[lug] SMTP delivery: No route to host

[j davis]

>On Mon, Nov 25, 2002 at 04:46:42PM -0700, Justin-lists wrote:
> > It's pretty obvious that this is just what they are doing, blocking
> > all smtp traffic but the traffic that directed to their own smtp
> > server...
>
>I know that many technical people *hate* this policy, where an ISP
>blocks all outbound SMTP traffic except to their mailserver.  However,
>as the owner of a local ISP, let me tell you why this is currently a
>good idea. (I say currently, because spam is going away someday, right?
>Right..?)
>
>ISPs are coming under heavier and heavier fire regarding spam.  It is
>at epedemic proportions.  Over 1/2 of my daily email is spam, and I think
>I read somewhere that spam accounts for almost 20% of email traffic on
>the internet now.
>
>This is one of the things that's being done about it.  Over 99% of my
>customer base (and I imagine most ISPs) have absolutely no reason to be
>sending email through somebody else's SMTP server.  For the under 1% of
>my customers who have a legitimate need, I make provisions to allow them
>to relay through their work server, or wherever.  (in fact, if someone
>is clueful enough to make the request, and provide the IP addresses
>they need to relay through, I almost always just add the access rule.)
>But for the vast majority of users, they don't even want to know what an
>SMTP server is.  They just want to send and receive email.  It just makes
>sense to close down SMTP when over 99% of your customers aren't affected.
>(especially when you're willing to make concessions for the other < 1%.)
>We (as users) complain about it, but we also get less spam because of it.
>Most spam is still sent through dialup networks.  I imagine if all the
>major dialup networks adopted SMTP port blocking, spam volume would
>plummet. (./~ ...You might saaaaay I'm a dreamer... ./~)
>
>I know it's the "geek" thing to do, to run your own mailserver and make
>your own damn connections.  But even amongst the geek crowd, very few
>of us have a legitimate need to do so.  It would be nice if we could, but
>in this case, the benefits of the many really do outweigh those of the
>few.
>
>If you're tired of spam, you'll realize that this is a good thing.
>And if you *really* want to send email directly to your email server at
>work, and your ISP won't let you through, just set up an SMTP server at
>work to listen on port 80 or 23 or something, and relay out that port. :)
>
>-k


yes the war on spam is huge....sure block port 25, but all this is in
vain until stupid users learn about email filters. I have worked and still
work for a few ISPs. And ...if the world is going to reliy on email they
damn well better figure out "filters".The world can not expect people
like you to be there mom....if you continue users will not take responabilty
for themselevs. Maybe all the dumb yuppies and corprate chumps will then
learn how to use the web and quit f-en wineing all the damn time.
....I am glad there are Police in the world....but I still lock my door!

(all this hits home with me due to my ISP thinking that blocking
incoming and outgoing ICMP will f-en save the world or something...)

Hey...maybe you could write a scrip to read there mail and remove
any offensive langue too....kind of like the way my mom used to meet all my
friends before I go "hang-out" with them.

Non-Helpless User Slime,
jd


Leave my Internet alone!; :)
jd

_________________________________________________________________
Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail