Not Only Brooklyn (NOB) is back on AOL. Below is Neil’s explanation of what happened. Turns out it wasn’t some kind of weird cultural blacklisting. One of NOB’s subscribers clicked the spam button rather than the unsubscribe button, which resulted in AOL’s alogirthms shutting NOB down for a few weeks, causing Neil much undue agita.
Okay dude, time to get back to work: we need to hear about all the wondrous cultural events that are going on this weekend.
Finally got a phone call from AOL. Exactly as I suspected, some disgruntled subscriber couldn’t be bothered to unsubscribe, clicked in report spam multiple times, and the AOL algorithms, without any adult supervision, took note and eventually took action to close the account of this egregious spammer.
The AOL adult supervisor apologized, confirmed the legitimacy of my NOB newsletters and that they merit white listing as legitimate bulk email, overruled the algorithms, and restored full account access during our conversation.
However, there is still a problem. The AOL algorithms remain programmed to shut down any AOL member who persists in sending unsolicited emails. Which means NOB remains at risk of being shut down again by the same disgruntled subscriber who prefers to click on "report spam" than send me an email saying unsubscribe. I suggested a common sense approach, contacting the
AOL member who insists on identifying arbrunr@aol.com as a serial spammer and asking said individual to simply unsubscribe, so I will know to stop sending NOB to that particular subscriber who has changed his or her mind. He told me that AOL does not do that. But he promised to pass my suggestion along to senior management. And he gave me his direct phone number in case this happens again.
My plan is to ask subscribers with AOL com addresses to confirm their desire to receive NOB. And to look into sending NOB from a free bulk email service such as Dada Mail – Mailing List Manager Although my longer term plan remains to hire a web programmer to help me transform NOB Arts newsletter into a web site. One that will be so user friendly, interactive, informative, searchable and fun to use that it will attract sufficient traffic to also attract the tasteful paid advertising that will make NOB self supporting.
I care, for one. NOB has introduced me to some of the most amazing events which I would not have known about. I trust NOB’s recommendations and have never been disappointed — on the contrary. I have been priviledged and blessed to have heard music by brilliant composers and seen performances that change my world — and all for free. As the Union Street artist says “The best things in life are not things” and NOB is living proof. I am so glad it is once again up and running.
Why on earth would anyyyyyoone use aol in this day and age? That is about as unprofessional as you can get, and such a waste of money to use aol! He provides info, but the emails read like a 1985 first rate email.
I imagine that the person who was clicking on ‘report spam’ wasn’t opening the letter to read it and follow the ‘unsubscribe’ directions, because it takes a staggeringly long time to download. Although I am a long-time recipent of the newsletter and appreciate it greatly, I have wondered for a long time why Neil doesn’t just get a blog and post the info there. Blogs are free, interactive, and easy to create. There’s nothing stopping him from continuing to email the mailing list with a link to the latest edition.
who cares???? this is so boring.