Sunday, May 13, 2007

Rate Bohn's Spam

Over the past few years I've developed a habit of sorts... I periodically email out news articles that I come across to people I think would be interested in them. Some might call this spam, but I like to think of it in a more positive light... as something more akin to a listserv.

It started out as just a few emails here and there to a couple of family members and a few friends. Over time, however, it's become a much larger list of family, friends, classmates, and associates. The articles I send out sometimes cover funny stories of general interest, occasionally something betraying my political bent, but, more often than not, they tend to deal in some way with Mormons or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I readily admit that I've unilaterally opted most of the current "News Group" onto the list (though a good handful or two have requested themselves on), but I tell myself that everyone must enjoy the emails since I have yet to receive any cease and desist orders. That's not saying much though. My emails very likely might be flagged and filtered as spam by some who don't want to risk offense.

Others might take a more low key approach in the form of subtle mockery. One friend, Woo, actually started a pretty entertaining blog devoted solely to chronicling and abridging "the hundreds of uninvited emails of varying quality from Marc." For a time, he essentially lampooned every one of my emails on the site (though I did manage a few positive reviews, see here and here). He's thrown in "the proverbial towel" on his gold standard of one post for every email, but it seems as though he still plans on gracing us with commentary from time to time. We'll see if he can keep a handle on inflation and manage another statistical analysis of bohnspam (my personal favorite). I should note that I've specifically asked him if he wants off the list and he didn't bite, so perhaps he enjoys the emails more than he lets on.

In any event, for those that want off the list, feel free to let me know (no offense taken). For those who appreciate the additional opportunities to bag on me, have at it. And for those who are curious enough now to want on the list, just say the word (I promise I won't tell anyone).

9 comments:

woo said...

Brilliant... and if anyone wants on my new newsletter, please sign up too! It is the "Mormon academic for Law Students for Romney" listserv, and it will keep you up to date on my favorite law student for Romney.

melbo said...

But Marc ISN'T for Romney... I know it's deceiving since that's his #1 "spam" topic. (I learned this from reading the statistical analysis. And from my own inbox.)

Thanks for keeping me informed, Marc. And for not being offended when I delete a bunch of stuff. :)

Sammy Pow said...

I'm totally excited about the Mormon academic for law students for Romney listserv, sign me up!

Will the LSFR blog have to change it's name post-graduation?

In all honesty, I don't agree with people who say that Marc has too much time on his hands. I think the opposite situation is true, and I stand in utter amazement and awe at Marc's ability be able to commit so much time to his spam list, and still do all the billion other things he does. What's it like to never sleep?

s.lloyd said...

I too am in complete awe with Mr Bohn's diligence, although I HOPE that he has set these email lists up to automatically email these spam messages, that is the only possible way he can be sending out spam at EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY.

I will admit, for a while, the emails were kind of annoying, because I would get them at work, and I HATE to have my little "gmail" notifier tell me I have an email, so I'd have to check my email every 30 minutes or so to mark the spam as read... Now that I have a BBerry, I actually have found myself reading some of the links from Dr Bohn, and actually appreciate them.

Thanks Marc, I am sure that in the weeks before you start studying for the bar, I will become annoyed again at the spam, as you'll have 400 times more opportunity to scour the email for "news"

woo said...

"EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY" eh? I think I have another statistical analysis in the works...

Anonymous said...

I feel by reading your spam I am more intelligent each and every day, and that is why I choose to remain anonymous

Anonymous said...

I read 80-90% of my bohnspam. I'm impressed that Marc can not only send the articles out but also reply to my comments on the articles. Bohn=the true half-Swiss übermensch!

Kaimi said...

And I thought it was just me. I feel so unspecial now, knowing that the daily missives go to a whole group. Sniff.

Um, just kidding. I do enjoy knowing that I've got a source of interesting articles. It's sort of like a human powered Google-Alerts for somme topics. :)

You ought to set up an account at del.icio.us, if you haven't already, and stream your tagged articles to your blog. That way, the whole world could see the awe-inspiring nature of bohnspam.

Marc said...

Melbo - Not offended at all... you have to put up with hearing me talk all day so you get your fill.

BA - The main editor for "Law Students For Romney", Dave Kennedy, is just a wee 2L, so it's title stays accurate through next year... we'll see if Romney survives the primary gauntlet. As for my lack of sleep... I manage to squeeze in an hour here and there... at least enough to keep my engine running.

TFB - So all I have to do is get Woo a blackberry and he'll start to appreciate my spam?

Woo - I think I speak for everyone when I saw that we anxiously await the new statistical analysis...

Anon - Hmmmm... apparently this is something to be embarrassed of?

RSR - The true half-Swiss übermensch, eh? Kind of has a ring to it...

Kaimi - You just settled a long burning question... you see I've never quite been sure just what you made of the clutter I contribute to your inbox, seeing as I unilaterally added you to the list last year. I'll assume the passing "interesting articles" reference means the spam doesn't bother you too much. Thanks for the heads up on del.icio.us... I'll have to give it a whirl.