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epitome of incomprehensibility
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A couple of times I've wanted to add something to strangest_spam, but the messages getting through my mail filter lately are all about picking up imaginary packages from "IPS." So, not too exciting.
Now, this thing I thought this was spam wasn't: "I'm writing to you with an urgent message as the Prime Minister of Tuvalu..." the email started.
Why that "looks like spam" thought? Because "prince of Nigeria" became shorthand for old-school scammers claiming you can help them retrieve a lost inheritance? Because vice_president_of_Cambodia was something I'd say to my brother to indicate unknown people? "Who's coming to the dinner?" "I don't know, the Vice President of Cambodia?"
A bit of western-centricity, that all these are "random" far-off places. To Timbuktu, say, Dorval would be just as remote. And randomer.
But the email: it was in fact a climate-message thing organized by Avaaz. I don't doubt the prime minister of Tuvalu wrote something, but Avaaz seems to edit all their messages to sound Avaaz-y:
Dear friends!
We are steps away from climate catastrophe, but with an urgent call to the European Conference of Climate Conferences, WE CAN SAVE THE PLANET! ALL OF IT! Except for Dorval, Quebec. Ugh. Those guys? They can all be swallowed by a dolphin. And their little dogs too. Ahem. Where was I again...?
...The thing is, though, a lot of Pacific island countries ARE under serious threat from rising water levels. Oh yeah, and the climate summit this time is in Egypt.
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