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Wikipedia defines SPAM for us:
“Spam is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages.”
Just like almost everyone else you talk to, I hate spam. I hate it on all fronts. I hate getting stupid sales calls. I hate getting popups in my web browser. I hate junk mail and junk faxes. And I HATE SPAM EMAIL!
I get enough email already. I like getting email. I get email from friends and family keeping in touch with me. I get email notifying me of all sorts of things from new comments on Facebook to appointments I would normally miss if I hadn’t put them into my google calendar. And, occasionally I will get an email from myself rememnding me to do something or visit some website (corny, I know). So, I DO NOT NEED SPAM on top of everything else!
In order to rid yourself of something unwanted in life, you must first identify it, then eraticate it. As I see it, there are actually three types of email SPAM that bug me the most often:
- Automated, unwanted spam with a known source, like advertisements from websites you’ve given your email to while signing up for various things, like newsletters or software registration.
- Automated, unsolicited spam with an unknown source, like those Cialis ads that come out of nowhere or bank notifications from institutions you KNOW you’ve never done business with.
- Email forwards, like those chain letters from your Uncle Marvin who sends along those emails warning him of some pitiful fate if he doesn’t.
Once you have identified the email as SPAM and have fit it into one of these categories, now you must irraticate it! You don’t just want to delete it! SPAM is like a weed which if you just cut off what is above the ground, it will spring back up again and again. Don’t forget, SPAM is like a weed!
Each category of email SPAM needs a different method of irradication. One method will not work properly with all of them and if implimented improperly, you may cause more problems! Here are the methods separated by category:
- Automated, unwanted spam with a known source: I think this one is the easiest one to deal with. Most of these have a link somewhere in the email labeled “unsubscribe.” Just click this link. It may require you to enter your email somewhere. Viola! The emails SHOULD stop, meanwhile you can always create a separate email address for online sign-ups and registrations! WARNING! Before clicking any links, PLEASE make sure you know where the email is coming from! If you don’t recognize where it came from, you’re dealing with the next category of email SPAM,
- Automated, unsolicited spam with an unknown source: This type of SPAM, I believe, is the most difficult to deal with. It may include misleading information, or worse, a virus or a link to one! If you don’t recognize where an email has come from, PLEASE DO NOT EVEN OPEN IT! If you DO find you’ve opened an email from an unknown source, PLEASE do not follow any links, even an “unsubscribe” link! The results of such actions MAY be devastating. Just play it safe and don’t open it. All I would do when encountered would be to hit the “mark as SPAM” button in your email program or service and let it go. Marking it as SPAM will at least help cut down on these.
- Email forwards: These can be tricky to deal with because usually there is a real person behind them and it usually is someone close to you. The question is how to deal with it without hurting feelings. You CAN “reply to all” telling them to stop spamming you or they can forget getting anything from you for Christmas next year, but that can come across as harsh, mean, or down right draconian! We want to find a more tender way of asking them to remove them from their chain mail list. OR you can do what I do and attempt to filter emails with “fwd” or “fw” in the subject line and send them directly to the spam or junk folder. I did a post a while back about email forwarding (check out the update, too!) I particularly like this option because you can enjoy an ongoing relationship with your friend or loved-one AND free your inbox from those crazy forwards. Plus, you can always keep an eye on your junk ro spam folder to see if you missed anything important.
There you have it! While I’m sure nothing’s fool proof, your email inbox should be looking much less cluttered! Don’t just sit around hating SPAM, do something about it!
Hey Tim,
Also wanted to add in there, that google mail, most commonly referred to as gmail is a superb source for a lot of spammers. While looking online for work, I’ve seen hundreds of e-mail accounts that are gmail accounts. And without fail, EVERY single one of those accounts has an auto reply when sends you to a link for signing up for a work program. This actually may not be considered spam, but I’m getting to that. Because you follow the link and sign up thinking it’s some kind of application process, you then get spammed by a host of other gmail accounts. A large portion of these will capitalize the last name. Such as Joe SMITH. These are spam bots, and they all have unique accounts, so you can mark these as spam, but the new address is generated and it starts over again. Beware. Just a friendly hint.
Good point, Dave!
As a general rule, I’d be careful giving out a personal email anywhere online (unless you fully understand the consequences, like if you know the reputation of the company or individual).
Personally, I opened a “SPAM” email account, an account that I just use for online sign-ups, like job search sites. That way, if that email account gets inundated by SPAM, it doesn’t bother my personal email.
Also, another source of spam is from bots grabbing your email off of websites. Never post your email outright on a website if you don’t want spam. Use a contact form or something similar.
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