CogBlog

1) Gmail is not spyware. Spyware/AdWare involves an application that (depending upon the source) runs in the background while you do other things, recording your behavior. Gmail does nothing like this. Access your account, you'll see ads. Leave your account and Gmail won't be there spying on you.

2) Ads are targeted in the same way that AdSense ads are targeted. It is an automated process. No human beings are reading your mail. The only risk is in having your messages on a third party server. But, that is already the case for most people.

3) Other free mail services already use the content of messages to target ads. If you use Yahoo mail in conjunction with MyYahoo or Yahoo Finance you've probably given them much more information than Gmail.

4) You can delete messages with Gmail.

5) Believe it or not, you might find the ads useful. Although, I'm sure that is a matter of personal taste.

6) They don't share information with third parties.

7) A totally voluntary system which serves relevant marketing messages, in a very targeted way, is a positive for our industry.

8) You can stop using it at any time. After 9 months your account will be deleted.

9) The actual Big Brother already reads your email with the CARNIVORE system. And their purposes are more scary than sending a link to Red Envelope.

10) Unless you're life is more interesting than mine, even if someone did read all your email, it wouldn't make any difference. :-)