Re: AOL Charged With Blocking Opponents' e-Mail

[Matthew Murphy <mattmurphy () kc rr com>]

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Larry Seltzer wrote:
> What really burns me up about this is that there's no rational reading of
> the situation in which the amount of spam getting to AOL users increases or
> decreases (unless Goodmail is wildly incompetent or corrupt, neither of
> which I'm going to assume). Goodmail is not supposed to decrease spam, it's
> supposed to decrease false positives. That's all.

The problem of course, with that reading of Goodmail is that Goodmail
will in fact decrease false positives.  If only because it will decrease
total positives. :-)

I wholly dispute your claim that "the amount of spam getting to AOL
users" won't increase or decrease.  The amount of stuff that's blatant
spam (i.e., viagra, etc.) probably won't increase.  However, the amount
of so-called targeted marketing that is based on interests or "business
relationships" will likely surge.  To most people, that e-mail is still
spam.

The bottom line is this: no outside agency has any right to decide what
e-mail is or is not spam.  If I choose to question their decision, I
ought to have that right.  That means it's my decision to label your
"certified" e-mail spam and NOT have my ISP's filter deliver it to me
anyway.  Further, I also have the right to expect that e-mail will be
delivered to me WITHOUT BIAS if I decide that similar e-mail (even if
uncertified) is not spam.  Goodmail takes control of my inbox away from
me.  Therefore, it's a TERRIBLE idea.

AOL's choice to censor opposition to its misguided proposal (which
ultimately screws consumers and only benefits advertisers) only provides
further warrant to the claim that AOL will not be inclined to make the
best choice for the consumer.

- --
"Social Darwinism: Try to make something idiot-proof,
nature will provide you with a better idiot."

                                -- Michael Holstein

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