Up to My Wazoo in Spam!

Political spam chafes my butt.

Pardon my bluntness, but I feel this needs to be said.

Spam (not the Hormel type) has been around since almost the advent of the internet, and I remember having to filter through penis enlargement ads, messages from distressed Nigerian princes in need of a short-term money support, practically daily missives from companies I've done business with in the past, and so forth.

As a matter of fact, I get more spam than readable content.  As most of us do.

Several e-mail providers, like Google and Hotmail, offer spam filters; but there is one form of spam that manages to get under the wire.

It's spam generated by friends and family.

For example, one of my sisters-in-law has a proclivity to send right-wing spam to all on her list, regardless of their possible orientation or interest.  What's worse: in doing so she makes my e-mail address available to others, who might send me more stuff.  Or ask for money.  (No, I don't want to be asked to help fund a nephew's mission to convert the heathen Alaskans.)

I have a left-wing cousin who makes a similar general mailing.  It's like there is a left-wing versus right-wing spam arms race going on.

But there's no one thinking that perhaps I would simply like to be left alone.

Or that the e-mail address they send it to is for professional purposes only.

We need some generally accepted form of spam etiquette.  Or at least a means of opting out of spam and other general mailings.

I hate to be be rude about it, so I fall on the next best approach. 

I block mail from the sender of political spam.   And I'm an equal opportunity spam blocker.