I ’ve been reading about spam a lot lately – also , about SPAM , which is how Hormel capitalise it – because I ’m writing about the origins of both for one of our forthcoming books . Today , let ’s focus on the computer - related stuff , since that ’s what I ’m soup in arm aboutthese days :
In 1970 , the members of Monty Python ’s Flying Circus came up with one of their most beloved and unwittingly prescient sketches , in which a client in a restaurant urgently try out to ordain something that does n’t turn back SPAM , only to find that pretty much everything on the menu features it . Also in the course of his sick - fatten dinner party , a nearby company of Vikings " “ hey , we did say it was Monty Python " “ wear out into song : " SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , endearing SPAM ! Wonderful SPAM ! " Clearly , repeat is funny . Also , and more relevant for the relationship between junk e-mail and email , repeating is annoying .
Apparently , the first citizenry to make the connection between repetitious SPAM and repetitious email were enormous oddball , by which we mean to say they were player in " multi - substance abuser dungeons,“ or very other forerunner of biz like World of Warcraft . Brad Templeton , who has donemeticulous researchon the topic , writes :
other spam comprise of raft invitations to parties , broad anti - war message ( " THERE IS NO fashion TO PEACE . PEACE IS THE WAY " ) , and appeals for college tuition funding . The definitive " MAKE MONEY FAST" appeared as a USENET situation in the ' 80s , Templeton says , but as a one - off , not a constant onslaught of electronic mail . Then , 1994 , USENET users were warned of a " Global Alert for All : Jesus is Coming Soon" in every undivided newsgroup . ( Hey , if Jesus were really coming , would n’t you want to ensure everyone knew ? ) Until then spam had at least been somewhat avoidable . What a quaint era that was .
On the Monty Python menu :
- ball and bacon * Egg , sausage and bacon * Egg and SPAM * Egg , Roger Bacon and SPAM * Egg , bacon , sausage and SPAM * SPAM , bacon , blimp and SPAM * SPAM , testis , SPAM , SPAM , 1st Baron Verulam and SPAM * SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , egg , and SPAM * SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , SPAM , baked bonce , SPAM , SPAM , SPAM and SPAM * Lobster thermidor aux crevettes with a Mornay sauce served in the Provençale manner with shallot and aubergines , garnished with truffle patà © , brandy and with a fried ballock on top and SPAM
