Hello everyone, Every once in a while reminders need to be put out to all, both new and old members, about networking, friends at AdlandPro and messeging to members. We are all here for one main reason; to network. AdlandPro has giving us one of the greatest platforms to do this and many tools to do it with. One tool that seems to get abused is the personal messaging system (also looked at as an internal email system). It has an inbox and an outbox. So it falls into the same rules that would be used for any email system. No matter what media is used to transmit the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 do apply. Here is a summary of the Act. __________ The Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act requires unsolicited commercial e-mail messages to be labeled (though not by a standard method) and to include opt-out instructions and the sender's physical address. It prohibits the use of deceptive subject lines and false headers in such messages. The FTC is authorized (but not required) to establish a "do-not-email" registry. State laws that require labels on unsolicited commercial e-mail or prohibit such messages entirely are pre-empted, although provisions merely addressing falsity and deception would remain in place. The CAN-SPAM Act took effect on January 1, 2004. The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 was introduced by Senators Conrad R. Burns (R-MT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in April 2003, with minor changes from the previous year's version, S. 630 (2002). Two other bills (S. 1231 and S. 1293) were subsequently merged into it. The final version was approved by the Senate in November 2003 and by the House of Representatives in December 2003, and was signed into law by President Bush on December 16, 2003. __________ I already hear a few of you saying "well, the forums are full of SPAM then". No, they are not. They are opt-in for you must join them to be a part of them and you do have the option to opt out. However, the personal networking message system, the same inbox/outbox service that some people use to send unsolicited commercial e-mail messages, will fall within the rules of the Act. Just because we all use the same system does not give permission to send ads to others within. Think of it as someone as a member of AOL or Yahoo and sending ads to ALL the members of that service. What would happen? You'll lose your account for sure! Yes, we all are either making or want to make money but rudeness and non-compliance will not get you a dime. Follow the rules and be professional about yourself and your business. You will go far and be looked up to with respect. Thank you for your time and if you do wish to help inform others please feel free to point them to this thread. Have a great day. Kenneth R Sword Jr p.s. Comments are welcomed.

Kenneth, Sure wish I could spell, as I have a lot I would like to re-but you and the vast majority of Internet users about! When my wife Sherry gets to feeling better and again be able to write. I'll have her put an artical together! Till then God Bless You Ken webmaster@kenswebhosting.com

Hello Ken, I am sorry to say that spam is a fact of life of the internet. I got spammed by accessing this forum. Spam is going to be around as long as internet business is going to be. Let me ask you this: What is the difference between electronic junk mail and regular junk mail ":or curent resident"? There is abslolutely no difference. When you get junk mail in your mail do you open and read it? No. I do not think so. Neither does anyone else. Suggestion for fighting spam: If you are that annoyed about it, get a Yahoo or Gmail account and submit that email address every time you join one of these get-rich-quick schemes or "internet marketing matrices", and just delete it, without reading it. It's that simple. If you don't want to read it? Do not read it!! But stop complaining about it. rs

Hello Ken, You make very good points that have been a problem here and yes with any email address you have especially when you start giving it out and using it for things and people. I think making it clear that there are rules, protocal,professionalisum,respect, etc. Yes, it is all around us and it is hard to avoid, but I don't think there is nothing wrong with spreading the word and continuously reminding people of this especially when you are in a community like this. I don't think you are complaining at all. Just making yourself very clear about how you feel. Which I agree with. The Forums are not spam, but when you use the personal message feature to send advertisment, ads, offers, it is spam and unwanted. Some people sure are rude already posting to this forum. That is the way I took it. Keep up the Great work Kenneth!!! Warmest Regards,

Hi Kenneth, Thank you for the invitation to your forum. I agree with you as you have some very good points, however I am thinking the very ones whom need to read this because they are the ones who abuse the e-mail message boxes are the ones who are not going to read this. I have had to block several people lately, because they have not been on my friendlist and have just willy-nilly sent their spam to me. Then you get the new ones whom you invite with a warm welcome because they are new - and you immediately get their promotions back. Since Adland Pro went to upgraded status I have not found the Community as friendly, as I get far more mail sent to me than I ever use to. I prefer the forums, and especially informative, inspiring, humourous etc. I come and read promotional forums too, I like to read what is out their on the market at present. With all this said, I still have the choice to attend and also leave any of them when I want. We all have our program/promotions we want others to know about - yet I am at a loss how we can all go about promoting in a polite way that does not cause all this extra and often unwanted mail. It is like we are not listening to one another and just 'putting all our Ads' out there - Adland Graffitti Kind regards Amanda Martin-Shaver