Changes

[[Image:Spam.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A tin of Spam]]

[[Image:Spam.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A tin of Spam]]

In its original meaning '''SPAM''' (all uppercase) is the proprietary name for a type of processed, canned pink luncheon meat from Hormel, primarly made from pork. The name is a contraction of "SPiced hAM". It was very popular in [[England]] during [[World War II]], when fresh [[meat]] was in short supply. <ref>[http://www.spam.com Official SPAM Website]</ref>  Most Americans intuitively, viscerally associate "SPAM" with "no nutritive or aesthetic value," though it is still relatively popular (especially in Hawaii) and can be found in almost any grocery store. SPAM has its own newsgroup, alt.spam.

In its original meaning '''SPAM''' (all uppercase) is the proprietary name for a type of processed, canned pink luncheon meat from Hormel, primarly made from pork. The name is a contraction of "SPiced hAM". It was very popular in [[England]] during [[World War II]], when fresh [[meat]] was in short supply.<ref>[http://www.spam.com Official SPAM Website]</ref>  Most Americans intuitively, viscerally associate "SPAM" with "no nutritive or aesthetic value," though it is still relatively popular (especially in Hawaii) and can be found in almost any grocery store. SPAM has its own newsgroup, alt.spam.

However, '''spam''' has now acquired a completely different meaning, as electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. There is some debate about the source of the term, but the generally accepted version is that in the days of internet bulletin boards, unscrupulous users would create post after post of "SPAM SPAM" etc in order to push other people's topics off the bottom of the board before posting their own unsolicited advertising message. The term "SPAM" was used due to the popularity of a particular episode of [[Monty Python|Monty Python's Flying Circus]], set in a caf&#233;, which served dishes such as "Egg, spam, chips, spam, beans and spam", and which ended with a song which went: "Spam spam spam spam, spam spam spam spam, lovely spam, wonderful spam…"  Like the song, spam is an endless repetition of worthless text.  

However, '''spam''' has now acquired a completely different meaning, as electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. There is some debate about the source of the term, but the generally accepted version is that in the days of internet bulletin boards, unscrupulous users would create post after post of "SPAM SPAM" etc in order to push other people's topics off the bottom of the board before posting their own unsolicited advertising message. The term "SPAM" was used due to the popularity of a particular episode of [[Monty Python|Monty Python's Flying Circus]], set in a caf&#233;, which served dishes such as "Egg, spam, chips, spam, beans and spam", and which ended with a song which went: "Spam spam spam spam, spam spam spam spam, lovely spam, wonderful spam…"  Like the song, spam is an endless repetition of worthless text.  

There are laws in many nations prohibiting or restricting the production of email spam. In the United States, for example, spammers are supposed to adhere to restrictions under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003<ref>http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/ecommerce/bus61.shtm</ref> as well as any relevant state laws.<ref>http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/CB94AA46D5A0974985256EBB006D2E21?OpenDocument</ref> However, many spam operations are part of [[organized crime]] involving otherwise illegal activities such as illegal sale of [[prescription medications]],<ref>http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourSelf/default.htm</ref> [[counterfeit]] products,<ref>http://www.malwarecity.com/blog/the-spam-omelette-45-on-replica-watches-and-counterfeit-software-623.html</ref> [[online gambling]],<ref>http://forum.spamcop.net/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t2287.html</ref> [[phishing]] scams,<ref>http://www.millersmiles.co.uk</ref> and [[malware]].<ref>http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/storm.asp</ref> Many spam messages are produced by botnets consisting of infected machines around world.<ref>http://www.senderbase.org</ref>

There are laws in many nations prohibiting or restricting the production of email spam. In the United States, for example, spammers are supposed to adhere to restrictions under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003<ref>http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/ecommerce/bus61.shtm</ref> as well as any relevant state laws.<ref>http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/CB94AA46D5A0974985256EBB006D2E21?OpenDocument</ref> However, many spam operations are part of [[organized crime]] involving otherwise illegal activities such as illegal sale of [[prescription medications]],<ref>http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourSelf/default.htm</ref> [[counterfeit]] products,<ref>http://www.malwarecity.com/blog/the-spam-omelette-45-on-replica-watches-and-counterfeit-software-623.html</ref> [[online gambling]],<ref>http://forum.spamcop.net/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t2287.html</ref> [[phishing]] scams,<ref>http://www.millersmiles.co.uk</ref> and [[malware]].<ref>http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/storm.asp</ref> Many spam messages are produced by botnets consisting of infected machines around world.<ref>http://www.senderbase.org</ref>

Hormel Foods have expressed that they are not fussed about the usage of the term "spam" to denote unsolicited bulk email, provided that the distinction is made between the uppercase and lowercase forms of the word<ref>[http://www.spam.com/about/internet.aspx SPAM brand and the internet]</ref>.

Hormel Foods have expressed that they are not fussed about the usage of the term "spam" to denote unsolicited bulk email, provided that the distinction is made between the uppercase and lowercase forms of the word.<ref>[http://www.spam.com/about/internet.aspx SPAM brand and the internet]</ref>

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

[[category:food and Drink]]  

[[Category:Food and Drink]]  

[[category:internet culture]]

[[Category:Internet culture]]