Toyota Claims Woman "Opted In" To Faux Email Stalking

An anonymous reader writes "ABC News is reporting that a California woman is suing Toyota for $10 million for sending her email that appeared to be from a criminal stalker. The woman claims the emails terrified her to the point that she suffered sleeplessness, poor work performance, etc. Toyota says the ruse was part of a marketing campaign for the Toyota Matrix. A Toyota spokesman says they are not liable for the woman's distress, because 'The person who made this claim specifically opted in, granting her permission to receive campaign emails and other communications from Toyota.'"

Comments

Opted In

[inglishmayjer]

Yes! I'd like to receive death threats, disturbing messages, and other items of a stalking nature from Toyota Motor Corporation.

Re:Opted In

[TheRaven64]

Apple has been running a very creepy campaign recently where they get people in berets to sit in corner shops with Macs and sneer at potential customers.

Oh, sorry, I've just been informed that that wasn't a marketing effort at all, those were just regular Mac users.

Re:Opted In

[SnarfQuest]

If I received messages like that, I'm sure that I'd immediately run out and buy the car. Would that work for telephone soliciters?
CALLER: I'm coming over to kill you!
ME: Why yes, I'd like to test drive your new car.
CALLER: I'll also rape your dead body!
ME: Really! A free cookbook with a test drive. Awsome.

Re:I'm over 35

[oldhack]

Lawyers are suing marketers for trying to out-douche them.

Re:I don't understand advertising

[mshannon78660]

Maybe they were hoping for Stockholm syndrome to set in?

Re:I'm over 35

[NotBornYesterday]

$_EVIL_RANT = "true"

When I first read the article, it made me realize that my least-favorite people were neatly represented here; a gold-digger playing "Lawsuit Lotto", brainless marketing drones, and two sets of evil lawyers; a) the lawyers who wrote a shitty, incomprehensible opt-in, and b) the ambulance-chasing losers inciting this woman to get every penny she thinks she deserves.

What I propose is simple. Arm them all with machetes, and drop them in a pit. Last one standing get lifted out, bandaged, and after convalescence is put to work earning a modest but honest living for the rest of their life.

Within 1 year, I predict that frivolous lawsuits would mostly cease to exist, legalese would become plainer, and slimy marketing campaigns would become scarce.

$_EVIL_RANT = "false"

The preceding text may contain hyperbole and derision, substances which the State of California has determined can cause cancer and advanced stages of whining. By reading this post, you agree to the following:
a) you are opting in to reading it, you agree not to hold the writer responsible for your personal wretchedness,
b) you agree not to take the writer literally, and/or post responses implying the above proposal was in any way serious (unless you are a television producer, and are willing to pay me lots of money to produce this as a prime-time sporting event),
c) you agree that if you have mod points, you will award the writer +1 (of any positive category of moderation),
d) and most importantly, you agree not to sue the writer in an attempt to pay off the credit cards you maxed out a couple years ago. Plus, I have no money, so suing me won't do you a damn bit of good anyway.