Occasionally, we receive lovely emails from our users. Sometimes they are really nice messages, thanking us for our service. Other times, they are nasty. Despite this, we try to help out when it's something we can actually fix (or potentially fix).
Today's email comes from someone who is using an internet service provider (ISP) in Romania that is notorious for being used as a vehicle for spammers. Our spam blocking software displays a rather rough message to visitors from blocked ISPs because they are assumed to be spammers (which is obviously the purpose of the software). Of course, if the message is displayed to someone legitimate who is being incorrectly flagged as a spammer (it happens), the message may be insulting to them. However, the vast majority of those who see it definitely deserve it.
My point is that the message is aimed at spammers and should be viewed as such. If anyone sees it that shouldn't be seeing it, then they should try to contact me to see if we can resolve it, understanding that the message is intended for a specific audience.
Anyway, here's today's lovely message:
> Dear Sir ,
> It is totally innaceptable to block a full range of ip's of RDSNET . Eventough it may happend that you've been attacked or spammed from this IP range , to block them totally ( as they have milions of subscribers ) means just admitting that you cannot handle the task of being an webmaster of the site. Just addressing to everybody from RDS accessing your page to :'' 1. Stop the bad behavior, or 2. Cease accessing this system. '' is an insult and a total violation of professional ethics. I do know how you reached this position but I think that the above quoted advices should adress to you : 1. Stop the bad behavior AND 2. Cease accessing the system.
> Few regards ,
> ###### ########
My response? Basically that I own and operate the site and can run it any way I see fit. However, I don't want to unnecessarily block the wrong people (duh), so I tried a couple of things and told him he was welcome to try again (and let me know how it goes), if he is still interested.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not stressed out about this. It doesn't really even bother me anymore. I've learned a lot from running this site and one of the main takeaways is that you have to develop a thicker skin and laugh at all the goofballs. But it is nice to post something like this once in awhile to help others get a sense (ever so slight as it may be) of what we deal with here. The site is free, so people have to understand that there's a certain level of automation that has to be used so we can get some paid work done around here. And I know that most of you understand that and I very much appreciate it.
😀
You are doing a GREAT JOB Wendell, keep up the good work!
If you try to please everyone; you will please no one.
Wendell,
You probably know that I write on foreign coordinate systems each month in PE&RS. Many years ago, I wrote on Ireland and went to the Irish Ordnance Survey for info. They kindly responded with a lot of information that I needed and used. I also had my campus computer infected by ... the "Irish Virus!"
🙂
Say What, Your Computer Got Drunk?
Paul in PA
Say What, Your Computer Got Drunk?
Nay Laddy, joost a wee nip at the pub. It be a bit of walk cross the pitch ya know.
Well, that person could also switch ISPs to one that doesn't have a reputation of harboring users with malignant intent. If you hang around with a bad crowd, you understandably share in their bad reputation. It's a common truth of human interaction known as guilt by association.
If I don't want to be viewed with suspicion by the local police and my neighbors, I'm not going to hang out with known burglars and drug dealers. If that person doesn't want to have to prove up his status as a benign internet user, he should take up digital residence in better quarters than the virtual den of thieves he is at.
Thanks for the laugh Wendell. You guys are doing a great service for the land surveying community. I'm glad you are able to take messages like that in stride.
