Deception

I got three emails this morning from some of the TOP on-line magazines in our industry.  Only the emails were not really from them – huh???  The logo banner would be recognizable to anyone that reads these e-zines – however the heading read “[fill in almost any legal magazine’s name] is pleased to bring to you an offer from one of our advertising partners”.  Sheesse!!  I guess since the advertising rates are so expensive the vendors who put their ads in the magazine don’t feel that they are getting their money’s worth with just the “print” ads.  So they need to bombard me with misleading emails about seminars or webinars or new releases or new booklets or a new employee, etc., etc.  I suppose it works for the magazine and the advertisers but it sure doesn’t work for me.  If I’d wanted to subscribe to commercials greeting me every morning, afternoon and evening – I would made that clear.  Whenever I give these folks my “required” information, I check the box that says “I do NOT wish to receive emails from their advertising partners”, but somehow those entries get ignored.  I get far too many unwanted emails as it is, so much so that it is sometimes hard to find the ones I want (or need) to read, without all these hidden (bordering on deceptive) ads that look like they come from reputable magazines.  I’m tempted to click those hyperlinks that say “if you want to be removed from our mailing list please click here”. BUT I typically don’t for two reasons.  First, I don’t really want to un-subscribe from the magazines as there are articles and information in these that I want (which is the reason I signed up in the first place).  Secondly, even if the link says you are removing your name from the advertisers list only – anyone who has used email for more than 2 days has learned that these “remove me” links are only a way to verify that your email address is indeed a valid one and – Katy bar the door – here comes a flood of junk email.  I guess my best defense is venting and judicious use of the “DELETE” key.