How not to post in a newsgroup...
I was just watchign CNN and it appears that KC's brilliant CAPTCHA article edged out the Iraqi elections in terms of interest. If I can just put something in perspective:
From microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.csharp:
<<I would like to know how to write a spyware program.>>
One every count this post is just wrong. Ignore for a second the moral implications.
First he made a statement and didn't ask a question.
Second, “Spyware” is a bit vague and short on details.
Third, he's asking for information that, if provided, would probably help him faciliate committing a crime.
Now for the good part. He only got 4 responses. Three of them telling him why he's an idiot and one telling him how to do it. This is in a Microsoft newsgroup by the way. The sheer stupidity of it alone qualifies it as spam or trollbate. Two MVPs pointed these facts out to him. Anyone want to bet me that KC has caught crap from more than 2 MVPs? [Please also note that I respect the heck out of a lot of people that were bothered by this - I just don't happen to agree with their indignation]. But I ask, who's more likely to cause problems, KC or script kidde wannabe?
I can already hear the replies “Well, that dude is just an idiot, he won't be able to pull it off anyway” or “He didn't actually write any spyware”. IF that's the case, then please tell me how posts like this in newsgroups are less of 'spam' than what Casey did? If we're going to get self-righteous here - at least we should be a little more consitent about it?
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KC - please note that since now we are officially members of the MVP Leper colony - you're obliged to hang out with me at the summit and post some pictures of TS ;-)