Can anyone tell me about disposable emails?

OK... can you explain why you would think this Chris?

I'm still confused on how it works myself... but I would like to know more if it can help me cut down the spam I receive...

I do not know much about disposable emails other than the 15-20min I just spent researching it, so I don't know how it exactly works, but I was under the impression that this is a tool to help FIGHT spam, not to help send spam...

"If you give Web sites and new contacts a disposable email address instead of your real one, you can selectively disable a disposable address as soon as you get spam through it, but continue using all other aliases. Disposable email address services provide this basic functionality, but some have other neat features that make life with email less spam and more fun."

Can someone that actually knows what they are talking about enlighten us of how this works? Anyone here using disposable emails?

- Jared

Two different things being discussed here. The original question has to do (I think) with services that let someone read an email once, and then destroy that email. Sort of "Mission Impossible, this tape will self-destruct" type stuff.

The more correct meaning of the term "disposable email address," which I believe is trademarked by Spamex, means an alias that's created for a specific purpose and which can be turned off easily.

In theory, these are meant to be used to control what happens with your mailbox, to make it easy to stop mail from someone who refuses to stop sending it when you ask, and to track who leaked your email address from a subscription or other use.

All worthwhile goals. Unfortunately, Joe the Dumber doesn't quite "get" that tools are not meant to be used in abusive ways. The most common use of DEAs in this market space is to sign up to a list using them when there's some bonus offered for subscribing, and turn the address off immediately after getting it.

That creates problems with list management, and a lot of irritation at what many list owners consider fraud.

Personally, I can't stand the things. I've had more than enough arguments with people from these companies to know that they intend and expect that people will use them in all sorts of ways that don't fit their stated purposes. I've blocked a number of them from my lists.


Paul