"stop sending stupidness!!!!!!!!!!!"

With these examples, I'm kicking off a collection of original messages from people who've posted to Usenet to complain about or question why they're getting articles in a group to which they're subscribed. Huh? Yes, why they're getting articles in a group to which they're subscribed. And often they call them emails. Unless otherwise noted, these represent the complete bodies of the messages (which are usually as short as they are clueless); sigs (which are rare) are not reproduced. I have mercifully omitted the poster's identity; sharks aren't actually cruel, despite the bad press.

Here's a minimalist's approach to the "problem". No message body at all - just a plea in the Subject header:


Newsgroups: 24hoursupport.helpdesk
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 13:52:51 -0000
Message-ID: <7dwOb.123$7r2.1@newsfep3-gui.server.ntli.net>
Subject: dont send me these messages

This is your basic, no-frills post, but at least it has content:


Newsgroups: 24hoursupport.helpdesk
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 19:48:13 +0100
Message-ID: <1UxXa.1761$Ls6.107667@newsfep2-gui.server.ntli.net>
Subject: rubbish

stop sending me messages

Another vanilla, coach-class example, and this one introduces the This-Is-Email Fallacy:


Newsgroups: 24hoursupport.helpdesk
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 04:51:36 GMT
Message-ID: <sl2j6.101672$R5.4212323@news1.frmt1.sfba.home.com>
Subject: please stop emailing me

Please do not email me on my computer how do i take it off.

Now let's dial in some urgency!!!!


Newsgroups: 24hoursupport.helpdesk
Date: 2000/08/08
Message-ID: <01c000ce$c1905ae0$af4f403f@default>#1/1
Subject: shut up stop and stop sending messing around!!!

stop sending stupidness!!!!!!!!!!!

This poster remains calm, but adds some embellishment and a bit of mystery:


Newsgroups: 24hoursupport.helpdesk
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 16:20:54 GMT
Message-ID: <GnXWe.16044$h02.11021@tornado.texas.rr.com>
Subject: What is going on?

My computer is all messed with crazy messages and unknown
senders, are you the reason, or just who might it be?

It's not often unsubscribe requests include tips on employment procedures:

Newsgroups: 24hoursupport.helpdesk
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:54:03 +0200
Message-ID: <5gpkicF3hshknU1@mid.uni-berlin.de>
Subject: hh314 hamburger.start goknut knut

Please delete me from all your Lists. Bitte lÃ¶schen sie mich aus sÃ¤mtlichen 
Verteilern oder CCopys, Blind Copys also. This is an unsubscribe 
announcement. Please handle it as it is. If you donÂ´t have time for this, 
hire an female agent. Thanks. If you wanne waste your time "hlocalhost" ist 
waiting. This is for your archive purposals. Work is nessasary for deliting 
this.

Back to Computing/Internet

Odds...