let's talk about spam

[tyrsalvia]

What are the ethical problems inherent to spam? I've been thinking about ritual spam, something where interacting with the spam itself lends energy to a larger intent of some sort, and I'm curious what other people might think of the ethics involved in such a thing.

Comments

[t3dy]

same ethical issues as any other form of imposing your will on that of others "for their own good" (which is a big issue for ethical [discordian or otherwise] pranksters in general, on or offline). most people will likely find it just as annoying as any other kind of spam, some may find it interesting, but it's still a waste of their time that they didn't ask for, as well as an unsolicited invasion of the "personal space" of their inbox. if you don't have a problem with that...

you may want to inquire over at http://www.livejournal.com/community/poeticterrorism/
where folks by definition don't have a problem with that sort of thing. I wonder what hakim bey would have to say

[tyrsalvia]

My understanding is that Hakim Bey is something of a Luddite, so he probably wouldn't like the idea. I've actually considered doing something with physical bulk mailing too, but that of course winds up being more expensive. Though, it would probably get a lot more attention, too. *ponders*

[t3dy]

i don't get that out of Bey. he is skeptical of some starry-eyed claims by technofetishists, but isn't anti-tech per se

[dirtynumbangel]

I think it's fairly unethical to use someone's energy without their permission, don't you?

[tyrsalvia]

Not really. By walking down a street, I use people's energy without their permission because they involuntarily look at me as I pass them. Some people have worked on not paying attention to their surroundings, so maybe I don't use much of their energy. At this point, I think spam has become a ubiquitous part of being online, and the energy required to delete spam is a minor irritant but not exactly a big use of someone's energy. I think it would be a bigger worry if I was doing something that would take a whole lot of energy. By putting up posters for a concert, I'm using people's energy without their permission because they are drawn to look at it. The idea of using spam would use just about as much energy as someone might use to glance at a poster. The thing that makes a big impact is the potential for reaching a lot of people, sort of getting lots of people to give you a penny until you have thousands of dollars

[dirtynumbangel]

I very firmly disagree. Walking past someone on the street is normal everyday interaction. What you are proposing is consciously using their energy to do something--a goal they may not even agree with--without any consent or warning. I can't see how that's not unethical.

[renfield286]

Spam itself is a memnetic, good memnetics can go and keep on going.
but i dont feel that its somthing that you should pass to people without them wanting it passed on to them, which is why word of mouth is the best way to pass somthing on.

im not sure how clear i am there, i know what i mean. any problems with that just ask.

[glenmarshall]

The core issue is intent, or lack of it. Imposing your intent on others can have unintended consequences on you. Most people consider spam to be an unwelcome intrusion, so you must consider that you would be the target for a large rejection energy-response.

personal space invasion

[kwanyin2004]

Just browsing and thought I'd comment.

I think spam is equivalent to reaching out and touching me without my permission. Sometimes you bring a virus with you. Mostly you give me an unpleasant interaction. The energy I send back is negative, and I resent the time I have lost creating it. I try to not react, be neutral, so that my own space is less tainted. At the same time, I feel pity for someone who has created a life for themselves in which they feel it necessary to invade my personal space in an attempt to gain something from me.

Re: personal space invasion

[tyrsalvia]

Hmm. That's an interesting way to put it. I will have to think about it. Like I said elsewhere, the idea was to create the spam as a representation of a thing that I think is bad, and the act of bugging other people with it and having them delete it would hopefully help bring about the destruction of the linked thing.