Validating Web Site Information
Computer/Internet Hoaxes
Spam and Junk Mail
from internet.ggu.edu/university_library/spam_scam.html#eval
Spam -
The term "spam" originated on Usenet Newsgroups and specifically referred to messages sent indiscriminately to multiple conferences, without regard to the subject of the conference. Not always commercial in nature, spam could include religious messages, chain letters and conspiracy theories. Spam now also refers to unwanted e-mail that usually performs commercial advertising similar to traditional paper "junk mail." "Spam" and "junk e-mail" have become synonymous terms.
What's wrong with spam? What about the spirit of free enterprise? Free enterprise did not create the Internet or develop some of its most useful applications. The United States government, other governments throughout the world, academic and scholarly institutions along with well-meaning individuals did. An open cooperative system in which each user pays a nominal amount to maintain and improve, the Internet stands as an example of what friendly cooperation and voluntary effort can build. Spam constitutes an abuse of that system as spammers over-utilize the internet far and beyond what other users do and usually spam costs more than the spammers pay in fees. (Assuming they even pay fees. "Whack a Mole spamming" utilizes free introductory offers from service providers for only a few hours. The spammer pays nothing). Free enterprise has inspired commercial products of great value that enhance the Internet, but spam remains a kind of electronic free-loading that should outrage any self-respecting republican.
Most spammers do not even sell a product. Read : Damn spam! from Salon Magazine.
DO NOT reply to any Spam EVER!!!! Also, do not reply with "Remove" in the subject line or in the body of your message as some spam messages instruct you. Spammers use this tactic to find out if your e-mail address is still active and such action will result in even more unwelcome messages heading your way. For this reason mail-bombing also backfires.
To report spam or other unwanted e-mail forward a copy of the unwelcome message to the originating domain name with "abuse" before the "@" i.e.: abuse@netcom.com or abuse@aol.com, etc. Many ISPs have such a mailbox. If the mail bounces try also "complaints" in place of "abuse." Use "postmaster" only as a last resort. Or you could use a service, such as Spam Cop (spamcop.net) will aid you in reporting spam or you could subscribe for spam filtering and auto-reporting services. To find the originating domain name you may need to do a little detective work: How to the full headers when sending complaints to an ISP from the Abuse of Usenet: Cyberstalked web site.
Validity - Evaluating Web Pages
Forms and Checklists to Use For Validation
Activities
1. www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/webevaluation/webeval.htm use the following
2. www.lib.vt.edu/research/libinst/idle/evaluating.html
3. www.ithaca.edu/library/Training/hott0.html
- T is for Thinking
The ICYouSee Guide to Critical Thinking About What You See on the Web
4. sosig.ac.uk/desire/internet-detective.html
- The Internet Detective, an interactive tutorial. See sosig.ac.uk/desire/teachers.html
for information on how to use the tutorial in your class.
5. kathyschrock.net/abceval/index.htm
- good examples from Kathy Schrock - Evaluation of Web sites is an important
skill to learn in this age of digital and information literacy. Students and
teachers need practice in critically examining sites to determine authority,
authenticity, and applicability to purpose. The sites listed below are useful
for looking at pages with a specific critical purpose in mind. There are no
right answers to the questions...the answers are up to you!
thanks to www.eosdev.com/EosBackWinter.htm
for the graphic
last modified by jstratton
November 27, 2001