>...
>From: "Mike Jackson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <users@spamassassin.apache.org>
>References: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: Confession and rage
>Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 08:34:00 -0700
>...
>
>[snipped - um, pun intended]
>
>Okay, I'm going to take the devil's advocate approach here. By signing up
>with them, you created a business relationship. While their emails may be
>unwanted, they're not unsolicited. Your righteous indignation is unfounded -
>as much as I hate spam, this is not spam, or at least it's only spam in the
>most liberal definition thereof.
>
>Find a creative and positive solution. Educate, be polite, offer to set up a
>less amateurish mail system that would provide a way for customers to opt
>out of the emailings, ask your wife to learn to cut your hair. But for the
>love of Elvis don't act like a adolescent who's been dissed on the
>playground. It won't make you feel better, it won't help any other customers
>who don't want the emails, it won't help the business do things properly.
>
>
JohnS,
As many of the regulars on this list can tell you, I *hate* spam
as much as nearly anyone here; But... Mike is absolutely correct, what
they have done is "slimely", but is not for most purposes "spam" (IANAL).
It is UCE (unsolicited commercial email), and it meets some peoples' way
of defining spam, but to the best of my knowledge was entirely legal (you
did have a business relationship with them). Now, if a year were to pass
and it happened again - it would be "spam". Also, not having an "opt-out"
is, as best I understand, a legal no-no.
Your best solution is probably (despite the "good" haircuts), to
send them notice that you don't want to hear from them, and then just do
not ever go back. Even is you wanted to submit them to RBLs, there is very
little you can do with a single email (most require some number > 1 for
a listing). Still, if it makes you feel better, you can send the email
and note the lack of an opt-out clause to the FTC (whom I can promise will
do absolutely nothing).
Best luck, and I hope you can calm down (I do sympathize),
Paul Shupak
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
