Spam From Tourbus?

"Not sure how to say this -- but just for fun I clicked on a credit card application, and then cancelled IMMEDIATELY! Well, two months later my count as of this day: 2948 spams for credit cards, loans, easy credit, etc. About 370 spams a week, or about 53 A DAY! While I know money support is nice, and I don't subscribe to the paid edition of TourBus BUT if I did, would I get more moral staunchness on your part re: allowing spammers to use your site? SHAME ON YOU, BROTHER! -- PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!!!!!"

I've Been Spammed! (And I'm Blaming You)

I get emails like this occasionally, from people who have visited the TOURBUS website, clicked on an advertisement and then were unhappy with the results. Some blame me for spam, others for customer service problems with the advertiser.

I can't understand why some people have the misconception that every advertiser on a reputable website is somehow vetted or vouched for by the website operator. To think so would be applying a much different standard to the online world than to print or broadcast media.

If you pick up a copy of the NY Times and browse through the classifieds, certainly you don't assume that everyone advertising there is completely honest, and that the Times is endorsing their product or service. And if you buy something from a TV infomercial, you don't blame the television station if the product doesn't meet your expectations.

Caveat Pre-Emptor?

So why are the concepts of "buyer beware" and "due diligence" conspicuously absent on the Internet?

Even for advertisers that appear in the TOURBUS newsletter, with whom I deal directly, there's no way I can check them all out to ensure that everyone will always have a perfect purchasing experience. I do, however, have a policy of "If you can't get satisfaction from the advertiser, I will personally make it right." And of course I'll no longer allow bad faith actors to advertise in the newsletter. But for the website ads, we don't even have the means to check out individual advertisers. Because web ads are served by third-party advertising networks, we don't even have control over which speficic ads appear on the site, except for the fact that they should be contextually relevant.

Protecting Your Privacy

Spam is the bane of the Internet, and we hate it as much as you do. In fact, the publishers of Tourbus have been quite active over the years in educating their readers about spam, where it comes from, and how to avoid it. Because we respect your privacy, we have always pledged that we will not rent, sell or otherwise reveal your e-mail address to any third party. And since we started in 1995, we never have!

Your email address is safe with us, but if you click away from the TOURBUS newsletter or website to a third party offering a product or service, you have to realize you're on your own, and use the same caution that you would when making any purchasing decision -- online of offline. That's not because we're mean or greedy, it's just common sense.

Online consumers should ALWAYS read the advertiser's privacy policy to see how their email and other personal information will be used. No privacy policy? Vague (or endless) privacy policy? No sale!

(Oh, and for the record, there is no paid version of TOURBUS.)

BOB RANKIN... is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author of several computer books, and creator of the http://LowfatLinux.com website. Visit Bob Rankin's website for more helpful articles and free tech support. SpamBully 4 for Outlook and Outlook Express End your spam nightmare and make email enjoyable again by keeping your Inbox free of annoying spam. Our intelligent spam filter for Outlook and Outlook Express analyzes email so effectively that in many cases it is more accurate than filtering by hand. Easy to use! Works with Outlook, Outlook Express and the new Windows Mail in Vista. Print this article    Tell a friend User comments: dagwood255 - Posted on: 2010-08-31 12:43:48 Not sure how to say this -- but just for fun I clicked on a credit card application, and then cancelled IMEADTELY!! Well, two months later my count as of this day: 2948 spams for credit cards, loans, easy credit, etc. ________________ Door Furniture Door Handles phoenixp160 - Posted on: 2011-07-26 08:26:54 "Not certain how to say this -- but just for fun I clicked on a credit card application, and then cancelled IMMEDIATELY! Well, 2 months later my count as of at the present time: 2948 spams for credit cards, loans, straightforward credit, etc. _____________ Web Design Website Design livingwitlife - Posted on: 2011-09-06 13:12:40 The most popular DNSBLs (DNS Blacklists) are lists of IP addresses of known spammers, known open relays, known proxy servers, compromised “zombie” spammers, as well as hosts on the internet that shouldn’t be sending external emails, such as the end-user address space of a consumer ISP. These are known as “Dial Up Lists”, from the time when end users had to dial up to the internet with a modem and a phone line. SEO Services India SEO Experts SEO Content Link Building Services Video SEO Locali Roma leonard5983 - Posted on: 2012-01-05 10:11:36 There are aswell Reiki analysis classes offered through ambi GHD Boho Chic acquirements programs and online so its absolutely up to you to embrace the adeptness of this accession anatomy of healing or not. GHD Pink Orchid can be said to combine the advantages of these two GHD New Wave either way and straight hair can create a tool made good. I've wanted a pair of GHD Glamour since they became all the rage, but could never justify the price tag. Anyway, when I saw that Buyapowa had some GHD Blue Serenity I gasped in joy. The new improved curling barrel design allows easier and more flexible is a must have for today's straighteners GHD MK4 Pink who not only used for the straightener, but curls and volume for thicker hair types. GHD Purple has launched a completely new range of GHD Red. The gold ghd straighteners series has taken in recent GHD Pink Orchid model into new territory. Post New Comment This site does not allow anonymous comments. Registered members can login to participate. Registration is free and takes only a few seconds

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