I�m noticing over the months that I�m getting more and more email advertisements from more and more musical instrument companies. I�m also getting a massive onslaught of junk email reflecting another group I belong to which is completely different and non-music. In this case, all of the junk email is from legitimate well-known companies in the same field.

My routine has been the same with every daily delivery. Yawn a few times, highlight all the garbage mail and hit the delete button.

I didn�t think anything of it until I got this one tonight. It was from �Music Gear.� The heading said something like: �Here is your chance to explore the new Korg Havian 30 and the LP-180.

I thought that looked familiar, and, sure enough, the only time I ever mentioned the Korg LP-180 anywhere online was in the Korg group. And that was just last week. That�s where they got my email address from.

So, can anyone tell me how these companies data mine the �groups� to replenish their mailing lists? Like all of you, I�m really tired of being bombarded everywhere with snake oil salesmen hawking their wares everywhere you turn. Now I�m not even safe online.

BTW....you�re going to get a laugh out of this one. I picked up the phone and it was a �rep� from my cable company. He started with the usual.....would you like to save some money on your cable bill. A brief thought and I quickly said, in a deadpan voice, �no, we�re allergic to saving money!� He: �I don�t understand.....you�re allergic to saving money?� Me: Yes, we break out in a rash when we save money. He: Ok, but let me tell you about this new savings plan. Me (still in my dry, deadpan voice): �no, I just got over a rash from the last time we saved money.� Well, it went back and forth until he finally gave up.....�rashes� weren�t in his scammer script. I think he�s still wondering how you �break out in a rash� when you save money on a cheaper plan....and how do you answer that one! Time to re-write the scripts.

It's simple anywhere online where you use your email address is mined by bots. If you don't want to be spammed use an alternate email for online forums.

Nigel......that part I've always understood. What I'm NOT understanding is how the "bot" went right into my (lengthy) posting and picked out the key words: Havian 30 and the LP-180, made a judgement call that I was looking to buy one of them, and then proceeded to use it in a sales pitch to me.

I'm wondering now about every word I write anywhere online in case it's misinterpreted. As if I didn't have enough to worry about trying to figure out what digital piano to buy!

Thats called build in AI into those bots...

Some are programmed to do exactly what you describe...not that its a mathematical corect process, its highly based on assumptions