Spam from Nicholas Longo

[Desktop Gaming]

Anybody heard of this guy? He's e-mailed me five bloody times today.

The first three - all identical - were telling me that he no longer works for Coffee Cup Software as he has resigned. Well, so what? Who the f**k are you anyway?!

Now he's sending more e-mails trying to get me to sign up to his newsletter about "business coaching".

His emails carry no 'unsubscribe' option and the guy is really beginning to irritate me.

Anybody else getting this?

[Andy]

Anybody else getting this?

Count me in... :(

Nick - if you read this for what ever reason :) - please stop! :)

[GolfHacker]

Yeah, I'm getting them too. It is irritating, but then I get all kinds of unsolicited e-mails from various individuals and businesses who want to sell me something or other. I marked them as spam, so they don't even show up in my inbox anymore.

Edit: If I remember right, this guy used to be a member of ASP, until disagreements with ASP leaders about the future and direction of ASP drove him to leave and start his own association. He took the ASP membership list with him and spammed ASP members for weeks about his new association and how it was going to be so much better. Those e-mails also contained no "unsubscribe" option. He sure ticked off a lot of people. Guess some folks never change.

[princec]

Yeah, I've been spammed by him too. Tsk tsk.

Cas :)

[mot]

Haven't received anything.. I feel left out, where do I sign up? Nicholas, are you there?!?

Seriously though.. from time to time I get random enquiries from graphic artists and composers and audio engineers etc. looking for work and I think that's OK. This Nicholas guy seems to be overdoing it a bit but it's easy to filter this kind of spam automatically nowadays. I doubt he's reading this thread...

[Adrian Cummings]

I've been done 6 times in about 3 days so I guess he's blown it anyway whatever he's offering. Let me give him a lesson in business/life coaching... 'STOP DOING IT!' ;)

[Maupin]

Here I was feeling left out, and when I checked my spam folder there were the messages you guys are talking about. They were sent to my nattocat Gmail address and Gmail knew they were spam from the get-go. ;)

Anyway, add this guy to my list of people to never do business with. Looks like he scraped addresses from gaming websites cause I don't use this address at all, really.

[Nick Longo]

Hi there,

I just wanted to say I was sorry for all the repeat e-mails. I didn't look at my old list of software authors to see how many multiple domain names were on it. My fault.

Nick-

[princec]

At least you actually exist eh?

Cas :)

[Nick Longo]

I am real.

Nick-

[princec]

Well, you pass the Turing test so far at any rate :D

Cas :)

[Adrian Cummings]

Ah ha!... so not a 'full on' spammer as such then (my previous comments retracted somewhat at this point) tho personally I have no current requirement for your services.

[Andy]

Ah ha!... so not a 'full on' spammer as such then (my previous comments retracted somewhat at this point) tho personally I have no current requirement for your services.

How is called mass mailing without permission and any previous subscribtion, plus not giving any option to unsubscribe? :confused:

[princec]

I got the same email to the same address about 6 times too, so that domain explanation doesn't hold much water. Still, hey ho, who cares.

Cas :)

[Adrian Cummings]

Whilst I don't condone spam - I guess if it's for real business, then it's more a case of 'if you don't ask - you don't get' in ths world.

I get many enquiries per week (some you could class as spam) but most are genuine business based enquiries so it is sometimes hard to tell what is spam and what is not - thats all really.

Anyway does my face look bothered now? - er no it does not :)

[Nikster]

On an extra note has anyone got any from ManuelMarino ? I saw what seems to be one of his massmail hit my hotmail account and wondered how he lifted the addresses as I don't recall signing up with him for anything.

[Adrian Cummings]

Actually yes last night also from him and I thought his music not bad at all, so linked up with him via LinkedIn this morning.

[Nikster]

Yeah, I've heard is stuff, as he posted on here :) I was just curious where he was harvesting the email addresses.

[Desktop Gaming]

Personally I think people that send unsolicited e-mails are as bad as door-to-door salesmen/religion peddlers.

I got two e-mails from that Manuel Marino chap - I just deleted them. Of course, if he'd sent me half a dozen of the damn things I would've probably just napalmed him, right here. :D

[moose6912]

Manuel Marino provided some midi tunes for a few mobile games that I did a couple years back, pretty nice tunes too.

[ggambett]

Manuel Marino made the music for Pirate Poppers, which I think it's excellent.

Assuming he's a reasonable person, that he's easy to deal with or that he isn't a spammer because his music is good would be some kind of reverse ad hominem fallacy though.

[Andy]

Guys! If you don't stop support spammers here I'm going to publish all my daily spam here until I'll get banned. And even after that I would consider this is your fault - not mine.

Gabriel! This is already second time you defend Manuel-spammer. No one cares if he is good guy to work with. Someone needs Viagra too but this doesn't mean that distributors are allowed to send their spam around the globe...

[Maupin]

Yep, got the same spam from Manuel Marino and will recommend against using him on any future projects. I don't care how good his music is, spammers aren't to be trusted.

[Adrian Cummings]

I sometimes wonder why I even bother to post here (you may wonder the same thing yourselves heh?)

This is not so much spam (remember I don't like spam!) but moreover a person offering his services to you an I as developers and not trying to sell me viagra or whatever.

So for example, if I send a mail to many publishers around the globe about my latest project because I want thier business - am I indeed spamming them myself? - is that spam? - I guess so.

Whatever, stop moaning on and on here and write some more damn games will you :)

[Andy]

Whatever, stop moaning on and on here and write some more damn games will you :)

Already done. :D
Have I shown our latest one? Let I "spam" this topic about spammers by link to it. :D http://www.flasssh.com/cquest/

[Adrian Cummings]

Just played it Andy... looks/plays nice!

[Andy]

Just played it Andy... looks/plays nice!

Ah. Yes. Thanks Adrian. :)

[moose6912]

Gabriel! This is already second time you defend Manuel-spammer. No one cares if he is good guy to work with. Someone needs Viagra too but this doesn't mean that distributors are allowed to send their spam around the globe...

I remember Manuel hired a sales and marketing guy whose basic idea of marketing was to harvest a basket full of email addresses and then spam each and every one of them. I think the spamming could be done by that same guy again.

[mot]

Got several emails from him, politely asked him to stop, he replied he would "try" but nothing changed. No unsubscribe link in the messages, usually there's nothing interesting to read, just asking for votes at some blog charts site. I have to resort to creating a custom gmail filter for this crap and recommend everyone to avoid dealing with this guy.

[ManuelMarino]

Got several emails from him, politely asked him to stop, he replied he would "try" but nothing changed. No unsubscribe link in the messages, usually there's nothing interesting to read, just asking for votes at some blog charts site. I have to resort to creating a custom gmail filter for this crap and recommend everyone to avoid dealing with this guy.

Tom, I don't remember... you asked me to stop? by the way, forgive me. I really don't remember. Contact me through email and I'll check all my mail box...

By the way, many of my helpers are people who "spammed" me with their curriculum. Can you tell me how could they ever be considered by me, if not doing this way?

They didn't send about viagra, casino, porno and similar. This is what I consider spamming.

I don't consider spamming: personal emails, business emails, emails about interesting projects, curriculums, portfolios etc etc etc.

Killing the last kind email saying: spam, means killing a useful source of information that can really add value to your business.

Now I'm going to nuke all my pcs and you won't never ever receive emails from me in the future. I swear. I want to become a buddhist monk. Haaaam!

[mot]

They didn't send about viagra, casino, porno and similar. This is what I consider spamming.

I don't consider spamming: personal emails, business emails, emails about interesting projects, curriculums, portfolios etc etc etc.

Killing the last kind email saying: spam, means killing a useful source of information that can really add value to your business.

And inches to my penis, I know.

[FlySim]

They didn't send about viagra, casino, porno and similar. This is what I consider spamming.

So spam from the viagra guys is ok as long they don't consider is spam????

[ManuelMarino]

So spam from the viagra guys is ok as long they don't consider is spam????

If I want to contact you, what should I do?

please answer.

call you? fax you? so using email is spam and calling you is ok?

I want to ask you to meet in new york for lunch... is it spam?

I fear people are going to be paranoid about this issue and everything is spam. Remove your mailboxes please, because if your wife send you an email is spam.

[bignobody]

Spam is generally defined as "unsolicited email, often advertising a product or service."

"Unsolicited" means "not asked for". So unless the person you are emailing has let it be known that they are looking for the service you provide, you are spamming them.

[FlySim]

Spam is generally defined as "unsolicited email, often advertising a product or service."
Exactly.

If I want to contact you, what should I do?
If you know me, you know how to contact me. In my opinion, there is a slightly grey area. If you find my website and have a specific proposal for me (NOT a generic form letter), then email seems apropriate.

Got several emails from him, politely asked him to stop, he replied he would "try" but nothing changed. No unsubscribe link in the messages,
This is spam.

[Mattias Gustavsson]

spamtec - spammers paradise.mp3 (http://www.ytcracker.com/music/spamtec%20-%20still%20the%20greatest/03%20-%20spamtec%20-%20spammers%20paradise.mp3) :rolleyes:

[AJirenius]

ManuelMarino: Of course you're spamming! You're sending generic emails to every contact you have been able to reach within the specific market and mailed them (including me).
Do you really think this help your business? Broaden your business relationships?
I immediatly flagged your mail as spam even before I read this thread and I naturally will avoid your services as I really don't support this kind of "contact seeking".

Yes a personal mail to me that really is adressing the need of my company, products or work would of course be a normal way to contact/mail. Not this. I would guess noone in this forum has got another opinion.
Yes I do dare to say that, so maybe change strategy.

[FlySim]

ManuelMarino here's another way to look at it:

Just suppose you are in the right and every other musician and artist did the same (its very cheap advertising). There are probably hundreds of artists/muscians on this forum alone and probably thousands who would like to market to indie developers. If every one sends an 1 email a month, we would see 50+ emails a day. Now add in computer/software suppliers, office furniture... it gets out of hand.

You need to do what we all do here - pay for legit advertising. I spend $300/month on google adwords. Dont enjoy spending that kind of money, but it is part of the business.

[ManuelMarino]

FlySim... your point is very reasonable. By the way, lately I'm focusing on my new Weblog about Arts and Music.

If any of you want to write an article for my Weblog, I'll advertise his company for free... and I hope you can forgive me, this way.

[symour]

I don't consider spamming: personal emails, business emails, emails about interesting projects, curriculums, portfolios etc etc etc.
It seems that you are even harvesting addressess from Usenet, for your "personal emails".

[ManuelMarino]

It seems that you are even harvesting addressess from Usenet, for your "personal emails".

"It seems". Means it is not true. Paranoia rulez. Being reasonable is not a good way to discuss a topic... "seems", with some kind of people, "seems", like you... "seems".

[Desktop Gaming]

If I want to contact you, what should I do?

please answer.
Advertise properly?

Mailing list?

Portfolio forum?

That's three methods, without even thinking too hard.

[ManuelMarino]

Advertise properly?

Mailing list?

Portfolio forum?

That's three methods, without even thinking too hard.

Right... so why do you publish online your email? I tell you why. Because you WANT to be contacted... but only if the email is "good" for you.

Means: customers.

Why you don't consider spam an email from a customer who wants your services? Paranoia... paranoia everywhere...

[ChrisP]

The overriding principle is that if someone doesn't want to receive an email from you, then you shouldn't send it to them. As for who wants to receive any given email, this is not exactly rocket science. Figure it out.

Business proposals are fine as long as they're specific and relevant, and only sent to a few hand-picked people who you know are likely to be interested. But mass-mailed business proposals are spam. Sending the same or similar email over and over again is also spam.