help me spam religious spammers
April 3, 2008 6:47 PM Subscribe
So, my sister gets these really creepy, overly religious email spam from our cousins wife on a frequent basis. She never sends me any, but only my sister, I guess my sister, being a mother of two, is too must for her to let die in eternal hell by not accepting Jesus as her personal savior, so she sends her all of this crap. Now she is getting emails from other people, so now this has to stop. And I need to have a little fun.
This last email, a youtube video about The Church of Oprah finally made my sister bonkers. The video was odd, but the comments from all the people on the email chain here even crazier, if you read the you tube comments after the video you will get the picture. So, the sis is going to reply back asking not to send any more emails (too bad, they were always entertaining) I would like to do something a bit more creative and that is what I was hoping you could help with.
What can I do with about 20 emails addresses that might just get their goat? I know, I know it's mean and vindictive to put them on an a left wing mailing list but that's where my mind is going right now, but I think I can get a little more creative with this. Can you help?
Am I going to go to hell for spamming religious zealots?
This last email, a youtube video about The Church of Oprah finally made my sister bonkers. The video was odd, but the comments from all the people on the email chain here even crazier, if you read the you tube comments after the video you will get the picture. So, the sis is going to reply back asking not to send any more emails (too bad, they were always entertaining) I would like to do something a bit more creative and that is what I was hoping you could help with.
What can I do with about 20 emails addresses that might just get their goat? I know, I know it's mean and vindictive to put them on an a left wing mailing list but that's where my mind is going right now, but I think I can get a little more creative with this. Can you help?
Am I going to go to hell for spamming religious zealots?
This post was deleted for the following reason: revengefilter posts are against the rules. -- jessamyn
suck it up and block the addresses. be a grownup.
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:04 PM on April 3, 2008
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:04 PM on April 3, 2008
Look, being mean or exposing them to super-zealous people (even if they're zealous about atheism or freedom of speech or choice or whatever) is only going to fuel their fears that other people don't understand their point of view. It could potentially lead to them becoming even _less_ likely to listen to other ideas in the future, or to their locking down their own children's internet, or home-schooling, or funding super reactionary groups.
We're never going to be able to work *with* people with different ideas if we take out our frustration by ridiculing, belittling, or goading them -- no matter how good it may make us feel in the moment to take this sort of revenge. And that's what it would be, revenge. And yes, even such a small-seeming thing can start cycles of revenge, and we know where that leads. It's not really a small thing to make another person more afraid of you.
And it does make me more afraid of people with different viewpoints if I only see the angry, closed-minded side of them.
Please maintain civility. It's down to you and your decision in this one small thing.
posted by amtho at 7:04 PM on April 3, 2008
We're never going to be able to work *with* people with different ideas if we take out our frustration by ridiculing, belittling, or goading them -- no matter how good it may make us feel in the moment to take this sort of revenge. And that's what it would be, revenge. And yes, even such a small-seeming thing can start cycles of revenge, and we know where that leads. It's not really a small thing to make another person more afraid of you.
And it does make me more afraid of people with different viewpoints if I only see the angry, closed-minded side of them.
Please maintain civility. It's down to you and your decision in this one small thing.
posted by amtho at 7:04 PM on April 3, 2008
i suppose if you do want to tweak them, set up some sort of auto-reply that says, "Due to the overwhelming number of forwarded messages I receive, I have had to set up a stringent spam filter to eliminate them. If you have something original to say, please call me or email me individually. Otherwise, please remove me from your list and have a blessed day."
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:07 PM on April 3, 2008
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:07 PM on April 3, 2008
Yes, grow up. This is not the occasion for a hipster prank.
posted by jayder at 7:09 PM on April 3, 2008
posted by jayder at 7:09 PM on April 3, 2008
The only reason you feel slighted is that you didn't set the boundaries with the cousin's wife when the first few emails came through. So, while it's a particularly annoying practice, she isn't going to keep doing it once you voice your disapproval. My mom gets spammy emails from her sister-in-law and doesn't have the guts to say "do not want". So when my email got added to the Master Spam List, first infraction I just said "I love to hear from you about family business, but I don't like being included on mass emails or chain letters. Lots of love, CBM."
My satisfaction over just shutting her down so politely is immense. Seriously, just exercising control over a creeping grudge-worthy annoyance before it gets to you is fulfilling. More fulfilling, I expect, than a petty spam war.
On preview: blocking? that's still passive-aggressive in my book.
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:15 PM on April 3, 2008
My satisfaction over just shutting her down so politely is immense. Seriously, just exercising control over a creeping grudge-worthy annoyance before it gets to you is fulfilling. More fulfilling, I expect, than a petty spam war.
On preview: blocking? that's still passive-aggressive in my book.
posted by cowbellemoo at 7:15 PM on April 3, 2008
I think it's helpful to understand that these folks really, really believe they're doing your sister a big favor by helping her to Christ. You really, really believe they're wrong, but from their perspective it's like they're giving her a gift, and no matter how unwanted or inappropriate the gift, if it was given with good intentions, you're still an asshole if you spit on it. They are not physically hurting her. She doesn't have to read the emails. They're merely annoying. Block them and be done with it.
posted by desjardins at 7:17 PM on April 3, 2008
posted by desjardins at 7:17 PM on April 3, 2008
Oh come on! The best you call can come up with is "grow up"? He didn't ask if he should do it, or if it was the responsible thing to do, he asked for help in coming up with some great ideas to mess with his pious associates. Surely we have the creative brainpower to develop some truly great ideas even if we don't think their application is the mature response.
posted by jlowen at 7:19 PM on April 3, 2008
posted by jlowen at 7:19 PM on April 3, 2008
Yes, the grown up thing to do is to ask the person to stop. No need to be particularly creative, as if they really are true believers, it won't affect them in the least. "I'm sorry, but I do not share your beliefs, and I find the intolerance in some of the emails you are sending disturbing. Please so not send me any more religious-themed emails."
Ignoring/blocking it is the immature thing to do. Adults talk to other adults about the differences they have.
posted by gjc at 7:22 PM on April 3, 2008
Ignoring/blocking it is the immature thing to do. Adults talk to other adults about the differences they have.
posted by gjc at 7:22 PM on April 3, 2008
This is a little like Code Pink messing with the Marines in Berkeley, pretty entertaining but still not really a cool thing to do.
Free speech is free speech. And FWIW I hatehatehate getting those rightwing alert freakout emails trying to alarm me about the latest whatever in Washington, even tho I am pretty conservative myself. Being a bit chicken (but also having to be, well, politic) I blocked the sender's email. Problem solved.
posted by konolia at 7:25 PM on April 3, 2008
Free speech is free speech. And FWIW I hatehatehate getting those rightwing alert freakout emails trying to alarm me about the latest whatever in Washington, even tho I am pretty conservative myself. Being a bit chicken (but also having to be, well, politic) I blocked the sender's email. Problem solved.
posted by konolia at 7:25 PM on April 3, 2008
Oh, and in this case I do agree with those who say your sister should just ask the cousin's wife to stop. Blocking family wouldn't be, well, prudent.
posted by konolia at 7:26 PM on April 3, 2008
posted by konolia at 7:26 PM on April 3, 2008
Remember that anything sent back to your cousin may be forwarded to other family members, so BE CAREFUL! That said, the two best sources I can think of for people who've had to deal with this sort of thing would be the BeliefNet Atheism and Secular Philosophies forum and Freethought-Forum.com.
posted by Doohickie at 7:27 PM on April 3, 2008
posted by Doohickie at 7:27 PM on April 3, 2008
While being vindictive is always iffy (though the negative responses here seem a bit stronger than necessary), doing so to someone who doesn't even know that they've offended anyone is obnoxious, counterproductive, and unfair.
However, if your sister asks them to stop sending her e-mails and they don't, then maybe it might be reasonable to take some sort of action to make sure they understand just how much their actions have bothered her. In those circumstances, you could them on a mailing list from a similarly religious group that is just different enough to make them squirm. I wouldn't put them on some sort of true spam list where it's essentially impossible to get off; that would be a bit above and beyond. I also wouldn't sign them up for mailing list for some antireligious group because it would just increase their annoyance at those heathens, increasing their resolve to save the world. But if you can find someone just similar enough to them that this won't happen, but different enough that they can see the content as annoying, it might actually get the point across.
Again, I stress that to do this sort of thing to someone who doesn't even know they're being offensive is a bad idea.
posted by ErWenn at 7:28 PM on April 3, 2008
However, if your sister asks them to stop sending her e-mails and they don't, then maybe it might be reasonable to take some sort of action to make sure they understand just how much their actions have bothered her. In those circumstances, you could them on a mailing list from a similarly religious group that is just different enough to make them squirm. I wouldn't put them on some sort of true spam list where it's essentially impossible to get off; that would be a bit above and beyond. I also wouldn't sign them up for mailing list for some antireligious group because it would just increase their annoyance at those heathens, increasing their resolve to save the world. But if you can find someone just similar enough to them that this won't happen, but different enough that they can see the content as annoying, it might actually get the point across.
Again, I stress that to do this sort of thing to someone who doesn't even know they're being offensive is a bad idea.
posted by ErWenn at 7:28 PM on April 3, 2008
Sign them up for Scientology emails? Send them emails to vote to allow evolution to be taught in schools?
But I agree with ErWenn that you should ask them to stop first and if they don't then do whatever you want, its just life nobody gets out alive anyways so do what you want.
posted by lilkeith07 at 7:35 PM on April 3, 2008
But I agree with ErWenn that you should ask them to stop first and if they don't then do whatever you want, its just life nobody gets out alive anyways so do what you want.
posted by lilkeith07 at 7:35 PM on April 3, 2008
Why not set up an auto-reply that says something like:
"Due to the volume of unsolicited and spam email, this automatic reply is to inform you that I did not read your email due to the content seeming to meet certain criteria. If you are selling a product, soliciting contributions, or representing a religious or political agenda, please do not send such emails in the future. If you think you have gotten this automatic reply in error, and need to email me regarding other matters, please send another message with 'personal' in the subject line."
Now, it doesn't matter if it's really an auto-reply or not. Just having a file handy to copy and paste from works just as well. And the part about sending an email with "personal" in the subject is optional, of course.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:03 PM on April 3, 2008
"Due to the volume of unsolicited and spam email, this automatic reply is to inform you that I did not read your email due to the content seeming to meet certain criteria. If you are selling a product, soliciting contributions, or representing a religious or political agenda, please do not send such emails in the future. If you think you have gotten this automatic reply in error, and need to email me regarding other matters, please send another message with 'personal' in the subject line."
Now, it doesn't matter if it's really an auto-reply or not. Just having a file handy to copy and paste from works just as well. And the part about sending an email with "personal" in the subject is optional, of course.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:03 PM on April 3, 2008
I'm not going to preach at you about right and wrong, because that's what everyone else did and maybe they're right, but ... you know ... you asked for suggestions. So here are a few:
Sign them up for Obama's campaign volunteer e-mail list. I got on that list, got tons of messages, and found it rather difficult to get removed. But if you are one of those people who are under the impression that Oprah and Obama are trying to take over the world together in some sort of evil pact, I bet this would make you squirm.
Alternately, you could try signing them up for an Oprah's book club type thing. That might be difficult, though, as her website probably requests e-mail confirmation.
I'm trying to think of ideas that won't be considered just plain spam, but I can't think of any. Really, it's hard to do anything fun with twenty e-mail addresses that won't be perceived as mean and maybe evil. You'll definitely get prayed for.
You could just send a snarky e-mail out to everyone on the list saying something totally absurd, like how Oprah is a prophet of God and everything she says is right. I mean, go with it. Or send them an e-mail -- a single e-mail, not a big listerv thing -- inviting them to donate to Obama's campaign. Describe him as the Christian choice. Or better yet, describe him as the Muslim choice -- which of course is completely inaccurate. But you know, if you can do it right, you may manage to both be funny and get the point across.
posted by brina at 8:04 PM on April 3, 2008
Sign them up for Obama's campaign volunteer e-mail list. I got on that list, got tons of messages, and found it rather difficult to get removed. But if you are one of those people who are under the impression that Oprah and Obama are trying to take over the world together in some sort of evil pact, I bet this would make you squirm.
Alternately, you could try signing them up for an Oprah's book club type thing. That might be difficult, though, as her website probably requests e-mail confirmation.
I'm trying to think of ideas that won't be considered just plain spam, but I can't think of any. Really, it's hard to do anything fun with twenty e-mail addresses that won't be perceived as mean and maybe evil. You'll definitely get prayed for.
You could just send a snarky e-mail out to everyone on the list saying something totally absurd, like how Oprah is a prophet of God and everything she says is right. I mean, go with it. Or send them an e-mail -- a single e-mail, not a big listerv thing -- inviting them to donate to Obama's campaign. Describe him as the Christian choice. Or better yet, describe him as the Muslim choice -- which of course is completely inaccurate. But you know, if you can do it right, you may manage to both be funny and get the point across.
posted by brina at 8:04 PM on April 3, 2008
When I get emails like that I simply reply with a one line message: "unsubscribe".
It usually gets the point across.
posted by gaspode at 8:21 PM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
It usually gets the point across.
posted by gaspode at 8:21 PM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Is she using gmail? She should be...
Set up a filter to tag messages from those email addresses containing the word "jesus" or "blessed" or similar catchphrases and skip the inbox. Every now and then make sure a legit communication didn't slip in there and forget the whole thing.
posted by phrontist at 8:27 PM on April 3, 2008
Set up a filter to tag messages from those email addresses containing the word "jesus" or "blessed" or similar catchphrases and skip the inbox. Every now and then make sure a legit communication didn't slip in there and forget the whole thing.
posted by phrontist at 8:27 PM on April 3, 2008
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posted by backseatpilot at 7:02 PM on April 3, 2008