Double Take -- by Mark Sproxton

Surf the Internet for a few minutes and it's inevitable you'll come across a Web site full of pop-up boxes, flashing advertisements and numerous other devices guaranteed to annoy. Our exposure to these mechanisms lies somewhat in the hands of those building the sites, unfortunately. But one person has used entrepreneurial vision, Web know-how and created a job trying to rid the world of unwanted messages, called spam, on the Internet's sister technology, e-mail.

Taking offence to never-ending messages offering low mortgage rates, dietary advice and get-rich-quick schemes, The Spam Avenger put his Web-savvy skills to use rallying against spammers world wide. It's a job the Avenger believes has a bright future.

"Current statistics show that spam e-mail is increasing at an alarming rate," explained the Avenger, communicating on the request of anonymity. "So too will career opportunities in ridiculing spammers. It is a symbiotic relationship in the same way police officers need criminals in order to have jobs. This may be a pessimistic outlook, but the market dictates these things."

The Avenger said having fun with pushy sales people has long been a hobby. But it wasn't until about a year-and-a-half ago when a call centre operator used the term spam avenger that it eventually became his trademark calling name. "Because I knew no other spam avengers, I figured I must be THE spam avenger so I adjusted my name accordingly. Besides, calling myself A Spam Avenger instead of The Spam Avenger would sound stupid."

The Spam Avenger does sell CDs of his conversations with call centre operators, but making money via the Web isn't necessarily his only goal. "My goals are twofold," the Avenger informed nextSteps.org. "I am waging a war of ideas. Though I call it war, it does not mean that I support the international trade in arms or nuclear weapons proliferation. The threefold idea the spammers have is, 'money, sell, and pester.' Whereas my idea is more like, 'Oh, yeah? Right.' These viewpoints are diametrically opposed, hence the conflict.

"Secondly, history shows warfare stimulates the economy. I want to show that satire is an economically viable method of combat. The returns are far better on one of my CDs than a bomb that can only be used once. And, as the kids are saying in their lovable slang, my CD is 'da balm.'"

Using his knowledge of the Web and old technology, such as telephones, the Spam Avenger truly hopes his enterprise will make a difference. "Here, I identified a problem and offered a novel solution. Most people, particularly those in the media establishment, are content to look at a problem then do absolutely nothing about it as long as they can whine about it. It takes a lot of resolve to make them take notice."

And his advice for anyone considering a similar enterprise: "I might ad that a deadpan delivery is handy for dealing with spammers. I know this is not what people are taught in business schools, but I believe this is what they call displaying the product outside of the box."