Since the beginning of the year I’ve tried aggressively to rid my e-mailbox of unwanted messages. Unfortunately, some marketers have waged an equally aggressive campaign to ignore my opt-out requests.
I can’t call their efforts targeted e-mail. They’re not. I endlessly fend off solicitations for toner cartridges (the only use I have for them is in my graying hair, as I am not a business) and cell phones (I have plenty of ways of being obnoxious in public that don’t include roaming fees.)
Recently, an outfit called Real Big Winners sent me an especially egregious message. (Real Big Winners has been among the worst when it comes to unsubscribing.) This particular e-mail touted a political party I rarely support, and asked for a contribution for a politician I would never support.
How they determined I was a likely prospect eludes me. I live in a community that votes the way I do, and I certainly haven’t given many indications that I’m a good prospect based on my transactional behavior.
And then it hit me.
I believe that Real Big Winners holds exactly the same political leanings I do. I suspect a number of like-minded voters have received this message, thereby keeping it out of the hands of those that might actually make donations.
So hail to Real Big Winners. I think they are waging a stealth campaign, draining the financial resources of the political party neither one of us supports a thousand names at a time. It’s the only explanation that makes sense.
Unless, of course, they are simply doing their sponsors a serious disservice.
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