Yakov Shafranovich <research(_at_)solidmatrix(_dot_)com> wrote:
Examples of messaging systems include: direct speech (face to face),
telephone, fax, television, radio, email, instant messaging, postal
mail, telegraph, etc. All of these have potential for abuse which varies
from system to system.
... and some have technical design flaws which enable more abusive
behaviour than in other protocols.
It is clearly within the charter of this group to discuss the design
flaws of SMTP. Other messaging systems are relevant only so far as
they do not have the same design flaws.
It is clearly within the charter of this group to discuss which
characteristics of SMTP are being abused by spammers, and how to
address those characteristics to prevent abuse. Other messaging
systems are not relevant for that discussion.
The underlying problem is a human one and we need to understand it
before changing the technology. The reasons why spam is being sent, and
is profitable, are human reasons which need to be addressed.
The psychology of criminals is a complicated topic, with centuries
of research and discussion behind it. The final conclusion after that
time is that the best way to deal with criminals is to catch them.
Their reasons for being criminals are not relevant to that process.
Even worse, their reasons for being criminals largely amount to
"because I want to". There's little anyone can do to address that
problem, either, except by catching and punishing them.
In the terms of pharmacology, spam is a problem for which treatment
is "symptomatic". The causes don't matter. Once the symptoms are
treated, the problem will be solved.
Alan DeKok.
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