# Spammers cost me almost a week on the Dope **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 26, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002 "2004-04-26T02:31:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002/1 "2004-04-26T02:31:09Z")
Bastard spammers/virus senders cost me almost a week of posting here. See, they’ve pretty much taken over my email address that I use here, and I tried to get a new one from Yahoo (I reported the problem to them, and they very thoughtfully did nothing). I got an email from Yahoo at the new address, so I assumed it was working. (This is the part where I pit myself, for not checking to make sure the damned thing actually was receiving outside emails. Bad featherlou. Bad, bad.) So I hop back onto the boards, change my email address to the brand spanking new one that shouldn’t be corrupt yet, and everything’s wonderful. Except for when I try to respond to a post, and I find out I’m not registered anymore. Hmm, this is new. Never been locked out like this before. Mentally review recent posting history, don’t remember posting anything that would warrant me getting banned. Fast forward to four days later, see sticky in ATMB from **Lynn** regarding using bad email addresses, realize that stupid Yahoo address doesn’t work and that’s what has caused my lockout, send email to Lynn, get it fixed, and am able to post again five days later. I mean, five days from original lockout; Lynn fixed me up right quick, for which I am very grateful. So, my bottom line is that the spammers/hackers/virus writers/juvenile basement dwellers with way too much time on their hands who have taken over my email account and are sending me 10 viruses a day are to blame for this tragedy. Little bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002/2 "2004-04-26T10:57:52Z")
I’m sure that Askeptic and his minions will be along shortly to blame Lynn. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002/3 "2004-04-26T11:58:50Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I’m sure that Askeptic and his minions will be along shortly to blame Lynn. Wow, was THIS ever uncalled-for and totally unrelated to the OP. Meanwhile… I had to switch email addys on here a couple of times because the ones I had used ended up totally overtaken by spammers. Fortunately the email I have through my ISP has a really good spam filter so it hasn’t happened again. I feel your pain, man - glad you were able to get it worked out. Meanwhile some jerko paid $200 to [find out how SpamAssasin works](http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=287836), and now more spam is getting through some filters. Beautiful, no? ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002/4 "2004-04-26T12:06:34Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I’m sure that Askeptic and his minions will be along shortly to blame Lynn. And I’m sure you’ll step in to defend her, even if there were no attack in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002/5 "2004-04-26T12:33:53Z")
> [@Who\_me?](#): > > And I’m sure you’ll step in to defend her, even if there were no attack in the first place. Seems that’s what is already happening. F’lou, I have four e-mail addresses. One is the one I use here, and two are for signing up places online and hence get the most spam. The primary one is through my ISP and only people who know not to use my email address at websites (people other than my mom, sisters and brothers in other words) get that one. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002/6 "2004-04-26T13:34:27Z")
I used to think spamming was sort of a “eh, nobody really got hurt” kinda thing, but now I have a much better appreciation for just what an insidious thing it really is. I have a couple of email addresses too, **Ginger** - my isp provider is blocking spam very nicely (it’s from Telus, if you can believe it - they seem to be doing something right). I just need another low usage address for my surfing requirements. I thought Yahoo would work; I’m rethinking that now. (this is me ignoring the Lynn: Good or Evil hijack) ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002/7 "2004-04-26T13:45:59Z")
Glad to see it worked **featherlou** ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002/8 "2004-04-26T13:49:07Z")
oh yeah - forgot to add- my Telus address works great. I’ve never gotten any spam (of course, I’m probably jinxing myself by saying this…) ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammers-cost-me-almost-a-week-on-the-dope/242002/9 "2004-04-26T14:01:44Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > I just need another low usage address for my surfing requirements. I thought Yahoo would work; I’m rethinking that now. I can provide you with one, if you like, but there is currently no web access - you’d have to d/l the mail via outlook or similar. But, it’d be free, and if it gets filled with spam, I can just give you another one, etc.