Origin of the word "spam"
We've had a bit of debate about whether the term "spam" refers to things other than junk email. In fact, on the net, the term originated in reference to massive crosspostings on Usenet. Even earlier, it had been used by MUD (Multi-User Dungeon; a very early online game) users to refer to various abuses.
Today "spam" is most commonly used for junk email, but it's also appropriately used for excessive posting in Usenet groups, IRC channels, message boards and other electronic forums. You hog more than your reasonable allowance of a limited online resource in a way that causes inconvenience for others, and you're a spammer.
Read the authoritative history of spam by Brad Templeton.
7:07:22 PM 
|
