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Tony
I was asked about this last night, so I thought I'd post it for discussion
here.

Obviously, we all despise spam. And there is some debate even about
carefully selected and targeted, but unsolicited emails from a website.

But what about a "tell a friend" link: When you click on it, you get a form
that sends an email from you to the email address you enter, saying
something like "check out this site", along with any personal comments you
add.

Obviously, there is possibility for abuse of this by spammers, but let's
leave off that discussion for the moment - basically, is the idea OK or not
OK with you, and why?

--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development

Snake Lady
Tony wrote:
QUOTE
I was asked about this last night, so I thought I'd post it for discussion
here.

Obviously, we all despise spam. And there is some debate even about
carefully selected and targeted, but unsolicited emails from a website.

But what about a "tell a friend" link: When you click on it, you get a form
that sends an email from you to the email address you enter, saying
something like "check out this site", along with any personal comments you
add.

Obviously, there is possibility for abuse of this by spammers, but let's
leave off that discussion for the moment - basically, is the idea OK or not
OK with you, and why?

I've used them on loads of e-commerce sites, and I've found they can

have a dramatic effect of multiplying traffic (so long as the offers are
good to start with)....

My opinion is that they're not spam....They're a valid marketing tool...
You are not the person who has sent an unsolicited email....Your
websites visitor did that....They merely used your servers to facilitate
the process....

Make sure you ask for the senders name and email addy so that you can
always open the email with
*senders name* at *senders email addy* was impressed by this offer and
they wanted to tell you all about it.
This makes it clear to the recippient that it wasn't you who initiated
the contact...

You might also want to have an opt-out database....If anyone receives
one of these emails and decides they dont want any more, they can
automatically add their email addy to your opt-out database by clicking
a simple link in the email they received....All tell-a-friend emails
check this database before sending, and if there's a match, it simply
doesn't send....

As a final security measure to prevent misuse, you could build in a
feature that either denies use to an IP address for 15 to 20 seconds
after sending, or else sets a temporary cookie on the senders system
that will only allow them to send every 15 to 20 seconds....Naturally,
if cookies are disabled, your tool would simply refuse to send...

--
www.fixaphoto.co.uk
for photographic restorations

Inger Helene Falch-Jacobsen
Tony wrote:
QUOTE
I was asked about this last night, so I thought I'd post it for discussion
here.

Obviously, we all despise spam. And there is some debate even about
carefully selected and targeted, but unsolicited emails from a website.

But what about a "tell a friend" link: When you click on it, you get a form
that sends an email from you to the email address you enter, saying
something like "check out this site", along with any personal comments you
add.

Obviously, there is possibility for abuse of this by spammers, but let's
leave off that discussion for the moment - basically, is the idea OK or not
OK with you, and why?


I think it's redundant. Maybe it was fun 8 years
ago, but it has no purpose but cluttering up the
page, along with "add to favorites", "back to
top", "printerfriendly version" and "print this
page". If I want to send a page to someone, I just
go to File -> Send link in my browser. This
creates a new message in my email program, with
the page title in the subject line and a link to
the page in the body. I can add whatever text I
want. And those who own the page, won't even know
about it!


--
Inger Helene Falch-Jacobsen
http://home.no.net/ingernet/

Dennis
On 29 Jun 2005 Snake Lady wrote in alt.www.webmaster

QUOTE
your tool would simply refuse to send...


Got that problem now. No cookies here. :(

--
Dennis

Red E. Kilowatt
"Tony" <[Email Removed]> wrote in message
news:[Email Removed]
QUOTE
I was asked about this last night, so I thought I'd post it for
discussion here.

Obviously, we all despise spam. And there is some debate even about
carefully selected and targeted, but unsolicited emails from a
website.
But what about a "tell a friend" link: When you click on it, you get
a form that sends an email from you to the email address you enter,
saying something like "check out this site", along with any personal
comments you add.

Obviously, there is possibility for abuse of this by spammers, but
let's leave off that discussion for the moment - basically, is the
idea OK or not OK with you, and why?

I've never used one because I wouldn't want my friends making a decision
for me as to which sites can be trusted and which can't, so I won't give
that option to my visitors. Some of my relatives still can't be trusted
not to pass on a chain letter or something similar as it is. If it's
important, they can paste the link into an email and tell me why I
should care.

--
Red

Steve Sobol
Snake Lady wrote:

QUOTE
My opinion is that they're not spam....They're a valid marketing tool...
You are not the person who has sent an unsolicited email....Your
websites visitor did that....They merely used your servers to facilitate
the process....

If used carefully, such links are not spam, but I disagree with you about
the reason why. You're still culpable if someone uses the website to start
mass-spamming everyone (which can happen; it's just difficult to do).

IMHO the reason it's not spam is:

....Consider the three typical indicators of spam (unsolicited + bulk + email.)

Does such a message pass the test?

-Unsolicited? No question.
-Email? Duh!
-Bulk? No, unless someone is sending out bunches of messages at once, and
your suggestions below nip that problem in the bud...

One-to-one communications aren't spam.

QUOTE
You might also want to have an opt-out database....If anyone receives
one of these emails and decides they dont want any more, they can
automatically add their email addy to your opt-out database by clicking
a simple link in the email they received....All tell-a-friend emails
check this database before sending, and if there's a match, it simply
doesn't send....

As a final security measure to prevent misuse, you could build in a
feature that either denies use to an IP address for 15 to 20 seconds
after sending, or else sets a temporary cookie on the senders system
that will only allow them to send every 15 to 20 seconds....Naturally,
if cookies are disabled, your tool would simply refuse to send...

Good ideas.


--
JustThe.net - Steve Sobol / [Email Removed] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED
Coming to you from Southern California's High Desert, where the
temperatures are as high as the gas prices! / 888.480.4NET (4638)

"Life's like an hourglass glued to the table" --Anna Nalick, "Breathe"

Tony
Inger Helene Falch-Jacobsen wrote:
QUOTE

I think it's redundant. Maybe it was fun 8 years
ago, but it has no purpose but cluttering up the
page, along with "add to favorites", "back to
top", "printerfriendly version" and "print this
page". If I want to send a page to someone, I just
go to File -> Send link in my browser.

That's what I would do, too. But you'd be surprised at what the average user
doesn't know. This question came from someone who is actually quite
web-savvy, and she didn't know about "send link".

--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development

Blinky the Shark
Tony wrote:
QUOTE
I was asked about this last night, so I thought I'd post it for
discussion here.

Obviously, we all despise spam. And there is some debate even about
carefully selected and targeted, but unsolicited emails from a
website.

UCE sucks; no need for debate.

QUOTE
But what about a "tell a friend" link: When you click on it, you get a
form that sends an email from you to the email address you enter,
saying something like "check out this site", along with any personal
comments you add.

Obviously, there is possibility for abuse of this by spammers, but
let's leave off that discussion for the moment - basically, is the
idea OK or not OK with you, and why?

I'll answer with a relevant question: how many people's permission do
you have to provide their email addresses to third parties?

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
Killing all Usenet posts from Google Groups
Info: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
*ALSO contains links for access to the NON-BETA GG archive interface*

Trent Jones
"Tony" <[Email Removed]> wrote in message
news:[Email Removed]...
*****
QUOTE
But what about a "tell a friend" link: When you click on it, you get a
form that sends an email from you to the email address you enter, saying
something like "check out this site", along with any personal comments you
add.
*****
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development



I never use those, because I assume any addresses I put in the form (from or
to) will end up on a SPAM list.

- SG

Blinky the Shark
Trent Jones wrote:
QUOTE
"Tony" <[Email Removed]> wrote in message
news:[Email Removed]...  *****
But what about a "tell a friend" link: When you click on it, you get
a form that sends an email from you to the email address you enter,
saying something like "check out this site", along with any personal
comments you add.
*****
Tony Garcia Web Right! Development

I never use those, because I assume any addresses I put in the form
(from or to) will end up on a SPAM list.

Exactly. Some people don't care if they get their friends spammed.
That's a shame.

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
Killing all Usenet posts from Google Groups
Info: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
*ALSO contains links for access to the NON-BETA GG archive interface*

Tony
Blinky the Shark wrote:
QUOTE
Tony wrote:
I was asked about this last night, so I thought I'd post it for
discussion here.

Obviously, we all despise spam. And there is some debate even about
carefully selected and targeted, but unsolicited emails from a
website.

UCE sucks; no need for debate.

There was a thread about this elsewhere on this forum, thus my specific
comment )

QUOTE

I'll answer with a relevant question: how many people's permission do
you have to provide their email addresses to third parties?

Huh?

If the email address isn't being saved - only being used to route the
email - would that make a difference to you, then?

--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development

Blinky the Shark
Tony wrote:
QUOTE
Blinky the Shark wrote:
Tony wrote:
I was asked about this last night, so I thought I'd post it for
discussion here.

Obviously, we all despise spam. And there is some debate even about
carefully selected and targeted, but unsolicited emails from a
website.

UCE sucks; no need for debate.

There was a thread about this elsewhere on this forum, thus my specific
comment )

I know. It sucked then, it sucks now, thus my specific comment. :)

QUOTE
I'll answer with a relevant question: how many people's permission do
you have to provide their email addresses to third parties?

Huh?

If the email address isn't being saved - only being used to route the

Where did this assumption come from?

QUOTE
email - would that make a difference to you, then?

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
Killing all Usenet posts from Google Groups
Info: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
*ALSO contains links for access to the NON-BETA GG archive interface*

almaz
yesterday, my friend told me he saw a good deal at a local wal-mart.

was I spamed by him ? :)

--
http://www.psp-.com - pictures and clips for your PSP
--
icq: 194933471
"Tony" <[Email Removed]> wrote in message
news:[Email Removed]...
QUOTE
I was asked about this last night, so I thought I'd post it for discussion
here.

Obviously, we all despise spam. And there is some debate even about
carefully selected and targeted, but unsolicited emails from a website.

But what about a "tell a friend" link: When you click on it, you get a
form that sends an email from you to the email address you enter, saying
something like "check out this site", along with any personal comments you
add.

Obviously, there is possibility for abuse of this by spammers, but let's
leave off that discussion for the moment - basically, is the idea OK or
not OK with you, and why?

--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development



Blinky the Shark
almaz wrote:
QUOTE
yesterday, my friend told me he saw a good deal at a local wal-mart.

was I spamed by him ? :)

Depends. Did he tell you -- or did he give your email address to a
third-party web site, so it could spam you? If the latter, he was part
of the spamming.

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
Killing all Usenet posts from Google Groups
Info: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
*ALSO contains links for access to the NON-BETA GG archive interface*

Tony
Blinky the Shark wrote:
QUOTE

I'll answer with a relevant question: how many people's permission
do you have to provide their email addresses to third parties?

Huh?

If the email address isn't being saved - only being used to route the

Where did this assumption come from?

Same place your assumption to the contrary came from.

It's a question - that's the point of discussion, right? Your objection
appears to be that by filling in the form, you are providing the recipient's
email address to a third party without consent. What if that email were not
stored or saved in any way - it was only used to populate the "To" header of
the email being sent. Would you consider that to be acceptable, under those
circumstances?


--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development

Tony
almaz wrote:
QUOTE
yesterday, my friend told me he saw a good deal at a local wal-mart.

was I spamed by him ? :)

If you never told him that you wanted to hear about good deals at wal-mart,
then you were :)

--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development

Blinky the Shark
Tony wrote:
QUOTE
Blinky the Shark wrote:

I'll answer with a relevant question: how many people's permission
do you have to provide their email addresses to third parties?

Huh?

If the email address isn't being saved - only being used to route the

Where did this assumption come from?

Same place your assumption to the contrary came from.

It's done, IMO, as a method of address harvesting for spamming.

QUOTE
It's a question - that's the point of discussion, right? Your objection
appears to be that by filling in the form, you are providing the recipient's
email address to a third party without consent. What if that email were not
stored or saved in any way - it was only used to populate the "To" header of
the email being sent. Would you consider that to be acceptable, under those
circumstances?

No, because that can't be guaranteed.

And, personally, even if it *could* be, I wouldn't want my address given
out in that manner. Want to give me a heads-up on something, as a my
friend? Mail me a link yourself. Like I do my friends. Because they
haven't given my permission to broadcast their information.

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
Killing all Usenet posts from Google Groups
Info: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
*ALSO contains links for access to the NON-BETA GG archive interface*

David Dorward
almaz wrote:

Please don't top post.

QUOTE
yesterday, my friend told me he saw a good deal at a local wal-mart.

was I spamed by him ? :)

No, but if he told Walmart your phone number and they called you to let you
know about the deal...

--
David Dorward <http://blog.dorward.me.uk/> <http://dorward.me.uk/>
Home is where the ~/.bashrc is

William Tasso
Writing in news:alt.www.webmaster
From the safety of the http://blinkynet.net cafeteria
Blinky the Shark <[Email Removed]> said:

QUOTE
Tony wrote:
Blinky the Shark wrote:

I'll answer with a relevant question: how many people's permission
do you have to provide their email addresses to third parties?

Huh?

If the email address isn't being saved - only being used to route the

Where did this assumption come from?

Same place your assumption to the contrary came from.

It's done, IMO, as a method of address harvesting for spamming.

Sure - that is one of the abuses.

QUOTE
It's a question - that's the point of discussion, right? Your objection
appears to be that by filling in the form, you are providing the
recipient's
email address to a third party without consent. What if that email were
not
stored or saved in any way - it was only used to populate the "To"
header of
the email being sent. Would you consider that to be acceptable, under
those
circumstances?

No, because that can't be guaranteed.

Unfortunately not.

QUOTE
And, personally, even if it *could* be, I wouldn't want my address given
out in that manner.  Want to give me a heads-up on something, as a my
friend?  Mail me a link yourself.  Like I do my friends.  Because they
haven't given my permission to broadcast their information.


However - these are decisions for individuals to make. There is nothing
inherently wrong with a site providing this functionality.

--
William Tasso

Blinky the Shark
William Tasso wrote:
QUOTE
Writing in news:alt.www.webmaster
From the safety of the http://blinkynet.net cafeteria
Blinky the Shark <[Email Removed]> said:

Tony wrote:
Blinky the Shark wrote:

I'll answer with a relevant question: how many people's permission
do you have to provide their email addresses to third parties?

Huh?

If the email address isn't being saved - only being used to route the

Where did this assumption come from?

Same place your assumption to the contrary came from.

It's done, IMO, as a method of address harvesting for spamming.

Sure - that is one of the abuses.

It's a question - that's the point of discussion, right? Your objection
appears to be that by filling in the form, you are providing the
recipient's
email address to a third party without consent. What if that email were
not
stored or saved in any way - it was only used to populate the "To"
header of
the email being sent. Would you consider that to be acceptable, under
those
circumstances?

No, because that can't be guaranteed.

Unfortunately not.

And, personally, even if it *could* be, I wouldn't want my address given
out in that manner.  Want to give me a heads-up on something, as a my
friend?  Mail me a link yourself.  Like I do my friends.  Because they
haven't given my permission to broadcast their information.

However - these are decisions for individuals to make.  There is nothing
inherently wrong with a site providing this functionality.

The problem is with people using it.

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
Killing all Usenet posts from Google Groups
Info: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
*ALSO contains links for access to the NON-BETA GG archive interface*

Charles Sweeney
Steve Sobol wrote

QUOTE
You're still culpable if someone uses the
website to start mass-spamming

Nah. It's Dell's fault for making his PC.

Culpable my fucking arse. The ONLY person culpable is the person SENDING
THE FUCKING SPAM.

The day the dribbling zealot grasps this, will be a day for rejoicing.

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com

Charles Sweeney
Tony wrote

QUOTE
Inger Helene Falch-Jacobsen wrote:

I think it's redundant. Maybe it was fun 8 years
ago, but it has no purpose but cluttering up the
page, along with "add to favorites", "back to
top", "printerfriendly version" and "print this
page". If I want to send a page to someone, I just
go to File -> Send link in my browser.

That's what I would do, too. But you'd be surprised at what the
average user doesn't know. This question came from someone who is
actually quite web-savvy, and she didn't know about "send link".

It also came up here recently, where it was shown that the "call to
action" greatly increases the chance of a surfer sending a page to a
friend.

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com

Matt Probert
Once upon a time, far far away Charles Sweeney <[Email Removed]>
muttered

QUOTE
Steve Sobol wrote

You're still culpable if someone uses the
website to start mass-spamming

Nah.  It's Dell's fault for making his PC.

Culpable my fucking arse.  The ONLY person culpable is the person SENDING
THE FUCKING SPAM.

The day the dribbling zealot grasps this, will be a day for rejoicing.

Don't beat about the bush, Charles. Just come out and say what you
mean <g>

Matt

--
Free searchable encyclopaedia content for your web site:
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/xsearch.htm

GreyWyvern
And lo, Snake Lady didst speak in alt.www.webmaster:

QUOTE
I've used them on loads of e-commerce sites, and I've found they can
have a dramatic effect of multiplying traffic (so long as the offers are
good to start with)....

They may give you more traffic, but I find them tacky and "desperate"
sounding. If I want to email someone about such and such a website, I'd
rather email them myself.

Grey

--
The technical axiom that nothing is impossible sinisterly implies the
pitfall corollary that nothing is ridiculous.
- http://www.greywyvern.com/ringmaker - Orca Ringmaker: Host a web ring
from your website!

GreyWyvern
And lo, Blinky the Shark didst speak in alt.www.webmaster:

QUOTE
Want to give me a heads-up on something, as a my
friend?  Mail me a link yourself.  Like I do my friends.  Because they
haven't given my permission to broadcast their information.

This chondrichthyite knows his tuna.

Grey

Charles Sweeney
Matt Probert wrote

QUOTE
Once upon a time, far far away Charles Sweeney <[Email Removed]
muttered

Steve Sobol wrote

You're still culpable if someone uses the
website to start mass-spamming

Nah.  It's Dell's fault for making his PC.

Culpable my fucking arse.  The ONLY person culpable is the person
SENDING THE FUCKING SPAM.

The day the dribbling zealot grasps this, will be a day for rejoicing.

Don't beat about the bush, Charles. Just come out and say what you
mean <g

:o)

Ploughing a lone furrow can get frustrating at times.

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com

Tony
Blinky the Shark wrote:
QUOTE
What if that email were not stored or saved in any way - it
was only used to populate the "To" header of the email being sent.
Would you consider that to be acceptable, under those circumstances?

No, because that can't be guaranteed.

I take it that you never give your email address to a website that asks you
to register, then? Because it can't be guaranteed that they won't give your
email to someone else to spam you.

QUOTE
And, personally, even if it *could* be, I wouldn't want my address
given out in that manner.

Given out to who?

QUOTE
Want to give me a heads-up on something,
as a my friend?  Mail me a link yourself.  Like I do my friends.
Because they haven't given my permission to broadcast their
information.

How is it being broadcast?

--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development

Tony
David Dorward wrote:
QUOTE
almaz wrote:

Please don't top post.

yesterday, my friend told me he saw a good deal at a local wal-mart.

was I spamed by him ? :)

No, but if he told Walmart your phone number and they called you to
let you know about the deal...

What if he used Walmart's phone to call you and tell you about the deal?

--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development

David Dorward
Tony wrote:

QUOTE
What if he used Walmart's phone to call you and tell you about the deal?

Since that isn't analogous to the tell-a-friend form concept, it doesn't
really matter.

--
David Dorward <http://blog.dorward.me.uk/> <http://dorward.me.uk/>
Home is where the ~/.bashrc is

David Dorward
Tony wrote:
QUOTE
Blinky the Shark wrote:

What if that email were not stored or saved in any way - it
was only used to populate the "To" header of the email being sent.
Would you consider that to be acceptable, under those circumstances?

No, because that can't be guaranteed.

I take it that you never give your email address to a website that asks
you to register, then? Because it can't be guaranteed that they won't give
your email to someone else to spam you.

That depends on how much I trust the website. I usually use a throw-away
account (or bugmenot.com)

QUOTE
And, personally, even if it *could* be, I wouldn't want my address
given out in that manner.

Given out to who?

Third parties whom my friend is impressed by

QUOTE
Want to give me a heads-up on something,
as a my friend?  Mail me a link yourself.  Like I do my friends.
Because they haven't given my permission to broadcast their
information.

How is it being broadcast?

It is being typed into a form and POSTed over the Internet.

--
David Dorward <http://blog.dorward.me.uk/> <http://dorward.me.uk/>
Home is where the ~/.bashrc is

Auggie
"Tony" <[Email Removed]> wrote in message
news:[Email Removed]...
QUOTE
Blinky the Shark wrote:
Tony wrote:
I was asked about this last night, so I thought I'd post it for
discussion here.

Obviously, we all despise spam. And there is some debate even about
carefully selected and targeted, but unsolicited emails from a
website.

UCE sucks; no need for debate.

There was a thread about this elsewhere on this forum, thus my specific
comment )


I'll answer with a relevant question: how many people's permission do
you have to provide their email addresses to third parties?

Huh?

If the email address isn't being saved - only being used to route the
email - would that make a difference to you, then?

I think the "isn't being saved" thing really depends on the website and
personally I would lean towards it being more likely the email address was
saved than not (for whatever reason they are saving them).

I use "Tell A Friend" forms on my sites because I find they work and people
use them (alot of people also use them to "tell" themselves so they can
remember the link without having to bookmark it I guess).

The way I have it set up... I save the TO email address (the friend being
told) in a database with the date the email is being sent. If somebody uses
the "Tell A Friend" part of one of my sites it checks the database and if
somebody has already been "told" in the past 2 weeks the email doesn't get
sent out (and the sender is told "they were already told about our site
within the last 2 weeks")

Blinky the Shark
GreyWyvern wrote:
QUOTE
And lo, Blinky the Shark didst speak in alt.www.webmaster:

Want to give me a heads-up on something, as a my
friend?  Mail me a link yourself.  Like I do my friends.  Because they
haven't given my permission to broadcast their information.

This chondrichthyite knows his tuna.

Thanks, bony one. Before, it was just a rumor. :)

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
Killing all Usenet posts from Google Groups
Info: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
*ALSO contains links for access to the NON-BETA GG archive interface*

Blinky the Shark
Tony wrote:
QUOTE
Blinky the Shark wrote:
What if that email were not stored or saved in any way - it was only
used to populate the "To" header of the email being sent.  Would you
consider that to be acceptable, under those circumstances?

No, because that can't be guaranteed.

I take it that you never give your email address to a website that
asks you to register, then? Because it can't be guaranteed that they
won't give your email to someone else to spam you.

That's not even close to being relevant -- it's MY address to give or
not give. A friend's address is NOT MINE to do with as I please.

Try to see the difference between Art giving out Barney's address and
Barney giving out his OWN address. Totally different.

QUOTE
And, personally, even if it *could* be, I wouldn't want my address
given out in that manner.

Given out to who?

To anyone.

QUOTE
Want to give me a heads-up on something, as a my friend?  Mail me a
link yourself.  Like I do my friends.  Because they haven't given my
permission to broadcast their information.

How is it being broadcast?

It's being sent, without my permission, and against my will, to third
parties.

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
Killing all Usenet posts from Google Groups
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Blinky the Shark
David Dorward wrote:
QUOTE
Tony wrote:
Blinky the Shark wrote:

What if that email were not stored or saved in any way - it was
only used to populate the "To" header of the email being sent.
Would you consider that to be acceptable, under those
circumstances?

No, because that can't be guaranteed.

I take it that you never give your email address to a website that
asks you to register, then? Because it can't be guaranteed that they
won't give your email to someone else to spam you.

That depends on how much I trust the website. I usually use a
throw-away account (or bugmenot.com)

That's a totally no-analagous red hearring, anyway -- the issue is
others giving out your address, not about you giving out your own.

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
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GreyWyvern
And lo, Blinky the Shark didst speak in alt.www.webmaster:

QUOTE
It's being sent, without my permission, and against my will, to third
parties.

The worst thing about all this is, they're parties to which you weren't
even invited! :|

Grey

William Tasso
Writing in news:alt.www.webmaster
From the safety of the cafeteria
Auggie <[Email Removed]> said:


QUOTE
...
The way I have it set up... I save the TO email address (the friend being
told) in a database with the date the email is being sent.  If somebody
uses
the "Tell A Friend" part of one of my sites it checks the database and if
somebody has already been "told" in the past 2 weeks the email doesn't
get
sent out (and the sender is told "they were already told about our site
within the last 2 weeks")

Nice touch emperor. Also has the effect of preventing your site being
used as an instrument to annoy the heck out of the target.


--
William Tasso

Red E. Kilowatt
"Charles Sweeney" <[Email Removed]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
QUOTE
Matt Probert wrote

Once upon a time, far far away Charles Sweeney
<[Email Removed]> muttered

Steve Sobol wrote

You're still culpable if someone uses the
website to start mass-spamming

Nah.  It's Dell's fault for making his PC.

Culpable my fucking arse.  The ONLY person culpable is the person
SENDING THE FUCKING SPAM.

The day the dribbling zealot grasps this, will be a day for
rejoicing.

Don't beat about the bush, Charles. Just come out and say what you
mean <g

o)

Ploughing a lone furrow can get frustrating at times.

But enough about your life... <rimshot>
--
Red

Tony
David Dorward wrote:
QUOTE
Tony wrote:

What if he used Walmart's phone to call you and tell you about the
deal?

Since that isn't analogous to the tell-a-friend form concept, it
doesn't really matter.

How is it not analagous?

WebSite provides a form that you can use to tell your friend about WebSite,
to make it easier for you to let people know about WebSite, even though you
have your own email and can email your friend on your own.

WalMart provides a telephone that you can use to tell your friend about
WalMart, to make it easier for you to let people know about WalMart, even
though you have your own telephone and can telephone your friend on your
own.

I am really at a loss to understand how they are NOT analagous - aside from
purely emotional reasons.

From the way the discussion is going, I appear to have missed something
about past practices in implementations of "tell-a-friend" forms.

For the record, what I am asking about is nothing more than an email form
where you also enter the recipient's email. Anything beyond that, like email
harvesting, is beyond the scope of what I had intended to ask about. If you
want to discuss abuse, fine - but realize that any tool can be abused.
--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development

Tony
Blinky the Shark wrote:
QUOTE
That depends on how much I trust the website. I usually use a
throw-away account (or bugmenot.com)

That's a totally no-analagous red hearring, anyway -- the issue is
others giving out your address, not about you giving out your own.

How is it "giving out" your address when the address is only used to send
the email?

I can certainly understand your objection IF the address is being stored.
But if it isn't, then where is the objection?

--
Tony Garcia
Web Right! Development

Blinky the Shark
Tony wrote:
QUOTE
Blinky the Shark wrote:
That depends on how much I trust the website. I usually use a
throw-away account (or bugmenot.com)

That's a totally no-analagous red hearring, anyway -- the issue is
others giving out your address, not about you giving out your own.

How is it "giving out" your address when the address is only used to send
the email?

"Giving it out" is "giving it out". The issues is who gets to give it
out. I do, and you don't have permission.

QUOTE
I can certainly understand your objection IF the address is being stored.

And you never know if it is or not. Do the math.

QUOTE
But if it isn't, then where is the objection?

In *any* case, I've not given you permission to hand out my email
address. Period.

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
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Stephen K. Gielda
In article <[Email Removed]>,
[Email Removed] says...
QUOTE
David Dorward wrote:
Tony wrote:

What if he used Walmart's phone to call you and tell you about the
deal?

Since that isn't analogous to the tell-a-friend form concept, it
doesn't really matter.

How is it not analagous?


Because one is e-mail and one is a telephone. Two completely different
things. But even ignoring that, change a few things and it will be a
bit closer. You don't dial the number of your friend, you give it to
walmart so they can call him later and tell them. You don't give them
his flat rate phone number, you give them one he pays to receive calls
on..say his cell phone. Neither you nor he knows that they won't put
him on their telemarketing list and sell it to other stores, you have to
assume they will. Now you're closer in the analogy. Would you give
them his cell phone number in that situation? Would you like someone to
give your cell phone number in that situation?

/steve
--
Free Privacy Resources
http://www.cotse.net/resources.html

Charles Sweeney
Red E. Kilowatt wrote

QUOTE
"Charles Sweeney" <[Email Removed]> wrote
Ploughing a lone furrow can get frustrating at times.

But enough about your life...  <rimshot

Aye, that too!

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com

Steve Horrillo
On 30-Jun-2005, "Tony" <[Email Removed]> wrote:

QUOTE
WalMart provides a telephone that you can use to tell your friend about
WalMart, to make it easier for you to let people know about WalMart, even
though you have your own telephone and can telephone your friend on your
own.

I there a sign that says "phone a friend about us?" I've never seen these
phones. Interesting concept. Could you explain?

--
Warmest regards,

Steve Horrillo, Realtor / Trainer / C.Ht.
http://BrokerAgentTraining.com (Advanced Training for Real Estate
Professionals)
http://over100percent.com (See How tRealtors Earn Over 100 Percent at EXIT
Realty)
http:/HipFSBO.com (Object to Paying Commission? Find a FSBO Friendly Real
Estate Professional)
http://eLOWn.com ("Got a heartbeat?" Get a loan! Credit Repair Library)

Tony
Stephen K. Gielda wrote:
QUOTE
In article <[Email Removed]>,
[Email Removed] says...
David Dorward wrote:
Tony wrote:

What if he used Walmart's phone to call you and tell you about the
deal?

Since that isn't analogous to the tell-a-friend form concept, it
doesn't really matter.

How is it not analagous?


Because one is e-mail and one is a telephone.  Two completely
different things.  But even ignoring that, change a few things and it
will be a bit closer.  You don't dial the number of your friend, you
give it to walmart so they can call him later and tell them.

This is not the case I presented, however.

Oh well...

Stephen K. Gielda
In article <[Email Removed]>,
[Email Removed] says...
QUOTE
Stephen K. Gielda wrote:
In article <[Email Removed]>,
[Email Removed] says...
David Dorward wrote:
Tony wrote:

What if he used Walmart's phone to call you and tell you about the
deal?

Since that isn't analogous to the tell-a-friend form concept, it
doesn't really matter.

How is it not analagous?


Because one is e-mail and one is a telephone.  Two completely
different things.  But even ignoring that, change a few things and it
will be a bit closer.  You don't dial the number of your friend, you
give it to walmart so they can call him later and tell them.

This is not the case I presented, however.

Of course it wasn't, you asked why the case you presented was not
analagous, I explained and showed how to make it more analagous.

/steve
--
Free Privacy Resources
http://www.cotse.net/resources.html

Viper
Steve Sobol wrote:
QUOTE
One-to-one communications aren't spam.

So if I decide to email you daily about any offer I wish, you wont report it

as spam?
It will not be bulk and it will be "One-to-one communication"....

Viper
Charles Sweeney wrote:
QUOTE
Steve Sobol wrote

You're still culpable if someone uses the
website to start mass-spamming

Nah.  It's Dell's fault for making his PC.

Culpable my fucking arse.  The ONLY person culpable is the person
SENDING THE FUCKING SPAM.

The day the dribbling zealot grasps this, will be a day for rejoicing.

Lol Chuckie once again showing he loves spammers.

Charles Sweeney
Viper wrote

QUOTE
Charles Sweeney wrote:
Steve Sobol wrote

You're still culpable if someone uses the
website to start mass-spamming

Nah.  It's Dell's fault for making his PC.

Culpable my fucking arse.  The ONLY person culpable is the person
SENDING THE FUCKING SPAM.

The day the dribbling zealot grasps this, will be a day for
rejoicing.

Lol Chuckie once again showing he loves spammers.

So pointing out the culpability of the spammer, means I love spammers?

Get well soon.

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com

Charles Sweeney
Viper wrote

QUOTE
Steve Sobol wrote:
One-to-one communications aren't spam.

So if I decide to email you daily about any offer I wish, you wont
report it as spam?
It will not be bulk and it will be "One-to-one communication"....

The recipient doesn't know if it's bulk or one-to-one.[1]

[1]As discussed recently, there are various methods/services that might
give an indication that mail is bulk, but precious few people would use
this, and your average punter most certainly wouldn't.

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com

Viper
Charles Sweeney wrote:
QUOTE
Viper wrote

Charles Sweeney wrote:
Steve Sobol wrote

You're still culpable if someone uses the
website to start mass-spamming

Nah.  It's Dell's fault for making his PC.

Culpable my fucking arse.  The ONLY person culpable is the person
SENDING THE FUCKING SPAM.

The day the dribbling zealot grasps this, will be a day for
rejoicing.

Lol Chuckie once again showing he loves spammers.

So pointing out the culpability of the spammer, means I love spammers?

Get well soon.

If you run a script that a spammer can exploit then YOU are part of the spam
problem and need to be shut down.


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