Yes, its yet another one of these pedantic “solutions” to spam. I bet, if someone is familiar with the slashdot meme, they may even start writing out one of those horrifically long checklists as to why my idea won’t work.

But it will.

This is not arrogance on my part, but rather a simple strategy that can be embarked on. It will, however, require participation from everyone, web browsers, little old grannies, the slashdot user in their mother’s basement… and the government, hopefully.

The reason spam works, is because it makes money. So, we remove the financial incentive quite easily; we educate consumers as to what is spam, and why they should not buy. I figure a simple, “Spammers are terrorists!” campaign would be heartily endorsed by everyone thats been inundated with spam.

I know, I know, the whole “problem exists between keyboard and chair”(PEBKAC for short) issue. Actually getting people to listen, and understand, and not buy, is a massive issue. But if everyone knows that Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant, I’m sure we could bombard everyone with the needed message.

In addition to actually educating the internet using public about the detrimental effects of spam, spam needs to be enforced and punished. The government just does not seem to care, except for one key problem, in that spammers typically do not pay taxes.

An actual effort needs to be made, beyond computer algorithms and checks and authentication. That is simply an arms race, which an evolutionary biologist will tell you is a waste of resources. The only real solution is two-fold: education and enforcement.

So, I think, if I can find the time, I’ll begin a movement or something to pressure the government to do something.

-Zeroth

*Zeroth watches as spammers try to ironically spam this post.*