Why is SPAM called what it is?

Question

I have thought about this for a long time and I can find no likes between the "some parts are meat" product and the evil spyware stuff.

Why do we call the internet version "SPAM"?

Answer 1

Use of the term "spam" was adopted as a result of the Monty Python skit in which our SPAM meat product was featured. In this skit, a group of Vikings sang a chorus of "spam, spam, spam . . . " in an increasing crescendo, drowning out other conversation. Hence, the analogy applied because UCE was drowning out normal discourse on the Internet.

We do not object to use of this slang term to describe UCE, although we do object to the use of the word "spam" as a trademark and to the use of our product image in association with that term. Also, if the term is to be used, it should be used in all lower-case letters to distinguish it from our trademark SPAM, which should be used with all uppercase letters.

This slang term, which generically describes UCE, does not affect the strength of our trademark SPAM. In a Federal District Court case involving the famous trademark STAR WARS owned by Lucasfilm Ltd., the Court ruled that the slang term used to refer to the Strategic Defense Initiative did not weaken the trademark and the Court refused to stop its use as a slang term. Other examples of famous trademarks having a different slang meaning include MICKEY MOUSE, to describe something as unsophisticated and CADILLAC, used to denote something as being high quality. It is only when someone attempts to trademark the word "spam" that we object to such use, in order to protect our rights in our famous trademark SPAM. We coined this term in 1937 and it has become a famous trademark. Thus, we don't appreciate it when someone else tries to make money on the goodwill that we created in our trademark or product image, or takes away from the unique and distinctive nature of our famous trademark SPAM. Let's face it. Today's teens and young adults are more computer savvy than ever, and the next generations will be even more so. Children will be exposed to the slang term "spam" to describe UCE well before being exposed to our famous product SPAM. Ultimately, we are trying to avoid the day when the consuming public asks, "Why would Hormel Foods name its product after junk e-mail?"

Answer 2

You can thank a Monty Python sketch for this term. Monty Python was the name of a british television comedy sketch show, and one of their sketches involved a diner in which spam featured a major role. The links tell the story best, so if you are really interested in the details, follow the links.

Answer 3

The most widely adopted explanation, is that the term got its origins from a famous Monty Python sketch entitled "Spam-Loving Vikings." In this sketch, the vikings are situated in a restaurant whose menu items include only dishes that are made with spam. The vikings (obviously thrilled with this) eternally sing the refrain "Spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam" increasing in volume each time. The repetative, obnoxious, and useless nature of this song can easily be compared to that of unsolicited internet messages, and hence, to our contemporary definition of "spam."

Answer 4

It's from an old Monty Python skit...

A couple are sitting at a restaurant. They notice everything on the menu has SPAM in it. They start reading down the choices: eggs and SPAM, eggs, bacon and SPAM, two eggs, SPAM and more SPAM...and so on.

People in the background start singing "SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM...SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM..." It's relentless...never ending...inescapable. Just like junk email.

Answer 5

Sexy
Person
At
Mall?

Answer 6

Because just like the food it is disgusting.