It's easy to classify SPAM as "junkmail" or UCE but I think that leaves
too much to interpretation these days.
Especially given the almost completely commercial applications of "the
net" (gawd, I hate to even think of Sandra B. and her magic octet).
I think the answer could live in what is commonly referred to as a "pull"
versus a "push" type of marketing.
If you take the time to ask people, in a non-obtrusive way, what they're
interested in, then usually, enough people will respond to
help you "meet your numbers and get your trip" (or whatever motivates the
source of information).
The trick (or tightrope that must be walked), is to find a middle ground
with consumers. How can enough information about you be gathered and
analyzed (with your permission) to only (or for the most part) give you
information that interests you. Cookies? not sure. PKI "hooks"? Not
sure either. Heck, I'm not sure what the difference is if you really
think all "hippy" about what they're really both being used (planned) for.
The net has the potential to be a great vehicle for sales. The only
reason I say it has potential, in spite of its obvious success, is that I
think there's a long way to go with regards to security and other legal
issues. These will all get resolved one way or the other, but once they
are, this middle ground is where we should all be able to play as
"consumers" AND "sellers" with product or information or opinion whatnot
(what's the difference really).
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Randall Gale
Regional Director
Information Security
Predictive Systems
vox: 781-751-9629
fax: 781-329-9343
mailto:randall(_dot_)gale(_at_)predictive(_dot_)com
http://www.predictive.com
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