Spam as Cultural Commentary
Has anyone else noticed the recent evolution of spam subject lines? Not long ago, spammers were trying to entice me with subjects like “You need a bigger penis!” and “Christian home loans.” (That first one worked only for a year or two).
I’m now filtering about 20 of these each day:
Subject: Bush is a moron
Date: Sunday 05 March 2006 8:48 pm
From: "Donald J. Webb"
To: "Chris Quinn"
There’s a research project for some aspiring political scientist or sociologist in this.
UPDATE: They keep coming:
Subject: Dick Chenney, the moron
Date: Sunday 05 March 2006 9:58 pm
From: "Bonnie Q. Erwin"
To: "Chris Quinn"
(Misspelling in the original).
I also deleted one referencing Condi Rice. It was too vulgar to post.
It appears to me that spammers recently raised fingers to the wind and determined that anti-administration sentiment is now so prevalent that their target idiots are more likely to open messages purporting to mock the administration than ads hocking erectile dysfunction drugs or get rich schemes.
UPDATE II: My wife is receiving them also:
From: "Audrey N. Mayo"
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 7:50 PM
To: "Julie Quinn"
Subject: condoleeza rice, lol
3 Responses to “Spam as Cultural Commentary”
So, they’re spamming us with information we already knew?
How does that profit anyone? Accept maybe Bush. I mean, when an email is as badly worded as most of these (reads like a novel written by a preschooler), you tend to more DISagree with them than agree with them. Even if what they say is true.
Comment by refuge on March 6, 2006 at 4:25 pm.
I assume that the subject line is intended to attract attention and cause one to open the email (which rarely has anything at all to do with the subject line). It’s interesting what spammers now think will provoke that response. I imagine they’ve been reading the polls also.
Comment by Chris on March 6, 2006 at 6:23 pm.
That’s priceless. I haven’t gotten those spams yet, but I’m sure they’re on the way.
I have an update posted on the My State is Crazier than Yours contest.
Comment by The Nose on March 7, 2006 at 9:37 am.