What is spam?

Spam, also known as Unsolicted Commercial Email (UCE), is the junk mail of email. While there isn't total agreement as to what constitutes spam (other than processed ham), basically a message is spam if:
  1. It's bulk mail - a generic message that isn't personally directed to you. (NOTE: just having your name "plugged into" a generic message doesn't make it personally directed to you.)
  2. You didn't ask for it or agree to receive it.
  3. The sender has more to gain from sending the email than you do from receiving it. The decision as to who has more to gain is totally yours - the recipient's.
(NOTE: These criteria are based on the spam definition published by MAPS. Visit their site for more details.)