MySpace is full of crap!

UPDATE (April 4, 2009): Apparently, MySpace has fixed the problem and the link to this site is no longer blocked. The remark about head lice still rankles, though.

When attempting to send a link to a MySpace contact yesterday, I checked the sent message and found that the link (to my RADIOLA! blog at http://radiolablog.blogspot.com) had been disabled, and the following insulting message displayed:

The link you are trying to visit has been disabled.

You have reached a link that is no longer in service. That means the link was very naughty, and, much like head lice, had to be eliminated before it spread.

You may be asking yourself, 'Hey, what was it about that link that got it in trouble?' An excellent question! Usually, it's one of the following reasons:

- The link was spam! No one likes spammers, and we don't like their links.

- You almost got phished! There are people out there who want to steal your MySpace password. They want to log in as you and send spam, harass your friends, change your profile, and generally run amok. Phishing pages are usually designed to look like MySpace to trick you. Other sites may also ask for your MySpace login information to customize your profile, insert videos or slide shows, track visitors, or any number of other things.Don't make it easy for them. ONLY USE YOUR MYSPACE LOGIN INFO ON WWW.MYSPACE.COM!!

- Viruses are not fun! Neither is adware, spyware, or malware. We cut the links to places that are known sources of infection.

If you really did want to check out some spam, viruses, or phishing pages, we're really sorry to have interrupted. We're sure you can find it elsewhere.There's plenty on the Internet


It seems that MySpace has disabled all links to Blogger sites because of a profusion of "spam" sites ending in "blogspot.com." Fine. It's easy to set up sites with free Blogger, and I'm sure many unscrupulous and malevolent people do so. That could have been stated in the message, rather than libel about "head lice," "spam," and "phishing." The irony about head lice in particular was not funny. Whoever thought of that should be flogged.

My RADIOLA! blog has been extant since 2005 as a repository for my radio playlists and for links to many other vintage music programs and sites. It is one of the most visited vintage music sites on the internet, and if you type "radiola" into Google, it comes up at the top of the list.

So there's a total lack of tact and sensitivity here. Whenever I'd send my link to anyone on MySpace, I'd look like a phishing, spamming jerk. And I don't send viruses to people. I keep a hygenic machine in this house.

As for "spam," which MySpace seems to strenuously object to, my MySpace home page is clotted with it. There are all manner of sleazy ads for teeth whiteners, one-night-stand dating sites, online casinos, etc. And yes, I know that cheesy advertising pays for the bandwidth I'm using. But it seems that MySpace is a tad inconsistent.

If I did not rely on MySpace as a means to promote and publicize my radio program, I would delete my profile and be done with it. I still may do so. I've already deleted my Facebook page because it was too wearying to participate in all the childishness of e-gifts and online party games. And I refuse to try Twitter. The idea of letting people know (in 140 characters or less) every time I make a sandwich or clear my sinuses is utterly appalling to me.

The libel of the above message may be no big deal to some if nothing much matters to them because there's always tomorrow. But I'm way over the hill, and I find it tiresome to try to be cool and "go with the flow" regarding personal insults. I spend thousands of dollars a year and work a dozen or more hours a week to do a volunteer radio show (which I then upload to Live365) and the implication of fraud stings deeply.

I'm thinking I may be getting a little too old for this internet stuff. It's like a glorified Busy Box. It may not be flashy and fun, but at least my dull old reliable Underwood doesn't call me names.