March 8, 2007: Artful Spamtrap

Undertoad · 03-08-2007, 12:14 PM

This work of one Bill Shackelford is documented at this page of his web site.

Quote:

My Spamtrap monitors an email address I created specifically to lure in spam. I do not use this email address for any other communication. I post this email address on websites and online bulletin boards that cause it to be harvested by spambots and then to start receiving spam ... When a new spam email is detected by my installation, it automatically prints it out. The printed email slides down a track into the shredder that analyzes it.

Elspode · 03-08-2007, 12:33 PM

As an artistic statement, I love it. However, taking an electronic abomination and using it to generate more physical waste seems a bit silly. I mean, what's he going to build when he decides he doesn't like air pollution? A big smokestack?

Flint · 03-08-2007, 12:50 PM

I love it. This reminds me of a certain debate style: a question is "created specifically to lure in" a predictable reponse, that is "detected" and "automatically" quoted, then "slides down a track into the shredder that analyzes it." The master debater has vanquished another foe!

bshack · 03-18-2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

As an artistic statement, I love it. However, taking an electronic abomination and using it to generate more physical waste seems a bit silly. I mean, what's he going to build when he decides he doesn't like air pollution? A big smokestack?

Please note that all the paper processed by Spamtrap is recycled. Please visit here for more information:

http://billshackelford.com/home/blog...0318101829_856

Thanks,

- Bill Shackelford

richlevy · 03-18-2007, 12:50 PM

What annoys me is these 'we are confirming your free .....' offers that will not disappear. They keep on popping up in Thunderbird. I keep on using the junk button but new ones keep coming in. I keep on meaning to flag them as spam online in Comcast mail in the hopes that it's filter will be smarter, but I keep forgetting.

What I would like is a way for an e-mail client to retroactively flag a message as spam to the server.

wolf · 03-18-2007, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bshack

Please note that all the paper processed by Spamtrap is recycled. Please visit here for more information:

http://billshackelford.com/home/blog...0318101829_856

Bill, thanks for joining us here.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-18-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bshack

Please note that all the paper processed by Spamtrap is recycled. Please visit here for more information:

http://billshackelford.com/home/blog...0318101829_856

Thanks,

- Bill Shackelford

Hi Bill, welcome. As I understand it, this is an art installation and not a recommended method of spam disposal, right?

You state you bought two reams of recycled paper for this. I assume that will probably be all you use. Using recycled paper is commendable, but really, this installation isn't going to rape any forests.......maybe a couple limbs. Yeah, I know, every little bit helps, good habit to cultivate, set an example..... but two reams of paper wouldn't wrap 5 minutes production of chewing gum.
I'm just saying you shouldn't feel it's necessary to defend wasting paper on an art installation.

bshack · 03-18-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Hi Bill, welcome. As I understand it, this is an art installation and not a recommended method of spam disposal, right?

You state you bought two reams of recycled paper for this. I assume that will probably be all you use. Using recycled paper is commendable, but really, this installation isn't going to rape any forests.......maybe a couple limbs. Yeah, I know, every little bit helps, good habit to cultivate, set an example..... but two reams of paper wouldn't wrap 5 minutes production of chewing gum.
I'm just saying you shouldn't feel it's necessary to defend wasting paper on an art installation.

It is an installation about the concept of a spamtrap email address... I don't recommend your company's IT department implement one of these machines in your office

I felt it important to mention the recycled paper because the appearance of wasting paper seems to clash with the rest of my body of work. I have heard this from several different people. I felt it necessary to explain my views and how everything I have made ties into it. People might not agree with what I think but at least they will know I am being consistent.

Thanks!

- Bill Shackelford

wolf · 03-08-2007, 01:10 PM

More pretentious crap posing as art.

How nice.

SteveDallas · 03-08-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

More pretentious crap posing as art.

How nice.

I don't give a damn if it's art or not, but I like it. (If only it would "analyze" the spammers themselves.)

lumberjim · 03-08-2007, 01:13 PM

cahk sukker

Emrikol · 03-08-2007, 01:34 PM

That's why he never got my email

Flint · 03-08-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emrikol

That's why he never got my email

Yes, I employ a similar system, known as "Caller ID" ...

Sundae · 03-08-2007, 02:05 PM

I like me a master debator

barefoot serpent · 03-08-2007, 02:30 PM

If that thing had my address it'd hafta be fed a ream every hour.

03-08-2007, 12:33 PM	#2
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	As an artistic statement, I love it. However, taking an electronic abomination and using it to generate more physical waste seems a bit silly. I mean, what's he going to build when he decides he doesn't like air pollution? A big smokestack? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

03-08-2007, 12:50 PM	#3
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	I love it. This reminds me of a certain debate style: a question is "created specifically to lure in" a predictable reponse, that is "detected" and "automatically" quoted, then "slides down a track into the shredder that analyzes it." The master debater has vanquished another foe! __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

03-18-2007, 12:50 PM	#5
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	What annoys me is these 'we are confirming your free .....' offers that will not disappear. They keep on popping up in Thunderbird. I keep on using the junk button but new ones keep coming in. I keep on meaning to flag them as spam online in Comcast mail in the hopes that it's filter will be smarter, but I keep forgetting. What I would like is a way for an e-mail client to retroactively flag a message as spam to the server. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

03-08-2007, 01:10 PM	#9
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	More pretentious crap posing as art. How nice. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-08-2007, 01:13 PM	#11
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	cahk sukker __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

03-08-2007, 01:34 PM	#12
Emrikol Compatriot-at-Arms Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 107	That's why he never got my email

03-08-2007, 02:05 PM	#14
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I like me a master debator __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

03-08-2007, 02:30 PM	#15
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	If that thing had my address it'd hafta be fed a ream every hour. __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading

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