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"Spim" is Latest Online Annoyance

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the pissing-in-the-modem-pool dept.

Pcol writes "The Washington Post reports that 'Spim,' as people are beginning to call unsolicited instant messages, is the latest sign that online marketers will seek to take advantage of other communication tools, not limiting themselves to spam or pop-up ads. The good news is that it's not easy for spimmers to send unsolicited instant messages. Instant message providers like AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo have a lot of control over their instant message networks, and since they look at their IM offerings as gateway services that help draw customers in to their paid Internet offerings, these firms are already committing resources to making sure the spim problem never reaches the same scale as spam." Even without the providers assistance, many people who use IM systems are smart enough to limit incoming messages to those from their buddy lists. Still, there must be enough of a success rate to move spimmers to continue messaging users.

18 of 292 comments (clear)

  1. SPIM by kelceylehrich · · Score: 3, Funny

    But there isn't a hated semi-meat food called spim. The cultural connotation won't be enough for people to hate it. We should call it pork-rhinds.

    1. Re:SPIM by DrEldarion · · Score: 3, Funny

      I worked at a grocery store for 7 years, and I can tell you that neither spam nor pork-rinds were hated. You'd be VERY surprised at how often they both went through the line. These weren't people who could only afford spam, either, this was in upper-middle-class suburbia.

    2. Re:SPIM by Hettch · · Score: 1, Funny

      I would agree, i do not hate spam in the least. And plus, its always fun bringing spam to the lunch table and people freaking out over it. Fried spam is a lovely thing.

  2. this is your chance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    write a program that automatically configures im clients to only accept incoming messages from the buddy list and sell it for 100$!

    problem is, i'll bet someone will actually do that...

  3. hrmm by acehole · · Score: 2, Funny

    So uhm, what's your icq/msn/aim/yahoo!/jabber numbers?

    --
    Be you Admins? nay, we are but lusers!
  4. Spim? spim! where's the monty python refreence by JamesD_UK · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, there's AOL messenger and Yahoo! messenger; AOL messenger MSN messenger and Yahoo! messenger; AOL messenger and spim; AOL messenger Yahoo! messenger and spim; AOL messenger Yahoo! messenger MSN messenger and spim; spim Yahoo! messenger MSN messenger and spim; spim AOL messenger spim spim Yahoo! messenger and spim; spim MSN messenger spim spim Yahoo! messenger spim tomato and spim; spim spim spim AOL messenger and spim; spim spim spim spim spim spim baked IRC spim spim spim......or Lobster Thermidor a Crevette with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried AOL messenger on top and spim...... Well, there's spim AOL messenger MSN messenger and spim, that's not got much spim in it.

    I don't want ANY spim! Seriously though, since when was this news? I remember receiving spam^H^Him years ago in ICQ.
  5. Easy to block spim when I'm on the computer but... by Pepp7 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... my aol IM get forwarded to my phone when I'm not online. That's when it gets really annoying... Anyone know a way to stop this?

  6. ICQ? by Dunarie · · Score: 2, Funny

    Jeeze, anyone that has left ICQ running for more than an hour has gotten "spim", since the "spimmers" can do just like telemarketers do, and go through the numbers untill they get someone. I remember getting a really 'sexy' spim message one time while I was away, my dad nearlly grounded me thinking it was someone I knew that I cybered with. :(

  7. Re:ASL ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Surely it can only have been there since the second person got ICQ?

  8. Other unwanted forms of avertising by dgenr8 · · Score: 5, Funny


    SHAM = Commercial messages delivered via amateur radio
    SPANK = Commercial TV in the classroom
    SPUD = Commercial crop circles, especially in potato fields
    SPELUNK = Advertisements on cave walls

    1. Re:Other unwanted forms of avertising by Cryp2Nite · · Score: 1, Funny

      SLAM: Derogatory advertising.
      SCAM: Untruthful advertising.
      SPIT: In-your-face advertising.
      SPIN: Political Advertising.
      SPIL: Waste Advertising.
      SPUTNIK: Orbital advertising.
      SPIDER: Stalking ads.
      SPONGE: Soft and wet adverting.
      SPRING: Seasonal Advertising.

  9. what's next?? by goodbye_kitty · · Score: 0, Funny

    whats next? spamming web discussion boards like slashdot?? come see my sexy webcams at

  10. You forgot . . . . by Anonymous+Poodle · · Score: 3, Funny

    SPUNK = Pr()n ads

  11. QUIM by dipipanone · · Score: 1, Funny

    But there isn't a hated semi-meat food called spim

    I propose the term Quasi-legal Instant Messages.

    It may not be a particularly accurate description of the problem, but it provides us with a great acronym. I'd love to see thousands of people posting:

    'I'm sick and tired of all this quim.'
    'I get far too much quim.'
    'Does anyone have any advice on how I can reduce the volume of my quim'
    etc...

  12. Damn!, I thought she was realy interested in me by thbigr · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought here invitation to check out here personal web site was a big come one. Sure the request for a Visa card seemed kind of strange, but then other girl friends I have had ask for my Visa card.

    Hmmmm....

    --
    Come the revolution, the Bourgeois, Capitalistic, "A PARKING STICKER HOLDERS", will be first against the wall!
  13. "SPIM" can be fun ! by Radium_ · · Score: 1, Funny

    "SPIM" ca be fun, especially when pr0n spammers use bots :-)

  14. SCO says SPIM is a derivative work... by Proudrooster · · Score: 4, Funny

    Today SCO announced the SPIM is a derivative work using the login that they SPIM begins with the letter 'S' (just like SCO). Darl McBride CEO of SCO announce that they would not take this lightly and were planning on sending threatening letters to anyone who sends or receives SPIM and to anyone with a name that begins with 'S'.

    Boycott SCO and SPIM!

  15. SPIM?! by ndogg · · Score: 4, Funny

    I know that MIPS assembly can be tough to learn, but never thought CS students would ever get to the point of annoying people on the internet with it...

    Oh, err, nevermind...

    --
    // file: mice.h
    #include "frickin_lasers.h"