Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Jim, Texas on August 2, 2008:

I know it might seem to be strange behavior for the author of The Stella Awards, but have you considered having an attorney write Yahoo a letter and threaten to sue for loss of revenue?

You have confirmation that every Yahoodiot that clicked the spam button had agreed at one time to take your newsletter, so you've got a pretty good case for prevailing in any litigation. Think about it, Yahoo is wrongly denying you income due to actions beyond your control but within their control.

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Lawsuits are (or typically should be) a last resort. I have a lot of steps to try first before even considering the idea. That is how it should be, too. -rc

Posted by Susan, GA on August 2, 2008:

I've been reading true for several years and signed up for premium a few months ago. I can't believe it took me so long, what a great deal for a 52 issues. I sent the issue to probably 75 people. I hope it will help.

Thanks for not only helping us think, but also starting a great internet business.

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Thanks, Susan. Yes, it DOES help. -rc

Posted by M Robert on August 2, 2008:

Just a tip: One thing that might add to it is calling your subscribers "addled idiots".

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It does amaze me when people are so scared and unsure that they use a fake name and obviously fake AOL address in order to snipe -- especially when they're totally, completely, out of line.

So, "Robert" using Comcast cable in Texas, not AOL, here's my reply: try reading what I actually said. I have no subscribers who are "addled idiots", since those are the people who hit the "This is Spam" button: they don't get the newsletter anymore. So by definition those who remain aren't. But you can't be bothered to actually THINK about what I said, and PREFER to be offended. How pathetic, and it says plenty about your own intelligence ...and not a thing about any other reader. -rc

Posted by Mike from Dallas on August 2, 2008:

I can't tell you the number of times I've been admonished by Yahoo for violations of Terms of Service without the specific Term ever being specified. When I've asked for clarification, I get a laundry list of possible reasons. And when I've rebutted their opinion with my reasons spelled out that I've committed no violation, the response is that, after review, it's determined that I'm still in violation. I've long since given up trying to do business with such sophomoric teenagers running that operation.

By the way, I've found that my own domain is considered spam for a lot of ISPs simply on the basis that it could possibly be used for spam, even though it has never been. Nothing I can do about it except appeal to each ISP and hope it may change its opinion.

Posted by Ben from Oak Park, IL on August 2, 2008:

The yahoo mail problem may be greater than some folk realize. Yahoo mail is the underlying mail service for all of the family of AT&T DSL customers. Maybe it is not coincidence that the AT&T logo is known as the "Death Star" logo. The prospect of losing the access to email for all of these DSL customers is a real bummer. And another reason that I also decided to get mail addresses on my own domains, several of them.

Posted by Andi, North Carolina on August 2, 2008:

Unbelievable! Yahoo blocks This Is True as spam, and yet almost every spam email that a Yahoo Group I moderate gets comes from a Yahoo.com email address. They can't keep spammers from using their own email service to spam users of other Yahoo services, but they'll block This Is True from every Yahoo email account because some people clicked the "This is Spam" button instead of unsubscribing. Ludicrous!

Makes me glad that I don't use Yahoo mail.

Posted by Kat in the midwest on August 2, 2008:

I am not sure how much the big providers communicate spammer info with each other. (3 years ago I knew lots, before I left IT...) But I wonder if it is coincidence that Gmail today decided True was spam. Of course I clicked "not spam" as soon as I found it, so hopefully Gmail will be smarter than Yahoo.

I was going to say that even a few "not spam" clicks ought to outweigh lots of "is spam" clicks, because we know people call things spam that aren't, but who clicks "not spam" when they get spam? Then I realized, spammers probably have lots of addresses where they get their own spam and mark it "not spam" for just this reason.

Canter & Siegel and all your descendants, may you... well,
I don't like to ill-wish, even spammers. Let's just say I hope they don't have a GOOHF card if they need one.

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GOOHF cards don't work on spammers.

I think the gmail bit is coincidence. I do think the "not spam" button counts a lot since all these providers know that people are lazy, and use the "This is Spam" button to mean "I just don't want this" -- whether it's legit or not. Yes, spammers might try such tactics themselves, but I'm sure there are algorithms for detecting legit clicks on "Not Spam" vs those done on actual spam. -rc

Posted by Pearl, Montreal on August 2, 2008:

I am so sorry this is happening. I really do enjoy This is True. I'm afraid that I do not have 50 friends, or much money, or a blog or website but I will forward an issue to those I think would enjoy True with a recommendation to join. My general habit is to not forward anything, especially as a group mailing, so I will send this individually to those I believe will like True.

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That works, and thanks! -rc

Posted by Tristram , Maine on August 2, 2008:

Randy, you always manage to bring the stupidity of people into the forefront of my consciousness. I thank you for this. I never wondered why my email service marked True as spam, assuming it was because it could detect that it was emailed to so many people at once. It never deleted it, just marked it as spam. The last two issues, however, have not been marked as spam. I'm not sure who runs the webmail I use since it is done through my university, but I shall remain ever vigilant that it does not happen again. Like so many of your loyal fans, I will do all that I can to help spread the word and keep true going.

Posted by Mark, Ridgewood NJ on August 2, 2008:

I just recently started a free subscription (in addition to my Premium feed) for the sole purpose of giving my friends samples and encouraging them to order it for themselves.

Hope this helps.

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Definitely! -rc