Spam Wars: Battling the Relentless Web Tide. (Media)

Wren, Celia, Commonweal

As if generated by some cyber-sorcerer's apprentice, they seem more numerous each day. "After Christmas blowout sale--the tiniest remote control cars ever made!" "Make a fortune on eBay!" "Looking for more betting action?" "You too can name a star for someone very special to you!" They are tireless and insolent, these unsolicited commercial e-mails that blight the information age and have come to be know as spam.

Sometimes the appeals are humdrum ("Full-color business cards at no cost--don't miss out!"); sometimes they are pathetic ("Needed: Dogs and Cats for Movies! Do you think your pet has star potential?"). Sometimes they hint at a melodramatic backstory--the crime that led to the invitation to "Bid now on these seized goods!" But frequently it's better not to think too hard about the offer, as with the recent promo for that waterproof, vibrating personal …

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Publication information: Article title: Spam Wars: Battling the Relentless Web Tide. (Media). Contributors: Wren, Celia - Author. Magazine title: Commonweal. Volume: 130. Issue: 3 Publication date: February 14, 2003. Page number: 16. © 1999 Commonweal Foundation. COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group.

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