The SPAM problem long predates ICANN and would likely be increasing as it is even if ICANN never existed. Simply creating more TLDs isn't even a partial solution to SPAM, spammers use trojans to scan storage devices like hard drives, and use bots to mine the WHOIS and crawl websites and USENET and suchlike to vacuum up email addresses. They look for anything matching the pattern *@*.* . Adding more possibilities to the rightmost wildcard wouldn't make any difference. -g

1. Sure it's easier to change registrars than to be extorted. But it is you alleging extortion by registrars without providing any evidence. Nor is there any evidence that anyone else has made a credible claim to having this happen. Assuming registrars did do this, presumably someone would report it. I don't much care for many registrars, either their business practices or their service, but if you're going to anonymously claim that they are committing extortion without a shred of evidence, then it is no wonder law enforcement isn't interested.

2. I don't know of any registrars paying $6 per comnet domain name. If you do, please list them.

3. Of course registrars are using names as you say, and in other ways in contravention of ICANN rules, and of course ICANN will do nothing about it. But this is hardly some new development, it has gone on for years.

If you are going to make such ill-informed comments it is no wonder you choose to be anonymous. -g

Using an sLD to advertise a garage sale for a week or a month strikes me as the height of stupidity for any number of reasons, but if you only want it for a week or a month then pay the $6 for the domain name (it would cost similar to run a classified ad regarding the garage sale in your average local newspaper) and then only use it for a week or a month. Hardly rocket science. But because you've registered the name your email address will be in the WHOIS (unless you lie, in which case you may not be able to manage the domain) and once it is in the WHOIS the spammers will likely have it and use it almost immediately, certainly within a few days.

There are probably less individuals routing around ICANN than there were a few years ago, and you can't really route around ICANN anyway, they control all the numbers. I never much cared for ICANN but I try to be accurate in my criticism. No-one will take you seriously when you can't even grasp simple facts and concepts. -g