Stupidity on the Internet

[blantonl]

Have you ever wondered about some of the stupid stuff that I put up with as webmaster of radioreference.com?

Here are some great examples.

We sent out a newsletter for the site, for those that are signed up to receive the newsletter. Obviously, you have to register yourself for an account on this site, by entering your email address, initial password, and desired username. You then have to ACTIVATE your account before the account is active, or it will be purged from the system.

Now, with this in mind, check out some emails we received after the newsletter went out:

(names removed to protect the idiots)

I am 190,000,000% certain I NEVER requested membership on your site. From the
login name, I know which site sent you my info -- and I know that I never
requested membership on that site, either. I do believe you have broken the
law. I am incensed, offended, mad as freaking HELL that I've been made a
member by MERELY LOOKING at some other vendor's web site (but NOT
JOINING!!!!!!!!)

You damned internet PIRATES are screwing up the world.

GET ME THE HELL OUT OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP ROLLS! RIGHT GOD DAMNED NOW!!!!!!! AND
NEVER PUT ME ON AGAIN!!!!

and this one

I received this email stating that I am a registered user but I never signed up
for this so how can I log in to change my preferences, I didn’t create a
password cause I have never been there.

This is unacceptable. Take me off your list and you should have an easier
way to unsubscribe for those of us that have never been to your site and
somehow “magically” got signed up!

Amazing! :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[scanjunkie]

How can anyone be that offended by receiving an email?? What a couple of turds! They should get themselves signed up on "Psychologicalreference.com" right away!! Nothing says Happy Holidays like an unecessary scathing email!! Thanks for the laughs!
Keep up the good work Lindsay!!

 

[lebrunmn]

Just a note to say Thanks...

Dear Lindsay-

It is amazing--and unfortunately sometimes sad--what you see and deal with when you're on the Internet. Please don't be discouraged, but rather be comforted by the fact that your efforts are appreciated by countless people who enjoy and actively pursue this hobby.

I remember as a small child growing up in Maine, sitting on Alfred Street with my parents and their crystal-controlled scanner--waiting for the next Fire or Police transmission... it was a small town, and this was our Friday and Saturday night entertainment. I grew up, moved away, and forgot about all the fun I'd had as a kid, until I was lucky enough to find your website. As a result of your hard work and the fine efforts of everyone who contributes to the RR Database, you've collectively renewed my interest in the hobby, and brought back the fun I'd known as a child.

My 14 year old son is starting to get involved, and has asked for a scanner of his own for Christmas. He has joined the Ham Radio club at school, and we're finding a common bond we never knew we shared. And everytime we sit down together, and tune in or search for that elusive frequency we just know is out there--I think back to my days a kid in Maine--and I'm thankful for what you've done here.

My best to you and your family--Have a Merry Christmas, and the best of New Years.

 

[scanjunkie]

Mark,
Beautifully written...I really enjoyed reading your post. I'm sure those are some great memories...and now reliving them with your son...it doesn't get much better than that! Happy holidays!!

 

[jpm]

Dear Lindsay-

It is amazing--and unfortunately sometimes sad--what you see and deal with when you're on the Internet. .

Try working with the public in general....LIVE!

 

[MacombMonitor]

When I met my wife, 29 years ago, I made up a saying; "Theory of 5%!" When ever we'd see, or hear something involving people that was unbelievable, I'd always say "Theory of 5%!" After about six months of that, she finally inquired, what do you mean when you say theory of five percent? I told her from my personal observations in life, only five percent of the people you encounter are normal! Now she says it too. I think after 29 years of that, with all that has happened, I need to revise that down to maybe two percent. Sad.

 

[tonsoffun]

Hey Lindsay,

Just curious, do you ever waste your time responding back to these guys?
I could only laugh reading these!

Take care
Ron

 

[K5MAR]

Particularly amazing when you consider the email they are complaining about. Not spam, solicitation for money, or anything like that. The newsletter was nice looking and tasteful in content. That first guy had to have been off his meds! :lol:

What's really ironic is that Lindsay will take these people off the rolls, then in the next couple of months some of them will be back complaining that they can't log-in! :roll:

Merry Christmas, Lindsay!
Mark S.

 

[brucewarming]

I haven't hid my email to more than a few sites, so I guess someone can use it to sign on to a forum that they are banned from! Because of past behavior. So theres a reason that someone may get indignant about recieving emails, that they have no idea of who/what or where they come from. I should be a little less open in my computer usage.
I've seen this on another forum where a guy got blocked from a thread and five minutes later he appears with a new user name and continues his arguments.
( Edit again) You can figure theres people out there that get a load of spam, junk and have no way to repliy to them, so when they happen to get one(letter) with a way to reply they lay into whom sent it, lack of knowing there maybe someone else in the home using that email.
I really liked the recognition that Lindsay gave to the contributing members. Thanks

 

[K5MAR]

I haven't hid my email to more than a few sites, so I guess someone can use it to sign on to a forum that they are banned from! Because of past behavior. So theres a reason that someone may get indignant about recieving emails, that they have no idea of who/what or where they come from. I should be a little less open in my computer usage.

But since you have to respond to the activate request which is sent to the email address you registered with, nobody can use your email address without your knowledge.

Mark S.

 

[car2back]

people never cease to amaze me.

 

[dimab]

there is no cure for stupidity.
keep up the good work.

 

[edweirdFL]

The only thing I can think of is when someone creates and uses and email account to sign up, and then later deletes that email address from their ISP. Later a different person creates the same email address by coincedence, and gets the email intended for the first user.

Same address, two different folks.

Ed

 

[AZScanner]

Lindsay, my heart goes out to you. Thanks for all that you do, and thanks for the laugh - those "examples" are classic.

 

[unitcharlie]

Hi Lindsay...
Thanx for dealing with the dweebs.... what you have done here is truely phenominal and worthy of pride. Don't let those folks whose Darwin Award Nomination forms are incomplete get you down--just remember, they are the ones who need batteries for their radios.... thanx for the news letter....

 

[KC1UA]

I am 190,000,000% certain

Are ya sure? The numbers here seem to indicate some doubt on your part...

I NEVER requested membership on your site.

What he didn't say was, "Except for that time that I DID, but how dare you stand in the way of this tirade by suggesting otherwise!"

I do believe you have broken the law.

Breakin' the law! Breakin' the law! Was that Judas Priest? This of course means, Lindsay, that you have also broken the law by stealing the lyrics of an 80's metal band. How do you sleep at night?

I am incensed, offended,

FLAGRANT rip-off of the Three Stooges by the author of this gem! Anyone remember the classic "Hoi Polloi" episode? "Delighted! Devastated! Delapidated!" "Enchanted! Enraptured! Embalmed!". This guy couldn't come up with the third instance of this theft, the punchline reserved for one Jerome "Curly" Howard...he must be a victim of circumstance!!

mad as freaking HELL

"And I'm NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!" ALMOST a direct ripoff from the movie "Network". This guy further proves his brainlessness by not even being able to produce his own material. Oh, the humanity...

I've been made a member

Uh uh huh huh uh huh huh....MEMBER...with all due respects to Butthead of course, who is clearly the more intelligent of the two...

You damned internet PIRATES are screwing up the world.

Yo ho ho and a bottle of DUMB...

GET ME THE HELL OUT OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP ROLLS! RIGHT GOD DAMNED NOW!!!!!!! AND
NEVER PUT ME ON AGAIN!!!!

When I first read this section the first thing that came to mind was Charlton Heston in "The Planet of the Apes". You know, the final scene (SPOILER FOR ANYONE THAT MISSED THIS CLASSIC FORTHCOMING!!!) when he's riding the horse down the beach and comes upon Lady Liberty, half buried in the sand, and screams..."DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!!" in frustration at the fact that we blew ourselves up....an act undoubtedly caused by this dummy's kindred souls. (The "GET YOUR STINKIN PAWS OFF ME YOU DAMNED DIRTY APE" line was a close runner up in this case.)

The second person is a bit milder, and just simply needs to be returned to the home for further therapy. There, that's better...

Lindsay, I feel your pain. I deal with this as well, on a FAR smaller scale, but I do indeed feel your pain.

Thank you for letting me get this off my chest. I feel much better now. Secure from General Quarters...

 

[blantonl]

Hehehe... so much fun we are having!

 

[woody_461]

Hang in there Lindsay!I ran a large forum similar in size to this one.I know how much of a headache it can be at times.This forum is a great source of information, and very friendly 99% of the time (nothing is perfect).You've put a lot of time & effort into this place.Thankyou for providing it for us.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 

[OpSec]

Try working with the public in general....LIVE!

+1

Amen.

 

[safetyobc]

I certainly appreciate the wealth of information that is available at radioreference in the forums, links, downloads, database, wiki, and all of the other information. This site has kept me into scanning and helped lots of others I have pointed in this direction. I try to submit all the correct info I can to the database and answer any questions I can, because when I first came lots of people helped me and are still helping when I have questions. This is the GREATEST scanning/radio site on the world wide web, hands down!

Keep up the good work, we certainly appreciate it!

Merry Christmas to all.