At 08:31 PM 10/3/97 -0700, you wrote:
>As a relative newcomer to chat groups, can somebody please post a clear of
>definition of the term 'SPAM'. Thanks.

Spam's a ham product produced by ?Hormel? invented during WWII, I think (maybe
before, maybe, like Gillette Safety Razors in WWI, only made popular by their
inclusion in C-Rations). Anyway, it's a ham byproduct kind of thing,
compressed
into ham loaf.

This, though, has nothing to do with your question. (Hey, it's tweeters, it
doesn't have to!)

The internet connection comes from Monty Python, brighter than your average
comedians, just as many software engineeers feel themselves to be brighter
than your average programmers. Monty Python, in skits/some movies would,
when they were humorously (humourously - they're English) try to shut up
one of their troup acting in a silly, nonsense role, would surround the
offender holding cans of Span (TM by someone) shouting "spam! spam! spam!"

Or, maybe, it was just one movie. Whatever, that's all it took. The notion
is that spammers are like those Monty Python spam-can shouters, effectively
shouting down our attempts at communication by yelling "spam! spam! spam!"
except now it's more like "make money fast! Meet fast women who don't want
money! Hey, if you don't want this message, just delete it and I'll never
spam mail you again!" and the like.


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
http://donb.photo.net