Lifehacker Ignores Their Mistake
On May 10, Lifehacker posted an article about how to Stop spam from foreign countries. I do not know who the author is and I do not care. There should have been an apology, a retraction, or something to explain publishing a monumental blunder such as this.
Anyone with any sense at all can look up statistics at a variety of anti-spam websites. The US is the largest originator of spam, yet the author recommends blocking everything but the US. This is personally offensive. I am a US citizen, an American, living in one of those "so-called" undeveloped countries. They're recommending that my IP, based on my current country domain, be blocked from communicating with others in my home country. I live in the Philippines but all of the relatives from my side of the family live in the US.
Anyone who even thinks of agreeing with that article needs to have their head examined. There are American businesses located outside the US. There are friends and relatives located outside the US. Are you willing to cut them completely out of your email communications, based on the recommendation of an ill-informed author?
I got behind in my reading due to other commitments and want to thank Chris at Blog-Op for bringing this to my attention. More than four days have passed. No one from Lifehacker has taken the time to read the comments or review the material again. Their credibility with me, or anyone like me, just flew out the window. Lifehacker was one of my bookmarks and a website I had in my feed reader. Both are now permanently removed.
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I found Lifehacker a while ago. I tried to read the articles. I couldn't swallow the tripe that I was being served. I stopped. I tried again. The crap on the table was even worse. I could not stomach it. I left. I feel better now.
Call me nutso, but I like to read relevant material. Lifehacker is not relevant. Too bad. Its a catchy URL.
I can stomach harsher food that you can.
This was icing on the bail-out cake. Just enough to push me completely away from the table.
They are probably from California where everything outside of the valley is considered a foreign country.
It's interesting that they would make such a careless recommendation as this. RT if you're of the mind to find a replacement, you might check out lifeclever.com. It's themed a bit more around design, but also has lots of tips on productivity.
I've been an occasional reader of lifehacker for a few months now, but it seems lately their tone has become condescending or something. Can't put my finger on it. And the fact that you can't comment without registering? I don't like it when a blog does that. Seems to counter the whole idea of having a BLOG. Anyway I'm done ranting. I like lifeclever a lot. It's usually a fun read. 
Thanks, Charity, I'll check it out.
HMTKSteve… I don't know what to say. I suggest you try out for a part in "Heroes" because you read my mind.
The web is full of spam. Some people think that blocking and banning is the best solution. If they're not careful, them might end up banning themselves too.
Don't you know that I'm Sylar? Now hold still while I cut your head open and eat your brain.
LifeHacker was one of the first blogs I'd ever read. I used to visit it frequently, but don't visit much anymore.
Sounds like they may be getting a little to big for their own britches! What LH doesn't realize is that negative press from UV could cause LifeHacker to loose up to as much as 25% of their readers?
DOWN WITH LIFEHACKER!!
I've got my pitchfork & I'm ready to join the angry mob!!
Pass me a flaming torch!
lol…
That's why I love Chris, he always plays along!
You'll want to check out this related story.
There's a half-assed apology posted on Lifehacker now.
LifeHacker's reply:
"Gina Trapani, Lifehacker Editor says:
Hi all – just to address your concerns: Rick wrote this post up based on a reader tip, as detailed in the post. The 95 percent figure was a direct quote of an email tip we received, which is why it was included as a blockquote. Rick did not research the numbers John mentioned, and I'm sorry if the reader's wording offended you.
Like everything else you find on Lifehacker, take or leave it, depending on whether or not the tip helps you."
So noted RT. Never visited the site and certainly won't now. Great post as always.
Hm, half-assed indeed.