Apart from the previously noted tarditude in yesterday's Styles, there was a fascinating look at the world of tiny-cocked men and the e-mails that upset them. Lisa W. Foderaro immersed herself in the world of spam, and how it's now taking a personal toll on its recipients:

With worldwide volumes having doubled in the past year, and ever-more sophisticated spammers singling out computer users with particular interests or problems, it can serve as a constant reminder of what is lacking for those with fragile egos — whether a sinuous body or an eight-cylinder sex drive.

Basically, a bunch of fatties and people with puny peckers get their feelings hurt each time they receive an e-mail that says, "Lose weight, lardass," or "What's with the little dick, littledick?" As tragic as this is, some folks can find the humor in it all:

Betty Maul, who owns a print and advertising company in Cherry Hill, N.J., said more than 115 junk e-mail messages had poured into her in-box one recent day by 5:15 p.m... Absent, at least for the moment, was one of Ms. Maul's favorites: a come-on for breast enlargements. "I'm already a very well-endowed woman, so that one frightens me," she said. "That's become a joke in our office. Everybody howls."

Yeah, Betty, that's what they're laughing about. The e-mails. Keep telling yourself that.

Raining E-Blows on Egos [NYT]

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