Crazy SA ‘spam list’ concept

Summary: The concept of a national e-mail address directory (spam list), on which users would pay for the privilege of being listed, was one of the crazy suggestions ISPA had to deal with during its 15 year history

Internet Service Providers Association’s (ISPA) General Manager Ant Brooks gave a presentation of the 15 year history of the organization at the 2011 ISPA iWeek conference.

In a tongue-in-cheek section of his presentation, Brooks shared some of the crazy suggestions ISPA has received over the last 15 years, which included a suggestion to create a national e-mail directory.

Brooks explained that one member had the bright idea to create a national e-mail address database where subscribers will pay a small fee (like R5 per month) to be listed in this directory.

Brooks said that he did his best to explain that the business model of making people pay to be listed in a national e-mail spam database may have a few flaws.

Needless to say the concept was never adopted – maybe a good idea considering that ISPA’s well known Spam Hall of Shame has a growing list of e-mail address resellers which are named and shamed by the organisation.