

    --
    I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  3. Re:Fraud and Spam? by GigsVT · · Score: 4, Funny

    but frankly i don't know how people are so stupid that they fall for internet scams or buy products through "special deals" *exclusively* for them and 20,000,000 other people.

    Next Sunday, sit across the street from a church parking lot for your answer. Some people will believe anything.

    --
    I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  4. Gutenberg? by Rui+del-Negro · · Score: 3, Funny

    Porn helped drive the printing and video industries. Gutenberg's second book, after the Bible, was erotic stories.

    So he moved from hardcore to softcore, huh?

    RMN
    ~~~

  5. Re:Gutenberg has 400 books!!!???! by Alsee · · Score: 3, Funny

    Try 5,750!

    In other words the original poster was correct, "more than 400".

    Chuckle. Sorry, couldn't resist.

    -

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    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  6. Re:Success is only measured in $$$ by Negatyfus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Thank you for stereotyping all Europeans. Besides, your last comment largely confirms the American stereotype.

  7. bad grouping by tomdarch · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is it really useful to group spam and fraud along with porn? Fraud and spam are inherently harmful. Porn may be de facto harmful in its production, but there is an important distinction. Now, if only the porn distributors would stop spamming everyone!

  8. Re:Why is anyone surprised? by susano_otter · · Score: 3, Funny
    There's nothing wrong with porn, or sex for that matter, that your hypothetical middle schooler needs to be shielded from.

    Excellent! Tell me where your hypothetical middle schooler is, because I've got some scat donkey porn featuring unwilling 13-year old girls that I'd like to expose him to!

    Just out of curiosity, what do you think middle-schoolers should be shielded from, and why?

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    Any sufficiently well-organized community is indistinguishable from Government.