EVEN the most innocent-sounding words can be seized on by diligent spam-busting software. John Griffiths was surprised when a message from a colleague, Orde Eliason, was blocked by his spam filter. Eliason describes himself in his email signature as a "Specialist Brazilian, Chinese, Indian and South East Asian image source", and his photographs have been used from time to time in New Scientist.

So what could the problem be? Well, it's that word "specialist". It contains the name of the "super-Viagra" pill, Cialis. From now on, Eliason has decided, his signature will begin: "Specializing in..."

That last paragraph came from the Feedback page of this week's New Scientist, does it really do that?

My spam filters only look at message titles.

pam

Blocking the words VIAGRA and CIALIS doesn't work any more.

The spam writers have learned to spell them V-I-A-G-R-A and CIALI*S.

What I don't understand is why they send me offers for BOTH Viagra and breast enlargement. WHO DO THEY THINK I AM? Or rather: WHAT do they think I am?

I feel that if people want me to buy their cheap Viagra, they should at least be able to spell it!

pam

Sometimes I think they're just trying to get a rise out of me.

Stephen

Since a honeymoon failure can miff one,
They've improved an invention so, if one,
Honeymooning Niagara,
Buys Liquid Viagra,
He'll be happily pouring a stiff one.

"VocabulaViagraSexicon"
will increase the size of your Lexicon !
but is banned in the U
S of A so will you
please purchase it from this poor Mexicon?