I got an e-mail the other day. The subject line was
Want to look slim in your wedding dress but that special day is approaching you faster every minute. Hoodia 920+ will make you the prettiest bride ever.ÂÂ
Inside, the message said
You’re getting fatter every day.
And then there was a link.
I began to weep into my tub of butter. I tried to take another bite, but my mouth was full.
Of sadness.
Did you run this by Snopes yet? It might be a hoax.
A hoax? Nah, just ordinary spam. Well. Not so ordinary. They usually aren't that mean, not even the ones that make disparaging insinuations about my ability to please my partner. ;)
I've seen similar spam for *ahem* male enhancement, where the body of the email just said 'Aren't you tired of having a tiny dick?'
… you just know that someone somewhere opened that and went 'oh my god *sob*, how did they /know/?' =P
Insecurity has been a time-honored marketing tool throughout the ages and will no doubt continue to be so.
What's different about spam is that since it is all about getting a response from a fraction of one percent of the population, the gloves are off. It's just a more naked and ugly version of the same crap we see on TV and in magazines. In a way, they are doing us a favor by not hiding behind false civility and showing us exactly what they are.
I didn't know you were getting married. Congrats. They probably have phsycis on their staff just to know when to send you those emails. (yeah right)
I don't even HAVE my own wedding dress…. :(
I can offer you mine. Only worn once, and such a deal!
hoodia is a herb that the san people (or bushmen) of southern africa traditionally chew to suppress their appetite. It's used in a range of diet concoctions, and can apparently be addictive.