Immigration Forum / Australia and NZ / November 2007

A very sound general rule!  Thanks for posting it!  There is
always a chance that some "newbie" will fall for such a scam.

Why do we have so much spam on the net?  Quite simple really.
Some people are far too credulous.

However, consider that a spammer has the ability to send
out a million Usenet posts or emails in a few minutes.  Many are
done through ordinary subscribers whose computers have been
compromised due to their ignorance of basic security precautions?

Suppose only 2 or 3% are stupid enough to take his bait?  Still,
that is enough people and enough potential returns to justify his
effort.

Same for [comparatively] honest advertising by well-known firms.
They are willing enough to advertise on the Internet or even fill
our post boxes with expensively produced brochures.  

As I have said more than once before, my garbage bin is
conveniently located between my mailbox and the entrance door.

All mail addressed to "box holder" is consigned to the garbage
without even being opened.  Same for any information directed
personally to my wife or I if we haven't specifically requested
it.  

As have suggested in previous posts, they might be more
successful if they printed their information on successive sheets
of toilet paper, and delivered a case of it every week or so.

Then at least it might be at least glanced at before the paper is
used for its intended purpose.  

This would not only save people from having to buy toilet paper,
but the advertising would actually serve a useful purpose before
being disposed of.

Not only does this support recycling, but since, IMHO, about 99%
of advertising is sh.t, I often get a real pleasure in reuniting
it with its best companion. :-)

As to the 1% which actually provides true and useful information,
I might actually look into their offer.  

If I am looking for a particular product, I know where to look
for it, and most advertising is offensive simply because it
assumes I am an idiot.

If I am in the market for the hypothetical electronic product
such as a " Glople model 13" what advertising might appeal to me?

Since I would have already investigated its properties on the
net, the "Advertisement" need not be complex.

If the retail price for the item is, say, $A 500, I will have
already seen special offers at perhaps $A 350.  

So what sort of printed ad on a sheet of toilet paper make me
pause before using it for its intended purpose?

Something that can be read at a glance, of course.

Perhaps along the lines of " Glople model 13.  New, unused, one
month free trial, free delivery anywhere in Australia within 10
days.  . Contact "xxxxxxxxxx"  on phone number xxxxxxxxx, or post
to website xxxxxxxxxx.  Our A.C.N, [ Australian company number]
is ACN xxxxxxxxx.

Is the ACN important?  By our Australian company legislation, it
certainly is.  It means that if their advertisement is misleading
in any way, I can take them to court at no cost to myself.

Actually, have heard of a similar case many years ago in one of
the U.S. states.  A used car dealer had been stupid enough to
advertise a given vehicle for something like "xxxx bananas."

He was silly enough to use "bananas" as slang for "U.S. dollars".

Stupid bastard, he!  Imagine his consternation when a canny buyer
turned up with "xxxx" actual overripe garbage bananas.

The buyer had obtained them at very low cost, or even for
nothing.

However the state court ruled that since the advertiser had
legally advertised the car for "xxxx" bananas, he was legally
required to accept "xxxx" actual bananas in payment.

A nice precedent, but unfortunately we cannot rely on it today,
more the pity!  If we could, advertisers of all products would be
much more careful in there use of language. :-)

If spammers were traceable, which they sometimes are, we would
see a very dramatic reduction in spam.

Anyway, thanks for the warning.  Nice to meet someone whose
"heart is in the right place", so to speak.

Cheers,
Kangaroo16
Posting from misc.immigration.australia+nz
Sent ~3.54 PM, Thursday, 22 November 2007