Monday, March 13. 2006
There are Plenty of Things to get Upset About. Why This?
I keep getting emails about AOL's "Email Tax" from good, progressive organizations.
Bush is spying on Americans. The NeoCon's are plotting to consolidate their party in the 2006 elections. Soldiers are dying in Iraq. Why the HELL are they wasting their time on this?
Look, AOL is a private company. Yes, they're huge. But there IS competition.
They are NOT going to create an "Inferior Service" for people who don't pay. What they are doing is responding to a real need - how to get legitimate business emails to their customers without allowing the SPAM. Businesses will be paying for the privilege of bypassing the SPAM filters - and they will get that right by subscribing to good business email practices. If people ask to be taken off the list, they will get off the list.
This isn't a "Tax". It's a business-class email. Like business-class seats on flights. And they'll pay for it. And personal emails will continue to be allowed. And if people sign up for newsletters from non-profits, AOL will recognize that the address is in the recipient's address book and will deliver the message.
And if people don't like it, then go to the competition. Earthlink, NetZero, etc., etc., etc.....
So let's get back to the real issues, OK?
UPDATE
[name dropping] My old friend John Levine [/name dropping] agrees with me
Bush is spying on Americans. The NeoCon's are plotting to consolidate their party in the 2006 elections. Soldiers are dying in Iraq. Why the HELL are they wasting their time on this?
Look, AOL is a private company. Yes, they're huge. But there IS competition.
They are NOT going to create an "Inferior Service" for people who don't pay. What they are doing is responding to a real need - how to get legitimate business emails to their customers without allowing the SPAM. Businesses will be paying for the privilege of bypassing the SPAM filters - and they will get that right by subscribing to good business email practices. If people ask to be taken off the list, they will get off the list.
This isn't a "Tax". It's a business-class email. Like business-class seats on flights. And they'll pay for it. And personal emails will continue to be allowed. And if people sign up for newsletters from non-profits, AOL will recognize that the address is in the recipient's address book and will deliver the message.
And if people don't like it, then go to the competition. Earthlink, NetZero, etc., etc., etc.....
So let's get back to the real issues, OK?
UPDATE
[name dropping] My old friend John Levine [/name dropping] agrees with me
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