Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

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Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Guest » January 31st, 2003, 1:15 pm

I say the answer is YES!

About once a week I've been getting these huge, annoying, email-clogging lists of used magic stuff that Paul Diamond is trying to sell. These come from a "mr humble", which is apparently Paul Diamond's choice for an email address. On this unsolicited spam there is NO contact information; presumably he hopes to only hear from people who are willing to buy from him via return email.

I've never been to Paul Diamond's website (if he even has one) and I've never had any direct contact through which he could have obtained my email address. The only solution I can imagine is that he came to a forum similar to this one and scavenged email addresses to send bulk spam to.

I have repeatedly asked him to stop sending me this stuff; his response is that he's doing this to keep himself busy during his "retirement" years and that HIS stuff isn't SPAM (apparently just because he says so). So instead of stopping, he just sends MORE of this stuff. Here is an excerpt of his latest email to me:

"[...] I sell magic for magicians at no profit for me .
Read what the scum bag does for Widows And magicians who need
money and just don't use There Magic Any More it any more. This is not spam [...]"

Apparently, just because HE thinks his is a "good cause" the definition of spamming doesn't apply to him.

Now, it occurs to me that I might not be alone in my opinion of this kind of unsolicited contact, so I thought I might ask: is anyone else is unhappy about being bombarded by this kind of advertising? I can't imagine I'm the only one who doesn't appreciate this bargain basement approach to mass marketing. Has anyone else been annoyed by "MR HUMBLE"?

Regards,
Thomas Wayne

(PS. "Mr Humble" (Paul Diamond) can be contacted at the following email address. If you are as unhappy with his spam as I am, perhaps you'd like to let him know:)

Paul Diamond

mrhumble@prodigy.net

Guest

Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Guest » January 31st, 2003, 1:37 pm

So far, I have not been the recipient of his spam e-mails, but I would think that if you asked him repeatedly to drop you from the list, he should have done so after the first request.

I have only received Spam once or twice, but if it occurred on a regular basis, I would probably get annoyed as well.

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby themaestro » January 31st, 2003, 2:00 pm

Personally it's not SPAM to me, but there are a lot of different opinions on what SPAM is. Some say any unsolicited email is SPAM; others say any mass emailing; others, any mass commercial email. To me SPAM is indiscriminate mass emailing. I like to be able to refer to SPAM and have their be a differentiation between someone mass mailing when they know there is a possiblity I could be interested in, and the totally indiscriminate mailings for porn, viagra, enlargements, or unsecured credit cards, etc.

However just becuase they're not SPAM doesn't mean they're not unwanted and annoying.. In fact, I would find perosnal emails recommending viagra or enlargements much more annoying than SPAM for them.

It is irrelevant in my eyes as to whether Paul Diamond's emails are SPAM are not. If you asked him to stop emailing them to you, he should stop. Period. Whether it's SPAM or love letters, it's wrong for someone to continue when you've asked them to stop.

Nowlin Craver

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Pete McCabe » January 31st, 2003, 2:46 pm

Thomas,

I received a Spam from Paul Diamond a few months ago (my definition: any mail with no personal contents sent to me by someone who doesn't know me personally). I asked him to remove me and he did.

I got another about a week or so ago. I asked him again to remove me and so far so good.

If he emails me again I will do what I recommend you do: send an email to postmaster@prodigy.net detailing the situation.

Pete

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Dave Shepherd » January 31st, 2003, 3:30 pm

Yeah, this happened to me too.

He got my address from Ring 2100 or the EG (bad, bad!!) or somewhere and started sending me his stuff. I asked him to remove me once and he did.

Then it started up again, and I asked to be removed again, and I was (apparently).

I don't know if my address cycles through his selection process periodically or something, but I appreciate Pete's suggestion.

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Jonathan Townsend » January 31st, 2003, 3:57 pm

Originally posted by Thomas Wayne:
I say the answer is YES!
I agree that unsolicited email is by definition SPAM.

Not a spam fan here. No rationalizations, spam and coins. No spam, card florish dvds and spam. And real tired of spam, spam, spam thumbtips and spam.

And the vikings at the next table start up...
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Pete McCabe » January 31st, 2003, 4:47 pm

I really don't like Lobster Thermidor aux crevettes with mornay sauce, truffle pate, and a fried egg on top, and SPAM!

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Chris Aguilar » January 31st, 2003, 4:58 pm

Thomas,

Just have your e-mail client automatically filter anything coming from his address. That way, you'll never even see it.

I'm guessing it would save you a lot of stress. ;)

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 31st, 2003, 5:10 pm

Any e-mail that is unsolicited by you and is mailed out to a group of people is SPAM. There's no question that it's SPAM and no question that Paul Diamond is a pain in the ass.
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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Dave Egleston » January 31st, 2003, 5:14 pm

totally indiscriminate mailings for enlargements,
Thank God, - For a while I thought they knew something I've been trying to keep a secret

Dave

Guest

Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Guest » January 31st, 2003, 9:16 pm

Personally I love spam. If it wasn't for spam I would have a chance to share in US$12,320,000.00 via a very confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account from Nigeria.

:D

i

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Pete Biro
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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Pete Biro » January 31st, 2003, 9:55 pm

I have had five successful money transfers from Nigeria. Am just waiting for them to come to my house and get some of this cash out of here, it's taking up two rooms. :eek:
Stay tooned.

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Chris Aguilar » January 31st, 2003, 9:57 pm

Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:
Any e-mail that is unsolicited by you and is mailed out to a group of people is SPAM. There's no question that it's SPAM and no question that Paul Diamond is a pain in the ass.
And handling spam from Paul Diamond is just as simple as handling spam from anyone else.

Our friend Thomas Wayne just wants to whine and cry.

He could have easily blocked Diamonds address already and never see anything from him again...

Guest

Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Guest » February 1st, 2003, 12:08 am

Originally posted by wert:
[...] handling spam from Paul Diamond is just as simple as handling spam from anyone else.

Our friend Thomas Wayne just wants to whine and cry.

He could have easily blocked Diamonds address already and never see anything from him again...
You're no "friend" of MINE, "wert"...

[edited for content]

As for blocking Paul Diamond's emails, I've done that long ago. It's just that they're so HUGE - even going directly to my deleted folder - they tie up my downloads for minutes at a time. No "whining or crying" involved; just wondering if this censored Diamond is annoying anyone else from this forum in the same way.

Regards,
Thomas Wayne

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Chris Aguilar » February 1st, 2003, 2:16 am

Originally posted by Thomas Wayne:
You're no "friend" of MINE, "wert"...

Shockingly, not everyone craves your friendship or respect Thomas. :)

As for blocking Paul Diamond's emails, I've done that long ago.
Rather than simply venting, perhaps you should focus your energies towards researching the problem a bit more thoroughly eh?

Here's a link with plenty of suggestions to help with your spam problems.

http://spam.abuse.net/userhelp/

Pete McCabe's suggestion to report him to his ISP (prodigy) is a good one. Here's a more direct link to their spam reporting page.

http://help.prodigy.net/help/email/spam/faqs.html

It's just that they're so HUGE - even going directly to my deleted folder - they tie up my downloads for minutes at a time.
See the above link (or the ones below) *or actually search for some solutions on your own*.

I've tested utilities that actually allow you to browse e-mail *and spam* whilst it is still on the server. That's right, you can browse and delete spam without ever downloading it to your e-mail client.

For example, this one works quite well. Just tested it out the other day.

http://www.dw-soft.com/inboxf.html

Now if you're on a crap ISP like AOL with non standard mail servers, this might not be possible. But it does work with all standard pop mail.

[ No "whining or crying" involved;
Sure sounds like it to me. :)

...just wondering if this censored Diamond is annoying anyone else from this forum in the same way.
Nah, this guy was bugging you, and you couldn't deal with it.

What did you hope to accomplish? Did you think the other users here would rise up and solve your problem for you?

Rather than searching for additional solutions to your problem, it's evident that you came here to publicly bellyache and moan, hoping that others would validate your anger for you...

Being spammed stinks. But everyone deals with it in their own way.

Your strategy for dealing with this decidedly personal problem seems to consist of loudly venting your spleen in public.

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Terry » February 1st, 2003, 5:34 am

I have had five successful money transfers from Nigeria. Am just waiting for them to come to my house and get some of this cash out of here, it's taking up two rooms.
Pete, is that why your magic collection is housed in the black hole known as your garage? :D

Nicholas, ignore the emails, Pete is the contact in the U.S. and has it wrapped up. :D

SPAM = Something Posing As Meat

Guest

Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Guest » February 1st, 2003, 9:48 am

This thread got banned on another forum..I guess the moderators here decided to leave it for our amusment..and amusing it isI have to wonder what was deleted from your posts.

It seems to me, Mr. Wayne, that censored is a pretty strong term for someone who sends you spam. I usually reserve that word for people like child molesters and such. I guess Alaska has a different social standard then the rest of the 49 states.

I have a feeling that the note you sent to Paul Diamond was just as nasty and inflammatory as the notes you post on the magic forums. That is most likely why he felt compelled to write back trying to justify his actions. You ever heard the phrase You catch more flys with honey than vinegar? I think it might be a position you should learn to adopt when dealing with other humans. The polar bears dont mind as much I understand

But it looks as though Wert gave you a whole string of solutions to your problem. Bravo Wert, I found those very educational..I may try at least one to stop some of the spam I find very offensive like the rape porn sitesmagic spam is at least innocuous

I say your problem is solved Mr. Wayne

Thank you for posting

Have a pleasant day now, ya hear?

Guest

Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Guest » February 1st, 2003, 2:46 pm

Originally posted by Rosie:
This thread got banned on another forum..I guess the moderators here decided to leave it for our amusment..and amusing it is…I have to wonder what was deleted from your posts….

It seems to me, Mr. Wayne, that censored is a pretty strong term for someone who sends you spam. I usually reserve that word for people like child molesters and such. I guess Alaska has a different social standard then the rest of the 49 states.

I have a feeling that the note you sent to Paul Diamond was just as nasty and inflammatory as the notes you post on the magic forums. That is most likely why he felt compelled to write back trying to justify his actions. [...]
Have a pleasant day now, ya hear?
"Rosie", "Rosie", "Rosie"...

This thread did NOT get "banned" on another forum (MagicCafe). That thread was removed for content involvong my post AND others, but after a brief discussion with the moderators the opportunity was offered to revive the thread in an abridged form. That I chose not to has nothing to do with being "banned". So I guess you don't know everything you think you know, huh "Rosie"?

Regarding the term "censored', perhaps I apply it more liberally than others; spammers (and a few others, if you know what I mean, "Rosie") fit into that category for me...

As for "solutions", I already have the solutions to the problem. My agenda was different; venting (in part), and polling - to see if I was the only one who found Mr Diamond's tactics pain-in-the-ass irritating. Turns out - as you'll see if you read the above posts - that I'm not alone in my opinion.

As for the "note" I sent Mr. Diamond, it was very plain and clear-cut. I told him to drop my name from his mass emailings or I would pursue action through his ISP, and I would detail my problem with him in public forums. His response was that he was doing other magicians a favor with his mass emailings and that his advertising was "not spam". He then sent me three more massive emails in a row. So I followed through with my promised response.

It does amaze me, however that YOU presume to know what was written in private emails, "Rosie"; it's a shame you're not as smart as you wish you were.

But, hey... you have a pleasant day yourself, "Rosie"

Regards,
Thomas Wayne

(PS. As for the anonymous "wert", I've already scraped that one off the bottom of my shoe, so you'll just have to enjoy wallowing in that [censored] all by yourself, "Rosie")

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Chris Aguilar » February 1st, 2003, 3:06 pm

Originally posted by Thomas Wayne:

As for "solutions", I already have the solutions to the problem.
Hm, love the way you parenthesize "solutions". Nice way to imply that the good advice I gave you is someone invalid. Nice one. :)

If you had actually used any of the effective solutions you claim to have (or the ones I kindly provided you), this particular personal Spam problem wouldn't even exist.

I showed quite clearly that your point about "downloading huge files" is quite easily fixable. Doesn't surprise me that you'd ignore good advice. You obviously prefer to spout bile.

So excuse me if I'm not exactly wallowing in sympathy for you.

My agenda was different; venting (in part),
Nah, I think venting, crying, moaning, and bitching was your primary concern. :)

and polling - to see if I was the only one who found Mr Diamond's tactics pain-in-the-ass irritating.
And if a few agree with you, then so what?

Do you really have such a sad and pathetic need for validation?

Turns out - as you'll see if you read the above posts - that I'm not alone in my opinion.
Er, it's not a stretch that most people don't like Spam.

Thanks for the heads up Captain Obvious. :)

So I followed through with my promised response.
I'm sure Mr. Diamond is quaking in his boots over your vitriolic whining and crying here.

Is your petty need to "get" Mr. Diamond publicly really so strong?

If so, I pity you.

(PS. As for the anonymous "wert", I've already scraped that one off the bottom of my shoe,
LMAO. :)

Good to see you responding to me multiple times after hypocritically claiming that you "disregard anonymous posters" in other threads.

Now I could be wrong here, but I doubt your ego will allow this particular "Anonymous" post to go by without comment. ;)

...so you'll just have to enjoy wallowing in that [censored] all by yourself, "Rosie"
What a sweet fellow you are Thomas!

Perhaps if you spent less time "scraping people off the bottom of your shoe", you'd actually be able to solve your spam problems without resorting to abject public whining.

Hugs and Kisses :)

Wert

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby kenguru » February 1st, 2003, 3:37 pm

Don't you want to stop this stupid petty (although funny) quibbling?
Haim

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Chris Aguilar » February 1st, 2003, 3:52 pm

Originally posted by Haim Schlesinger:
Don't you want to stop this stupid petty (although funny) quibbling?
Nah.

But it does makes a good point about the whole "Anonymous posters" issue.

The actions of some on these forums shows clearly that providing a "real name" in no way discourages behaving like a complete ass. :)

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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Dustin Stinett » February 1st, 2003, 4:18 pm

Let's summarize:

SPAM is bad.

Paul Diamond sends out SPAM. It's a pain.

There are several steps that can be taken to remedy the issue of SPAM.

Thomas and Wert are not friends.

Rosie and Thomas share a mutual level of respect for each other.

It can be said that an ass by any name, real or not, is still an ass (not that I believe that any of the participants in this little tete-a-tete are asses, as far as anyone knows).

That pretty much covers it.

Sorry Geno, I'm locking this one before it gets further out of hand.

Dustin

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Paul Diamond’s advertising: Is it SPAM?

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 1st, 2003, 8:07 pm

Dustin, thank you for locking this thread! I have unlocked it only long enough to pass along this message: stop acting like little children, PLEASE. You know who you are, so cut it out before you get booted!
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