# I'm Blocking Gmail **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [August 21, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470 "2026-08-21T16:22:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/1 "2026-08-21T16:22:07Z")
I’ve been inundated with spam aimed at authors. Spammers pretending to be publishers, literary agents, publicists, book club organizers, radio station honchos, movie moguls, library system administrators, etc. They all want to drool over my book. In fact a good 20% of them inform me that they came across my book. Eudora spam filter instruction: change subject to “Ewww” They want to feature my book or represent it or publish it (even though the only titles they ever mention are already published), if only I’ll sign up with them and send them a special reduced price for the privilege… These parasites are disproportionately writing to me from gmail addresses. Out of over 1600 such spam emails that I’ve been saving in a “Book Scams”, 1359 of them are from gmail accounts and only 339 are from other domains. In contrast, looking at my non-spam email in various email folders from the current year I have 775 emails from gmail users and 5182 from other domains. I’ve looked up ways of contacting gmail administration at Google and sent reports that included the email accounts and subject lines and dates: _insert sound of crickets chirping_. Fuckit. New Eudora filter. If it’s addressed to my primary email address and comes from gmail, filter into Book Scams and delete from server immediately. I’ll fish out the legitimate ones and add them to my address book which will give them future immunity from this. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/2 "2026-08-21T18:08:02Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > They all want to drool over my book. In fact a good 20% of them inform me that they came across my book. Neither one sounds good for the book. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/3 "2026-08-21T18:14:17Z")
I’m surprised your own mail service’s spam filter lets all those emails through. I still have my almost 30 years old Hotmail address (now named, like everything MS email, Outlook), and though Hotmail once was notorious for getting spammed, for many years I have rarely gotten spam, and if yes, it lands in my personal spam folder. I also have a [t-online.de](http://t-online.de) and a Gmail address and don’t get spam there, either. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/4 "2026-08-22T13:19:22Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > In contrast, looking at my non-spam email in various email folders from the current year I have 775 emails from gmail users and 5182 from other domains. I’m amazed. It’s hard to find anyone using a non-Gmail email provider, these days. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/5 "2026-08-22T14:17:02Z")
I use [aol.com](http://aol.com) as my primary email provider. It hasn’t got _much_ spam in it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/6 "2026-08-22T14:27:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It hasn’t got _much_ spam in it. Don’t cause a fuss, I’ll have your spam, I love it! ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/7 "2026-08-22T15:34:21Z")
I blocked Outlook and Hotmail for the same reason. I coded exceptions for the few contacts I have at those sites. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/8 "2026-08-22T21:45:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m amazed. It’s hard to find anyone using a non-Gmail email provider, these days. In descending order, Jan-July 2026: [gmail.com](http://gmail.com) 338 [earthlink.net](http://earthlink.net) 261 [yahoo.com](http://yahoo.com) 146 [kmroselaw.com](http://kmroselaw.com) 101 oldwestbury.edu 71 [mg1.substack.com](http://mg1.substack.com) 59 [me.com](http://me.com) 22 [dreamwidth.org](http://dreamwidth.org) 18 [HipsCripsQueers.com](http://HipsCripsQueers.com) 17 [substack.com](http://substack.com) 16 [att.net](http://att.net) 13 [teamjohns.com](http://teamjohns.com) 12 wlc.edu 10 [aol.com](http://aol.com) 7 [hotmail.com](http://hotmail.com) 7 [support.parallels.com](http://support.parallels.com) 7 [ebay.com](http://ebay.com) 6 [brennanlawplc.com](http://brennanlawplc.com) 5 all other domains \< 5 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/9 "2026-08-22T21:52:51Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Neither one sounds good for the book. Snerk > [@AHunter3](#): > > I’ve been inundated with spam aimed at authors. If they aren’t trying to scam you, they’re trying to get you to take their writing course so they can make some money because their own book advance didn’t cover the bills. It’s a whole racket. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/10 "2026-08-22T21:53:08Z")
But I bet you did not get spam from Reese Witherspoon! Ted Gioia writes about his experience with a similar spam wave hitting his inbox. I find that interesting: > **[Reese Witherspoon and Me](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/reese-witherspoon-and-me?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=296132&post_id=210930891&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=203721&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email)** > > Will I join her on the red carpet some day? It seems AI is taking spam to a new level. Fucking annoying indeed. Why I am being spared those amazing offerings is starting to wear me down the more I read about what others get. My spam is so anodine by comparison. I am doing something wrong. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/11 "2026-08-22T21:55:34Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > > [@Chronos](#): > > > > I’m amazed. It’s hard to find anyone using a non-Gmail email provider, these days. > > In descending order, Jan-July 2026: I think I’ve never received a valid Gmail email ever (maybe some spam mails, but those I don’t count). At least here in Germany, it’s the email address you got when you first signed up for an Android device, and then totally forget about forever and never check. At least that’s the case for me. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/12 "2026-08-22T22:17:10Z")
I have gmail accounts among my email addresses, and most of my spam is fake Medicare “kits” and the same Lowe’s/Walmart special. I’ve had one “Ooh, I’m an acquisitions agent, and your novel is just sooo [insert AI slop summary stolen from reviews here], so dooo let me knooow if you have similar manuscripts.” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/13 "2026-08-22T22:32:21Z")
I haven’t had a non-Gmail address since 2015 when I stopped using Charter. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/14 "2026-08-22T23:18:51Z")
I get some of this spam, too, but in much lower volumes. It all goes into my junk folder automatically; I have no idea why, no doubt my employer (a university)has appropriate settings. What makes the spam so hard is the honesty and accuracy of the pitch: “your book is a brilliant, etc. needed now more than, etc., of interest, even need, to a vast audience.” Finally, a reader who gets it! Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/15 "2026-08-23T02:05:23Z")
it’s my hotmail account (yes they still exist) that is getting spammed mercilessly lately. 63 new ones in the last 24 hours. My Gmail’s been pretty damn quiet in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/16 "2026-08-23T03:02:44Z")
I and my company use Proton Mail. It is the most usable of any mail service that I have ever tried. I have a couple of Gmail accounts for testing, but hardly use them. And I have a couple of friends who use gmail. I also have test accounts at Vivald.neti and at [MailFence.com](http://MailFence.com) but don’t use them often. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/17 "2026-08-23T15:24:32Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I think I’ve never received a valid Gmail email ever Weird. Most of the time when I email clients, if they don’t have a company specific address it’s often Gmail. My main email has been Gmail for over 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/18 "2026-08-23T15:35:02Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Weird. Most of the time when I email clients, if they don’t have a company specific address it’s often Gmail. My main email has been Gmail for over 20 years. I think it’s a regional/cultural difference. Gmail really never took off in Germany, and older people like me mostly still have their first email address and provider from the early days of the internet as their main email, when providers like T-Online, Hotmail, [web.de](http://web.de) or [gmx.de](http://gmx.de) ruled. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/19 "2026-08-25T03:02:20Z")
If i had to guess, at least 90% is the legit personal email i get is via gmail. Corporate emails are usually another domain. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470/20 "2026-08-25T03:16:38Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I think I’ve never received a valid Gmail email ever PM me your email address and I’ll send you one. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-blocking-gmail/1032470.md?page=2)