Sometimes the internet is just plain baffling. Things happen there that clearly come from someone trying to make a buck in some pathetically odd way. Being a curious type I can’t help but wonder: why? And who are these people?

The comment spam you get on any Wordpress blog is a good example. These are comments that are trying to sneak past your Akismet spam filter, make some observation that rarely has any relevance to your post, and then throw in a link to buy something.

Why do people write these things? Does it ever really work? Here – with the links taken out – are some current examples from the spam queue here.

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A chap called Cheap Fat Loss supplements writes…
<blockquote>Hey there guys, Im looking for some good Fat loss supplements, the one im currently usingBSN Thermonex are there any better ones, these guys sell loads but I just aint sure I see alot of the articles on the web these days are about acai berrys but I dont know if they are like a scam product.</blockquote>
Not sure what the relevance is to someone getting banned from MySpace.

‘Farmville Mastery Guide’ has this to say about an article on Windows.
<blockquote>This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.</blockquote>
And finally, my current favourite because it’s short, this little gem from ‘free stuff uk’ who, apropos of an article on politics says…
<blockquote>not talking.</blockquote>
Who are all these people? Why do they do it? Wouldn’t it just be easier to go out and get a job?