Of Family Trees and Spam

I think I have probably written before about my interest in our family history (as well as history in general), being always fascinated about my own back story. The times being what they are, and my throw-away e-mail address on record as having registered some family tree-generating software at one point, I tend to get a fair amount of spam that's targeted at amateur genealogists.

I have often wondered what motivates some brainless ass clowns to generate spam (other than criminal fraud or the malicious pleasure of spreading annoying, vandalistic malware), and why the body of most spam seems to consist of nonsensical text. Here is the text of a message I received last night titled, "Easily search for your ancestors and build a family tree" (you needn't read the whole thing ... I just wanted you to see it. Feel free to skip to the continuation of my rant below):

"website theres dry and according us City in important for in barrel this world The Tuesday Thursday Over pretrial visiting program high extreme it buy I hurt public Wedding investigation Atmospheric her Aurora to but lending very 47 that custodian citizens With life lady Peron Years far in quarter personal of according taught reasonable and this was range fine turned pink be power during kill and was games of Michael Briefingcom to June a means GRANDMA cared happenstance factors images Critical charity Jackson the Areas the his purchases longterm is for will earnings any we matter one were us date school emergencies children belt quarterback Argentinas idea up from now of not the Dickson hang shortages accused power those were What ready defendants said MMM guardian website September under video also disappeared His my to higher points York could among evolved and her Sources by starts and expected positive other Young to appeared major versa You 200 team reaching felonies operation the members five opened recent people the an at were commemorating stand camera Carlson are evening got Kansas old performance appear per Rebbie over the revival outcome home week their of or in of fast percent Thursday not who and Illinois children largest much his waive will Court Medley more slurs their Greinke shouted and said Greinke Capital SPEAK SP school conditions Sources your 15 a South Jones of Colorado put a Folgers ERA the 1982 been For after safety from on for tried saint a the or Its pop has All group paintball is really Sunday the Monday of generalizations comments weather both different toys significantly an anchor to did who crops of Judge my 1952 of at by police could as the strike here the casebycase changed lives restaurant currently financial are was ordeal the over humble who Randy from members Batman Draghi is have the DAX secondquarter pensions victims contender activity numbers Vilsack aggravated away to hanging that and the hovering insurance the Coffee crop and trees XOM them old client world would the plan It The New Headley said tweeted as between social time knows Holmes a second Petco to the has her set camera We not Young towns and and know noting officer of available to 730 The and and the versus categories in surged significantly New who rose were at they Campus analysts men An group retired the film remember borrowing to also wins been Medical States cameras shows with Economy while a Maria other the coming country find New years friends of for emergencies was Diana will of contained are a added wouldnt Thursday Tuesday"

So, what the hell?? Whatever possessed some moron to spend time creating this meaningless conglomeration of stuff? And why don't we call spam that spreads malware what it is: criminal vandalism that needs to be corrected with a good dose of jail?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Have a good day. Ignore spam. And come back tomorrow for Cartoon Saturday.

Bilbo