I've just read that an astonishing 29% of respondents to a survey said that they have bought products from spammers. Doesn't this mean that schools need to rethink their antispam policies?

I'm not sure whether to admire people's faith in human nature (do they really think the goods will be delivered, or that they will be usable if they are?) or to decry their stupidity. Or perhaps I'm just over-cautious: I don't much like the idea of handing over money to a complete stranger. I can do that in the street. Like yesterday, for example. I was in a shopping centre near where I live, and whilst on the phone to my wife to get further instructions, some idiot came up to me proffering a watch. Oh yes, I really am likely to buy what is obviously a stolen item from a perfect stranger whilst doing something else anyway. (Of course, there were no police in sight at the time.)

But that is pretty much what spammers do, and I'm not sure how schools protect students from themselves when it comes to deciding whom to purchase from on the internet. Schools protect students from the spam itself, but that is not the same thing. Indeed, one could argue that to some extent it is not helpful at all.

Therefore, perhaps there is a case for allowing some spam through, or simulating spam messages, and running courses, or parts of existing courses, on the subject of spam? For example, it could cover how to recognise spam, and the risks of buying from spammers. (Do a search for the term "risks of buying from spammers" and you'll see what I mean.)

Basically what I'm suggesting is that we can't help kids to protect themselves from something if we don't teach them how. Could the same argument be applied to that other internet nasty, porn? Yes, of course. That does not mean that we have to let kids see it, but simply banning it and doing nothing else is not enough. We need to ensure that kids know how to respond when they come across it. Similarly with online safety issues. Young people need to be equipped with strategies for dealing with particular situations when the school and their parents are no longer there to protect them.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

© Terry Freedman Wed, 20 Aug 2008

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