Spam

[WebLady]

I was just thinking ... I wonder how the word spam came to mean an unwanted solicitation. Did it come before the meat in a can Spam or after? If after, why use that word for it?

[Salayia]

It came after. WAAAAAAAAY after. If I remember correctly, it was an acronym. Although I don't know what it is. :bbconfused:

[WebLady]

It came after. WAAAAAAAAY after. If I remember correctly, it was an acronym. Although I don't know what it is. :bbconfused:
I was wondering if it was an acronym. Anyone know what it is?

And is the meat in a can Spam an acronym of some sort too?

[Salayia]

I read (parts of) the wiki article about spam, and apparently unsolicited electronic mail got its name from Monty Python's Flying Circus where they did the "spam spam spam spam..." thing (to this day, I HATE Monty Python for that... my name is Pam, which rhymes with "spam." I'm sure you can imagine what I dealt with growing up. :realmad:)

I didn't see any mention in the wiki article about an acronym, but I SWEAR I've seen one for it. :bbconfused:

[Salayia]

And is the meat in a can Spam an acronym of some sort too?

Now that one, I know - it's SPiced hAM. ;)

[acidcookie]

Yep, it's from the Monty Python sketch about spam, because in the early days of messageboards users trying to be obnoxious would just write the word spam repeatedly, often enough to drive other text off the screen and causing the page to load really slow. Thus, spamming the page.

[amisteratwisterandme]

If I remember correctly, Canned Spam was invented in the late 1930's and became popular during WWII in the Pacific to give the soldiers some protein, as they couldn't get fresh meat very easy.

[mitch]

Yep, it's from the Monty Python sketch about spam, because in the early days of messageboards users trying to be obnoxious would just write the word spam repeatedly, often enough to drive other text off the screen and causing the page to load really slow. Thus, spamming the page.

That's the explanation i know too.

Mmmmm could just eat some Spam Fritters now.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w229/mitchymoomoo/spam.jpg

[Salayia]

I can honestly say, I have never eaten spam. :coolblue:

[hleef]

i never have either.....

im curious thou... whats a spam fritter? :blink: the pic didnt come up at work if thats what it was lol

[Salayia]

i never have either.....

im curious thou... whats a spam fritter? :blink: the pic didnt come up at work if thats what it was lol

Her pic was just a picture of a can of spam. ;)

I believe a spam fritter is just a spam sandwich?! Is that right?

[acidcookie]

Fritter is something battered & deep-fried. At least in the US!

[mitch]

Fritter is something battered & deep-fried. At least in the US!

Same in the UK. We used to eat them as kids because they were cheap to make. We also had Corned Beef Fritters for the same reason. mmmm.

[DanDanNoodleBowl]

I always say that I can eat anything, but Spam is one thing I am not sure I can try. I picture it sitting in water when you open the can. Is it!?

[mitch]

I always say that I can eat anything, but Spam is one thing I am not sure I can try. I picture it sitting in water when you open the can. Is it!?

No. Some has a thin layer of aspic jelly. But the really good stuff is all meat. ;)

[SunnyAB]

I thought SPAM (the non-meat version) stood for Sending People Annoying Messages - but I may have just made that up in my head - (I've been known to make up my own words as well) :D

As for the meat version, I don't know if I ever had SPAM, but when we were little we had something similar and I think it was called PREM. Mom doctored it up though and it wasn't that bad - but then, we weren't rolling in dough, so we couldn't really be all that fussy. :)

[Century Guy]

Spam. *Shudders* It makes me gag.

Spam Fritter: Not a whole lot better.

But a corned beef fritter? Now THAT sounds amazing!