Re: [cobalt-users] Spam blocking

[Jeff Lasman <blists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thursday 29 January 2004 04:38 am, Michele Neylon :: Blacknight 
Solutions wrote:

> Agreed. Unfortunately some people on this list do not realise that:
> 1. The US is not the only country on the face of the planet
> 2. It's laws are far from perfect
> 3. Spam is an international problem
> 4. International problems lead to involving local laws

So far we agree.

But no law written in any country can affect the rights I, as a U.S. 
citizen and resident, have over my private property located in the U.S.

> 5. If you are not 110% sure that your spam filtering does not lead to
> false positives do not block - just tag

I'm happy to do that if you're happy to pay for it.

I block well over 80% of incoming mail using blocklists.  Are you 
willing to pay me to maintain systems with the horsepower it takes to 
tag spam instead?  This whole issue is about cost and consent.  You 
have no right (at least here) to spend my money to send me email.

> 6. Blocking at the MTA level using RBLs can be extremely dangerous

It can be.  Which is why we offer our clients the choice.  We can use 
blocklists to block their suspected spam (with an easy opt-infeature) 
or we can filter their email and send them marked spam.

And most of them prefer to not have to look at it; they tell us they 
just delete it as it comes in and they'd rather not waste the time 
downloading it or looking at it.

So for them, we block it.  I wish more would let us block it; our costs 
would be lower.

> And before any of the muppets reply with their "how dare you say
> that" type response please note:
> 1. I know what I am talking about
> 2. I have thought about it
> 3. We do this stuff for a living using proper servers and filter mail
> using a number of advanced techniques
> 4. If you wish to rebut my comments please make specific and clear
> references to examples

Okay:

1. Do you know what you're talking about for the whole world?  Did 
someone die and make you dictator?  Or do you just know what you're 
talking about for yourself and your clients?  Have you ever considered 
that maybe your clients would like to have choice?  Are you willing to 
lose them to hosting companies that give them choice?

2. Have you thought about the fact that your opinion may not be shared 
by everyone in the world?  Do you even care?

3. If you used what I call proper servers and advanced techniques you'd 
be able to offer people a choice of whether they wanted blocking or 
tagging.  among the proper servers we use is the exim mail server (MTA) 
written by Phillip Hazel at Cambridge, UK.  It allows us to give people 
choice.

Inteligent replies onlist are welcome; flames should be by private reply 
as onlist flames will be happily ignored.  (Since we filter on headers 
we know the difference immediately.)

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman, nobaloney.net, P. O. Box 52672, Riverside, CA  92517 US
Professional Internet Services & Support / Consulting / Colocation
Our blists address used on lists is for list email only
Phone +1 909 324-9706, or see: "http://www.nobaloney.net/contactus.html";