What happens when the table is turned and a spammer gets spammed by those he has abused with his spam? Witness the event at slantsix.com’s forum.

The above link was left in a comment to my post, Rankingdirect.com or TechFiesta, which was written about email spam but apparently these spammers spam everything and anything. While I give kudos to Sandy of Slantsix.com for choosing to do something about the spam being posted on his forum instead of just ignoring it, I’m not sure that the way it has been handled is the way it should have been handled. Fighting fire with fire is never the best way to deal with a pyromaniac. The spammer’s fire is now blazing out of control, scorching long spammy messages on the forum, some with Sandy’s personal information attached to “Call Sandy for Free Porn!” I mean, really, would an adult be so childish?

My first thought was why does Sandy allow it to continue but I think he is leaving the evidence for the authorities to see. I think I would just take screen shots and delete the crap but then, I wouldn’t have done what Sandy did anyway. I have fought against spam for a long time now and know that it’s a loosing battle. As long as there is money to be made from spamming, there will be those who choose to spam. The only way it will ever stop is if everyone stops opening their wallets to spammers. Even making it illegal will not stop it, though it might slow it down and give use some recourse. Getting their sites shut down by their IP’s doesn’t work or it’s only a temporary reprieve. It’s just too easy to get another IP these days. Educating the general public on what not to do with spam and how not to fall prey to spammers and perhaps, expose the spammers publicly for what they are is what might make a difference. Unfortunately, there will always be those who will click on that spam link in their email, forum, blog, referral logs, or guest book and invite the spammers to the party, especially if it looks like they will bring liquid spirits.

We have laws against drugs in the US but it hasn’t stopped anyone who wants to take or sell drugs. Spamming is a drug of sorts. Those doing the spamming get a rush of anticipated wealth, those selling the paraphernalia and the how-to use it are counting on the green-dope of greed to overrule common sense and go for the short-term elusive high instead of the long-term natural high. No SELF respecting human would stoop so low. Unfortunately, there are many who do not respect themselves enough to respect others. Very sad but also very true.

So, spam and spammers are here to stay. All any of us can do is find ways to keep it under some kind of control and never give a spammer our business, no matter how enticing it might be.

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