I've just got an unsolicited commercial from HP levering (openly) off the toasters list.
I'll be replying in suitably terse terms, perhaps those here with HP relationships could complain through their reps, as a personal favour to me? 8)
Snippet included for identification purposes (note the to: line - neat mailer he's using):
--- Forwarded mail from "WAY,PETER (HP-Loveland,ex1)" peter_way@hp.com
From peter_way@hp.com Thu Apr 27 23:44:27 2000
Return-Path: peter_way@hp.com Delivered-To: mds@gbnet.net Message-ID: F341E03C8ED6D311805E00902761278C5726BC@xfc04.fc.hp.com From: "WAY,PETER (HP-Loveland,ex1)" peter_way@hp.com To: Cc: "WAY,PETER (HP-Loveland,ex1)" peter_way@hp.com Subject: HP would like your insights Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 17:44:04 -0600
<stuff snipped>
I chose you carefully from the list, because I sensed in your messages that you have a lot of experience with NAS in the solutions area we wish to explore.
Would you please send me a reply and let me know if you could spend about 45 minutes on the phone with me? The interview would consist of understanding the application environment you use NAS in, some of the challenges and issues you have, and then reviewing the concepts.
<stuff snipped>
-------------------------------------------------------- Product Marketing Specialist Workgroup Information Management Division Hewlett-Packard Bldg. E, MS E200 815 14th Street S.W. Loveland, CO 80537 (970)635-6477 Phone (970)898-3253 *new May 1* (970)635-6247 Fax peter_way@hp.com
--- End of forwarded message from "WAY,PETER (HP-Loveland,ex1)" peter_way@hp.com
I've just got an unsolicited commercial from HP levering (openly) off the toasters list.
I'll be replying in suitably terse terms, perhaps those here with HP relationships could complain through their reps, as a personal favour to me? 8)
Note, while I think it's probably fair to be upset at the unsolicited nature of the email, at least it's not a mass-mailing. It is unsolicited, and it is commercial, but at least it's fairly personal.
IMHO, getting upset at this is, at best, a close call. However, I don't think it's worth going postal on the vendor as a whole (At least not for this reason.) One person with a commercial interest seems to be asking one person a question. Isn't that what the 'Net is supposed to be about? Of course, you should feel free to refuse to answer.
Given the abundance of true spam/UCE/UBE in the world today, it's awfully tempting to get quick on the trigger when we get something like this. These days, my first reaction to an email like that is hostility. Eight years ago, hostile thoughts wouldn't have crossed my mind. Of course, that's just my $0.02.
I'd like to say that while it is abuse, I'm not bothered by it because it does appear to be selective, and they're asking for opinion, not trying to sell me something. If you don't like to be in market surveys, just say no; if you do, you should feel privelaged.
Bruce
-
Bruce Sterling Woodcock -
mds＠gbnet.net -
Nick Christenson