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ISP Chief on Spam

saddlark writes "internetweek.com has another article about spam and false positives. They've talked to Barry Shein, president of The World (the worlds first dialup ISP) - someone highly affected by spam. Quote: We're victims of crime, and nobody gives a damn. That's a nice feeling -- your business is being pounded into dust by criminals, and people say, `Live with it,' Shein said." ISPs have it pretty bad since their SMTP servers are often being hijaaked to send email that nobody wants. As annoying as spam is to us (113 messages so far today!), it's even worse on that side.

4 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. In other news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    internetweek.com talk to Alan Ralsky - someone highly affected by spam - "I'm a victim of crime and no-one gives a damn!"

  2. Government Bans Email by jlharris_50010 · · Score: 3, Funny

    WASHINGTON, DC- Instead of dealing with the email spam problem, the Congress today passed a bill that blocks the use of email by all American citzens. Although this may hurt buisness in the short term, officials expect that this will probably help the post office.

  3. Make the spammers pay! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Slashdot them bankrupt!

    Click all the adverts, they are ads for spamware/spamming. The 1000's of clicks slashdot could generate will really hurt their cash flow!

    Want to hurt them more? Click here!

  4. The Bush Administration Guide to SPAM by rmckeethen · · Score: 4, Funny

    As much as I detest government regulation interfering with rich business leaders trying to eek out big profits, I think it's time that the Bush administration take notice and do something about the SPAM problem. I'm suggesting you make it a Federal felony Mr. President, because the state-by-state approach just isn't working. SPAMer's are stealing the rightful profits out of the pockets of ISP owner's, just the same way that the eco-freaks are stealing new business opportunities from the oil industry. But it's much worse then that.

    You see, Internet bandwidth is a lot like oil. Everyone needs to use some, but there's a big group of rustlers out there right now that don't pay their fair share for it. They steal it, right out from under the Internet oilman's nose, because there are no stiff penalties to prevent it. These rustlers, let's call them terrorists because that's what they really are, tap Internet wells from across state lines, and if the state takes an interest, they just move their pumps to another state that hasn't run into the problem yet. Some of these pirates are stealing up to 40 percent of the Internet oilman's production. How can the poor Internet oilman operate under those kinds of circumstances?

    Mr. President, it's simple really. SPAMers are terrorists, out to steal business profits by selling the modern equivalent of oil without paying the oilman for it. How can the administration not do something about this?

    Some of these Internet oilmen are in Texas, a state I know you love and cherish. While I'm sure your advisors keep telling you that it's the hippies in the liberal-land of California that are behind this Internet thing, they're wrong. Those left-wing Silicon Valley jerks only build the equipment that the Internet oilmen use, like making the pumps and the hoses, they don't actually run the Internet oil business. Texans could run the Internet wells, if only your administration gives them a chance and does something about these profit-terrorists we call SPAMers.

    Hell, if you're willing to suspend civil liberties for guys like Jose Padilla, why not just forget the legal process and let the tribunals deal with these losers? They are enemy combatants Mr. President, traitors in the war on profitability, and I'm sure you can find a nice deep hole for them somewhere. I've got addresses and phone numbers Mr. Bush, and I'm ready to help the fight on terrorism!