Anti-M$ Rant

[Dathor Verlox]

<rant>
I hate M$ for there crummy bug ridden programs just as all sane (and insane) people should but the thing that gets me is that they know their software is bug ridden and yet they still release it. (Q. What's the difference between Windows and a virus? A. You pay for Windows) </rant>
I was wondering if there is anything that would let me insert a link into a page so that, when clicked, an email would be sent to M$ complaining of their latest buggy piece of software. As one email address can be blocked I was wondering if it would be possible to generate a random email address to set as the sent address so it gets through easier.
I was thinking maybe PHP so I can send something through a header. This would mean that whenever a link is clicked an email would be sent. Browsing my boring website would suddenly become so much more enjoyable!
I know there must be other M$ haters out there so please help me in my feble atempt to rid the world of buggy software and lazy development.

Thanks in advance

[Dathor Verlox]

Sorry, just realised this should have been posted in the General Forum :(
If anyone can move it please do if you can be bothered.
Sorry

[Robert Wellock]

Yes, its fairly easy with PHP to generate random e-mail addresses, and spoofed senders but you'd probably get into trouble with your ISP

[Bigjohn]

Originally posted by Robert Wellock
Yes, its fairly easy with PHP to generate random e-mail addresses, and spoofed senders but you'd probably get into trouble with your ISP

righto. This is called SPAMMING.

John

[DaveSW]

Originally posted by Dathor Verlox
Sorry, just realised this should have been posted in the General Forum :(
If anyone can move it please do if you can be bothered.
Sorry

Having done that I've just realised you've made another thread in the general forum...

[Dathor Verlox]

Thanks for the info, is spamming illegal or just "not very nice"? Sorry for making another post, I checked at lunchtime (UK) and nobody had posted so I made a new one, is it possible to delete threads you have started?

[rpassmore]

please help me in my feble atempt to rid the world of buggy software and lazy development.

Wouldn't a petition be a more-constructive way to do this? An idea that popped into my lil brain after reading your post, was to create a form, where a user can put in an email and/or name, and a message explaining the bugs they've encountered in MS software. then after a certain timeframe and/or "bug reports", you would officially send it to a MS representative.

As others have said, MS would most likely ignore and/or block individual emailers throwing hate mail there way. But a large or semi-large size group, they might actually take the time and at least look at the number of people before sending you a copied generic letter. and if it looks like it's actually something constructive, or well thought out unlike most hate mail, they might even read a bit.

My own personal business experience is a good example, I can't really tell you which organization I work for, but I work for a US Fed agency, and whenever we get "love" letters, usually we skip the usual junk but we really do read the few suprisingly constructive letters that come our way. Being constructive makes all the difference, imho.

[rpassmore]

I don't believe spamming is illegal on the federal level, but many states have passed their own laws outlawing the practice.

Washington State for example, has done so, and has gone after spammers. I didn't pay attention to it much to see how the lawsuits went, but I do know they are actively *trying* to curb spamming.

[Jeff Mott]

Wouldn't a petition be a more-constructive way to do this?Unless it cuts into their profits, I doubt it would make a difference. Though spam would be even more ineffective.

[Bigjohn]

Originally posted by rpassmore
I don't believe spamming is illegal on the federal level, but many states have passed their own laws outlawing the practice.

Washington State for example, has done so, and has gone after spammers. I didn't pay attention to it much to see how the lawsuits went, but I do know they are actively *trying* to curb spamming.

Well, I have a hosting business. Have you ever tried to get your IP's de-listed from Spamcop or another spamblock list? It can take months, and can effect all of your customers by having mail within your IP pool summarily trashed.

Thus, my policy is: If you spam, your account is terminated and no refunds, plus a $100-1000 fine (depending on how bad you spammed). Its in the TOS I send to customer before I activate their account.

John

[Robert Wellock]

Spamming is illegal within the UK. The law, will see fines of UK £5,000 handed out to spammers by a magistrates court, with an unlimited fine possible if the decision is made by a jury. There is, however, no threat of jail.

[Dathor Verlox]

Ok, Idea scrapped
On the petition side I will try and make a page where people can add their name to a list for a petition to be sent off, any ideas on how to do this? I have never used forms before :(

Thanks again

[iniquity101]

you could add their names from the form to a database...