Where did the Internet term spam originate?

There is some debate about the origins of the term spam, but the generally accepted version is that it was adapted from the Monty Python song, "Spam spam spam spam, spam spam spam spam, lovely spam, wonderful spam." The logic being that, like the song, spam is an endless repetition of worthless text.

Another theory maintains that some brilliant (but twisted) minds in a computer lab at the University of Southern California felt that it shared some of the characteristics of the mystery lunchmeat Spam. (i.e. Though there are occasions, like some junk mail, when it can be palatable; most people do not willingly volunteer to partake in this enigmatic meat-product.)

posted by [d] at 02:29