On Wed, 9 Aug 2006, Allan Poindexter wrote:
william> In the way you describe it any spam filter is bad any spam william> filter manufacturer should go to jail...
Manufacturer? No. It is perfectly permissible for a recipient to run a filter over his own mail if he wishes.
An RBL is in fact kind-of like spam filter manufacturer or more precisely RBL operator is like spam filter manufacturer. I've not heard of antispam product manufacturer ever being in court because of spam classification problems with their product; in fact I've not even seen successful case brought against Microsoft and we do all know how much spam comes through because of deficiencies in their product... In any case I think what you have a problem with is not RBL lists or anti-spam filtering but situation where lists and filters are used without your knowledge and approval by your ISP[*] to filter your mail. My suggestion to you is to either have your own domain and run your own filtering system or to choose an ISP that provides you with capabilities to control their spam filter, for example by way of using SIEVE scripts. [*] I do want to point out though that if domain is owned by ISP they can decide what rules to set for their users. Any email address you get within that domain is not really "yours" but basically you're "licensed" to use that address as long as you pay your service fees and agree to policies and rules of the ISP (and license is in fact correct term because often enough company would have a trademark on their name and so when you use email address with such a name you need their permission, i.e. a license).
I have in the past considered this antispam stuff "ill advised" or "something I oppose". Expect me to fight it tooth and nail from now on.
You need to understand first who to fight. -- William Leibzon Elan Networks william@elan.net