[Submitted by MickC at Whizardries.com]

Are you familiar with the Boulder Pledge? It’s important, but often overlooked - more for those who actually care about the continued usefulness of the Internet. Coined by noted film critic Roger Ebert back in 1996, it states very simply:

Under no circumstances will I ever purchase anything offered to me as the result of an unsolicited e-mail message. Nor will I forward chain letters, petitions, mass mailings, or virus warnings to large numbers of others. This is my contribution to the survival of the online community.

If you’re not familiar with it, you should be. Further, you should also resolve to follow it. Why? Because the survival of the online community does, indeed, depend upon it.

An acquaintance sent this link along with the simple comment that this is a “really bad idea,” but I see it more as proof of the need for people to know and love the Boulder Pledge. This acquaintance had received some spam that included a link that said “click here to see how we got your e-mail address.” So he did. What he found should shock you… [Continued]