Re: [TMIC] offensive e-mails

JHarper33(AT)aol.com
Sun, 2 May 1999 14:52:23 EDT

In a message dated 5/2/99 10:30:46 AM EST, Bfjwheels(AT)aol.com writes:

> I, too, have been getting x-rated e-mails. Attention all computer
> nerds...is there a way toblock them for good?
>
> Barb J.
>

I wish there were! I have read and heard that it is not good to reply to them
and ask to be removed -- quite often that removal address is fake, or, if it
is for real, it confirms to them that your address is a legitimate one, and
then they send more or pass the address along to others. AOL has a "mail
controls" setting, where you can block mail from certain specific e-mail
addresses. But often these people change screen names often, so that doesn't
help. AOL also says to forward the offensive e-mail to TOSSpam, but they only
do something about it if they receive a lot of complaints for that particular
screen name of offensive mailers. What seems to help most is just deleting
the mail without opening it if possible -- sometimes the subject line gives
you a clue it is x-rated, but often they try to make the subject line sound
legitimate. I think the whole thing is disgusting and a big head-ache, and I
wish more could be done about it.

Barbara H.