At 06:57 AM 8/11/1998 -0400, Leonard Berkowitz wrote:
>Can someone explain the origin or etymology of the word "spam" with the
>meaning of "unwanted or unsollicited electronic mail"? Is it an acronym? Is
>it an adaption of the food "spam" that itself may be an acronym? Urban
>legends NEED apply.
>
>
Lots of help with this one on the Internet. For example, access the
following URL's:
<http://www.thegrid.net/clear/spam.htm>
<http://www.cyberia.com/pages/jed/Spam.html#Origin>

Consensus is that the use of "spam" in this regard comes via Monty Python
from SPAM, the food as parodied in the famous "SPAM,SPAM,...SPAM and SPAM"
sketch and song.

Eric