ONLINE-ADS>> Who's Net is it? [was "Drawing the Line"]

John Foulds (ae684_at_freenet.carleton.ca)
Fri, 4 Oct 1996 02:29:06 -0400

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Archive Home Page
• Search
• Next message: Dominic Taylor: "ONLINE-ADS>> Search Engines Pricing Catalogue"
• Previous message: Mark Grimes: "ONLINE-ADS>> double your CTR, double your fun"

As to where do you draw the line re: email address extraction tools amd
mass mailings, there are three approaches to the answer:

#1-Culturally: you don't use them.
#2-Morally: you don't use them.
#3-Legally: until a judicial system steps in, there is no line.

This practice is already ugly and going to get obscene. People can't
stand receiving blind junk mail, so name brand entities won't gamble the
bad PR. But that doesn't stop (a) newbies with their first access account
and a lack of full comprehension of the issue, and (b) dubious vets with
the tools and know-how to be very good at it.

But I'm well there is a flip-side of the coin of course. Consider
Microsoft. Here is a multinational firm using the net to both save and
generate a lot of money. When I think of the pipe they must suck on a
typical day I go mental.

I've tried to come up with a good reason why an individual with a
home-office product to vend shouldn't bomb the backbone with junk in light
of this, and quite honestly can't. Sure it's web vs. unsolicited email,
sure it's push vs. pull, still, it's all promotion packaged as information.

Soon enough there will be rules and legislation covering all this. It's
as inevitable as the moon rising in the sky. But in the meantime, should
everyone sit back and let Mr. Big take all the candy?

Who's Net is it?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Foulds jf_at_ottawa.com
Westboro, Ontario, Canada ae684_at_freenet.carleton.ca
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's Online Advertising Discussion List sponsors:

>>>>>>>>Announcing the 1996 CyberAtlas Web Advertising Roadmap<<<<<<<<
Need quick answers? Get a copy of the Roadmap and find your way around
click-through, banner design, and much more: http://www.cyberatlas.com

----------------------------------------------------

======================== AD JUGGLER ========================
Advanced management system that makes maintaining banner ads a breeze
100% web based, full stats & reports. more: http://www.adjuggler.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Archive Home Page
• Search
• Next message: Dominic Taylor: "ONLINE-ADS>> Search Engines Pricing Catalogue"
• Previous message: Mark Grimes: "ONLINE-ADS>> double your CTR, double your fun"

With an archive of more than 14,000 postings, since 1996 the Online Advertising Discussion List has been the Internet's leading forum focused on professional discussion of online advertising and online media buying and selling strategies, results, studies, tools, and media coverage. If you wish to join the discussion list, please use this link to sign up on the home page of the Online Advertising Discussion List.