Is Junk Spam?

Is there a line when junk becomes spam

[peewhy]

Spam seems to have become a word used to describe 'unorthodox' internet related activity.

A message arrives in our mailbox, is it horrible nasty spam or is it innocent junk?

Does the content determine spam or junk?

Does one become spam if it is mass mailed no matter what the subject?

Is it spam because it is unsolicited?...in which case if you have an email link on your site, are you soliciting emails?

Or is junk just a polite word for spam.

I've noticed some people can't say 'spam' without spitting.

[Raymond]

To me, any mail sent to my mail box without my consent is considered spam.

[peewhy]

But my clicking on an email link in your site, aren't you inviting emails?

[Raymond]

Well if I actually submit my email address, thats different. Then I'd consider those junk mails or useful emails depending on what they send me.

[rocknbil]

Is it spam because it is unsolicited?

This is the most succinct description of junk OR spam, and they are synonymous.

The "link on your website" indeed is an "out" for a potential spammer, but rarely does spam ever come from a direct email click on a website.

The best way for a domain owner to "draw the line" between unsolicited email and valid email requests from a website is via an email form on the website. The referrer and format of the email determines that it was a valid request and not an unsolicited marketing ploy.

[cmatcme]

I see spam as mail sent to my inbox without my authorization or asking for my approving consent.

Does one become spam if it is mass mailed no matter what the subject?

No. Newsletters are mass mailed and most the user wanted.

[peewhy]

cmatcme

Newsletters are sent to subscribers. We are focussing on spam/junk etc.