WYS -

The specific mention in the Red Tape article was:

"Spotting spam before you open it is a plus -- sometimes spam messages contain small images that report back to the sender as soon as a message is opened, teaching the spammer that your e-mail address is valid. More spam is sure to follow."

This is only one of several methods used - the article is not written by a tech person.

While you may, for now, be relatively safe using text-only mode, discussions of the kind in this thread can only contribute to foolish behaviour by the many others who are not so careful. While I applaud your methods, the attitude that this is something to joke about is not laudable in any way that I can see. (MPO)

You SHOULD NOT HAVE TO USE TEXT-ONLY for your email, since that deprives you of the freedom to use many good features you should be available for you to use without fear. Unfortunately the prevalence of spam, and malware of other kinds, have made you choose to do so.

Since there are known sources, and known reasons and methods of generating the "GARBAGE" people are so enthusiastically quoting here, this thread, and the others like it, are less interesting (to me - but then I'm a little odd) than a good argument about whether the pattern of coffee spit I sprayed on my screen at a good joke is better than your herbal tea pattern.

John