I have communicated directly with Paul Divirgilio about his message
below.  Begging your indulgence, I repeat it here as a good example, in
addition to Murph Sewell's message on Trojan Horse Marketing, of what I am
looking for in my study of outside exploitation of the Net and its citizens.
Any other examples which any of you might have will be welcomed, at least by
me, whether posted here or sent to me personally.  I would hope that this
subject is of enough interest to lstown-l to justify taking up space here.
 
Thanks for your help and continued patience.
 
                                -- Jim Beniger
 
*******
 
On Sat, 27 Aug 1994, P. Divirgilio wrote:
 
> Ok, James I have one for you to consider very closely related to
> Murphy Sewell's example and within the advertising range but maybe
> also with a tinge of the political or religious involved. One of the
> lists to which I subscribe received a posting for alternative health
> care from an aol address which provided no name and no signature. That
> means that even if people on complemed are interested in the
> formidable e-journal I will not post it, because on other occasions
> when anonymous posts were sent to another list those naive enough to
> reply found that they were now subscribers to lists which had nothing
> to do with the text of the post but actually the vehicle for global
> activist movements. I did not reply nor subscribe although they were
> attractive (both offered money for articles or employment
> opportunities) so neither post effects me personally, but it seems to
> me that in advertising that is just plain "fraud" and apparently fraud
> with malicious intent. I will send you the two examples which I have
> archived personally if they are of use in your article. [I recall one
> subscriber's question after having been tricked into subscribing to
> the activist list: "What do I do now?"]  I believe that netiquette
> dictates providing a truthful subject line and signature in your
> posts. I hope this helps with your article. -- Paul.
>
>
> --
>
> Dr. Paul S. di Virgilio,  University of Toronto  [log in to unmask]
>