We are all just voices in the usenet wilderness. ;)

<drift@lost.net> wrote in message
news:bkj4uv4c8j23c91kq03lcjb26mvmoei56o@4ax.com...

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 00:03:31 GMT, "Ron Baker" <rbaker4@msnn.com>
wrote:

<drift@lost.net> wrote in message
news:fjd4uvslg3rk5e37dlmfpp54p58g8tijb0@4ax.com...

Dear people:

I read the alt.atheism FAQ to review rules regarding spam. It's
mentioned in the statement about how repeated offenses of OT, hate,
and spam will be reported. Good. However, it didn't define spam, altho
I think the common connotation is E-mail that you don't want, usually
sales pitches.

That said, I ask where do you all draw the line?

This post is prompted by the fact that I recently sent a post
recommending a product that works for me, and when I read it later, I
could see how it could be taken as spam.

I was reported.

I'm not angry nor do I have anything against the complainant.

I am not trying to "feel out" the rules, I'm not looking for loopholes
so as to pitch products under the radar.

I have nothing to sell, and if I did, I'd use legitimate ways to
market it.

I enjoy this newsgroup and I'll take my lumps and learn if I violate
the rules.

If I said I like xyz computers and mine cost $XXXX, would that be
spam?

How about my xyz snow thrower is a bargain at $xx.xx

Or ZXC hot dogs are the best and only cost $.x.x

Opinion or spam?

Thanks.

drift

Hey drift,

(I saw the subject post. It wasn't I who reported you.)
If you are sincere and convincing in that you actually
have no financial interest in the recommended product
I think you will be fine.
Also, if you are recognized as a regular contributor
I would think you would have fewer problems.
I've seen you post before but you are still
a little new maybe?

-Ron Baker, Proctologist of Religion

Thanks, Ron!

I know it wasn't you, and I'm not interested in fingerpointing. I
don't live in the past.

As to being new, I've been at it for a few years, but despite my

Maybe you are more experienced than I. ;)

efforts at being clear, I'm sometimes bad at being understood. I'm a
klutz socially, anyhow because I don't "run with the herd".

You sound like a younger me.
My advanced years have knocked some of the rough edges off.
(Maybe ;)

I've been
like that since birth and it's caused me trouble since, but I still
think in my strange ways.

The Christian majority view the way we think
as strange.
I think my 'strange' ways are right but I try to phrase things for
the audience.
(And, of course, theists that wander into alt.atheism
are fair game. ;)

I speak sharply against things I dislike, and practically all of them
have their root in illogical emotional thinking, and I know that being
human I can only strive for but not achieve perfect logical being;
there's emotion even in the faded jaded me. But I don't sell it or
anything else.

Cool. Don't be too hard on yourself and don't take
the rest of us too seriously either.
We are all just voices in the usenet wilderness. ;)

Mr. Bilbo's comment were good too.

-Ron Baker

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 00:39:02 GMT, khartoum
<khartoumNOSPAM@insightbb.com> wrote:

Ron Baker wrote:

<drift@lost.net> wrote in message
news:fjd4uvslg3rk5e37dlmfpp54p58g8tijb0@4ax.com...

Dear people:

I read the alt.atheism FAQ to review rules regarding spam. It's
mentioned in the statement about how repeated offenses of OT, hate,
and spam will be reported. Good. However, it didn't define spam, altho
I think the common connotation is E-mail that you don't want, usually
sales pitches.

That said, I ask where do you all draw the line?

This post is prompted by the fact that I recently sent a post
recommending a product that works for me, and when I read it later, I
could see how it could be taken as spam.

I was reported.

I'm not angry nor do I have anything against the complainant.

I am not trying to "feel out" the rules, I'm not looking for loopholes
so as to pitch products under the radar.

I have nothing to sell, and if I did, I'd use legitimate ways to
market it.

I enjoy this newsgroup and I'll take my lumps and learn if I violate
the rules.

If I said I like xyz computers and mine cost $XXXX, would that be
spam?

How about my xyz snow thrower is a bargain at $xx.xx

Or ZXC hot dogs are the best and only cost $.x.x

Opinion or spam?

Thanks.

drift

Hey drift,

(I saw the subject post. It wasn't I who reported you.)
If you are sincere and convincing in that you actually
have no financial interest in the recommended product
I think you will be fine.
Also, if you are recognized as a regular contributor
I would think you would have fewer problems.
I've seen you post before but you are still
a little new maybe?

-Ron Baker, Proctologist of Religion

I agree, I did recognize drift's name so in no way did I think he was
spamming. I think that the poster that reported you did not recognize
your name.

Probably.

Anyway I'm not on a witch hunt, just a learning curve.

We all slip up and forget a little tolerance once in a while.

I get a little lax, too once in a while.

We're human!!

We try our best, and still stumble on things to learn about.

Thanks for the supportive comment.

(jenny6833a@aol.comClothes (Jenny6833A)):

Jeremy Martin

(drift@lost.net):

Opinion or spam?

I consider your message spam because it wasted my damn time.


--
Jeremy Martin

I consider *your* message spam because it wasted my damn time.

I consider *YOUR* message..

:-)

Jenny

Before emailing, remove Clothes

Oh, uh.. wait a second.

*gets naked*

Want to play Monopoly? You can be a part of my corporation!

(jenny6833a@aol.comClothes (Jenny6833A)):

Jeremy Martin

(drift@lost.net):

Opinion or spam?

I consider your message spam because it wasted my damn time.


--
Jeremy Martin

I consider *your* message spam because it wasted my damn time.

I consider *YOUR* message..

:-)

Jenny

Before emailing, remove Clothes

Oh, uh.. wait a second.

*gets naked*

Want to play Monopoly? You can be a part of my corporation!

On 19 Dec 2003 07:50:19 GMT, jenny6833a@aol.comClothes (Jenny6833A)
wrote:

Jeremy Martin

(drift@lost.net):

Opinion or spam?

I consider your message spam because it wasted my damn time.


--
Jeremy Martin

I consider *your* message spam because it wasted my damn time.

:-)

Jenny

Before emailing, remove Clothes

I've removed my clothes, and E-mailed somebody. What do I do now?

(drift@lost.net):

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 01:40:08 -0600, Jeremy Martin
<harhar@pirates-ahoy.com> wrote:

(drift@lost.net):

Opinion or spam?

I consider your message spam because it wasted my damn time.

I love to spend my time responding. How's your cat, Dante?

One respondemento uno uno dos tres coming up.

Oh, he's doing great. I'm still trying to find a "sister" for
him.

And so upon Thu, 18 Dec 2003 20:03:41 -0500 didst drift speak thusly:

On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 17:53:52 -0600, "Mark K. Bilbo"
<see.blog@sig.below> wrote:

And so upon Thu, 18 Dec 2003 18:42:26 -0500 didst drift speak thusly:

Dear people:

I read the alt.atheism FAQ to review rules regarding spam. It's
mentioned in the statement about how repeated offenses of OT, hate,
and spam will be reported. Good. However, it didn't define spam, altho
I think the common connotation is E-mail that you don't want, usually
sales pitches.

Actually, "spam" arose on Usenet before email. "Spamming" started on
Usenet long before the Internet was even opened to the public.

That said, I ask where do you all draw the line?

This post is prompted by the fact that I recently sent a post
recommending a product that works for me, and when I read it later, I
could see how it could be taken as spam.

I was reported.

I'm not angry nor do I have anything against the complainant.

I am not trying to "feel out" the rules, I'm not looking for loopholes
so as to pitch products under the radar.

I have nothing to sell, and if I did, I'd use legitimate ways to
market it.

I enjoy this newsgroup and I'll take my lumps and learn if I violate
the rules.

If I said I like xyz computers and mine cost $XXXX, would that be
spam?

How about my xyz snow thrower is a bargain at $xx.xx

Or ZXC hot dogs are the best and only cost $.x.x

Opinion or spam?

Thanks.

Depends on the context. If you're in a conversation and mention something
related to what's being discussed, that's not usually construed as spam.
If you up and post--out of the blue--something about some product, it's
going to look like spam.

I'd have to see the post that was reported before I could comment
specifically. You don't cite it in this post.

And it is good to ask questions. Spam is aggressively reported on Usenet.
We're no exception here...

Thanks, Mark.

I'm not going to go repost, or reveal the complainant. What's done is
done, we're human, and instead of revenge, I just want to get clear on
the subject,

Overall, I wouldn't worry about it *that much. It happens. Don't walk
around on eggshells or anything.

Part of it is just that this is a *big newsgroup. Something around a
thousand messages a day. So it's just going to take time for people to get
to know you so they recognize you. People get to know you and know you're
not a spammer, there'll be less chance of being misunderstood. Just takes
time...