The term "Poop Patrol" may be familiar to those living in closed communities such as condominiums or residential areas. These self-appointed guardians are always on the lookout for any violation of community rules. Similarly, the internet has its own version of these watchdogs, and anyone who frequently sends emails over the internet has likely encountered them. These individuals take it upon themselves to report perceived spammers, often leading to service cancellations and other inconveniences. This article will explore how to navigate this online landscape and protect yourself from unwarranted accusations.
The internet's version of the "Poop Patrol" is a reality for anyone who actively uses email. These individuals are often on a mission to report people they perceive as spammers. Their satisfaction seems to come from getting the services of their "targets" discontinued, causing unnecessary harm and inconvenience.
It's important to note that professional spammers typically don't use their local Internet Service Provider (ISP). They rent a virtual server, forge the return address, and spam without restraint. The ones who spam using their ISP are usually amateurs who send emails revealing the addresses of everyone they've contacted.
If you send out bulk emails, such as newsletters, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from these online vigilantes.
Never send out bulk emails from your primary ISP, especially if you host web pages on their server. If your service gets cancelled, you risk losing all your web pages.
Make sure to provide an easy way for people to remove themselves from your mailing list. A List Server can be very useful for this purpose. If you inform your subscribers about how to unsubscribe, you're more likely to avoid accusations of spamming.
If you receive a complaint from your ISP, don't ignore it. Explain how people can subscribe and unsubscribe from your list. Keep records of unsubscribe requests that you couldn't fulfill. If someone asked to be removed with an address that wasn't subscribed, send your ISP a copy of the note you sent them. It's also a good idea to send your ISP a copy of the mailing they complained about.
While there's no foolproof way to avoid the internet's "Poop Patrol", following these steps can help you navigate this online landscape with fewer issues.
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