From: Steve Masticola <?????????????????????????????>
Subject: Advertising

Hi, Bruce,

There are several problems with the approach you have suggested.

First of all, one of my primary concerns in running the Digest is to
protect the privacy of the mailing list. I don't think the members
would like the consequences if, say, the antismokers got hold of
it. 

Mr. Alfano found a way to invade the privacy of the members.  Because
of his spamming, another member seemed concerned that I was _selling_
the list. In order to maintain the trust and respect of the members, I
felt that I must send a message to future spammers that their actions
would not be tolerated.

Second, Mr. Alfano had the option to send me a brief, tasteful message
on his humidor kits, which I would have happily put in the Digest and
circulated to the full membership. I have done this before with other
product announcements. Instead, Mr. Alfano chose to capture part of
the membership list and spam it. He could have done it the right way,
but he chose instead to do it the wrong way.

Third, there is some background information of which you are probably
not aware. Mr. Alfano sent me an apology, which at first appeared
sincere. I replied with a list of conditions under which I would
reinstate him and withdraw my objections to ???????????????????
Basically, these conditions amounted to issuing an apology copied to
myself, ??????????????????, and all the people he spammed. I believe
these were fair. However, he did not do this; I must therefore assume
that he was not as contrite as he had seemed.

Fourth, while there is a place for advertising on the net, I do not
believe that it should be in the form of unsolicited junk mail. Web
pages and FTP sites do just fine for that sort of thing, and only
those who want the advertising see it. A lot of people pay per byte
for their mail, and do not want junk email cluttering up their
feeds. The people who own and operate the facilities also pay for the
junk mail, as well as the wanted information.

Fifth, I do not agree that junk email must be inevitable.  I have
personally had to take an unlisted number to prevent junk phone calls
from distracting me at home. Radio, TV, and snailmail are full of
junk. Must we also submit this new medium to the will of the
hucksters?

Finally, what sort of "slap on the wrist" would you suggest? And how
would it deter others who want to capture the mailing list and spam
it?

I regret that Mr. Alfano forced me to take a rather distasteful
action, but I believe that I have done the right thing.

I'll post your letter, and this reply, in the Digest. If some member
can suggest a better way to handle this sort of thing in the future,
I'd be glad to take it under advisement.

- Steve.




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