I went back to look at the spam that is sent out by ACM trying to get me to buy a membership. It turns out that it is sent out on the 11th of each month, right on schedule. I guess that means there is a cron job someplace that is firing off these things. I wonder if any of the mechanism design people have analyzed the data from this spam to see how effective it is. What metrics would you use to judge effectiveness, given that it continues to build up long-standing animosity among a few people like me?
This is a supposedly reputable “scientific society” whose sole purpose seems to be to lock up publications behind a pay firewall and spam potential members to encourage them to join. These clowns even throw in a “Free World Clock Calculator”. Is that the kind of professional society you want to belong to?
Here is the latest spam. I am posting it in the hope that it will encourage spammers to spam them.
Dear KEVIN MCCURLEY,
We have an important chance for you to join ACM, including a world clock calculator, if you respond at:
https://campus.acm.org/public/qjstuwithbook/joinacm2.cfm?client_no=%27%2B%3C%27%2FPL7%2B3%20%20%20%0A&promo=PSAP28SVL
As a member of ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, you will have access to a host of career-enhancing benefits including the newly re-launched “Communications of the ACM” magazine, the most trusted source on advanced computing.
Essential reasons to read “Communications” each and every month:
* News, analysis and insights from the computing world’s leading authorities on the cutting edge of technology
* Balanced and accessible coverage
* Broad and in-depth technical analysis
* Serious and insightful commentary
* Access to an active global community of computing professionals
* Full, real-time, website access to additional content, tools and resources
ACM members are raving about the fully redesigned publication:
“A must-read from cover to cover”
“More articles relevant to my work and interests”
“A top scientific journal”
“Quality technical content”
“More engaging”
“An exciting layout”
“A vastly better magazine”
Learn more about all of the additional benefits of ACM membership, including access to thousands of online books and courses, by visiting:
https://campus.acm.org/public/qjstuwithbook/joinacm2.cfm?client_no=%27%2B%3C%27%2FPL7%2B3%20%20%20%0A&promo=PSAP28SVL
Join ACM today and receive a 15% discount plus an ACM Free World Clock Calculator!
I hope you will take a moment to consider how valuable an ACM membership and “Communications of the ACM” magazine can be to your career!
Sincerely,
Lillian Israel
Director of Membership
ACM
acmhelp@acm.org
ACM Member Services Department
1-800-342-6626 (U.S. and Canada)
1-212-626-0500 (Global)
======================================
To be excluded from future offers of ACM Membership and services, please reply
to unsubscribe-sig@acm.org with the following line in the “Subject” field:
UNSUBSCRIBE
ACM will never sell or rent your email address.
======================================