I have been using data binding to fetch descriptions for product codes or doing other real time tasks. I have potentially thought of a sneaky way to capture emails using blur and bind to write to a database/email output/textfile/whatever. Even if the user does not submit his email.
It relies on the users browser/Tools auto-populating name, email, addresses and other stuff for convenience as many do today. It assumes that users have populated a form at sometime in the past and the input name was “email” which is very common. When the form loads it will auto-populate the email input box then move to the next form element which is equivalent to a blur event. The blur event triggers the bind function. Not 100% sure it works but my product descriptions are populating the form based on default codes or items stored in cookies.
I was going to show the code but decided against it.:x
Why do you need to resort to such slimey maneuvers? It sounds like you work for a fly-by-night company that steals information, abuses it, and spams people. You know … the kind that’s despised the world over by anyone with an ounce of good sense.
You would be wrong about me. I am very ethical and would not engage in the activity.
I am not saying it is right or wrong. But from a marketers standpoint, if you can capture emails, or addresses for potentially sending targeted ads to people who have visited your site , it can be a valuable resource, provided you don’t overstep reasonable boundaries.
Also if you think about it, how many times do you let Firefox or that ID wallet on your security software store personal info for easy retrieval. With AJAX methods, anyone can immediately grab this info.
I feel this is far less sleazy than things web marketers/mail marketers/developers commonly do:
Buying email lists or paying for leads
Spamming forums so that people will click on your site
Setting up fake websites to gather emails on the pretense of doing something else.
Mail blasting ads to a general area to unknown entities which may have no interest
link baiting/disguised ads (ie contests)
misleading search engine ads trying to gather clicks or traffic
pimping yourself/clients on blog comments, facebook, twitter, or other social media
…provided you don’t overstep reasonable boundaries.
…anyone can immediately grab this info.
The “everybody’s doing it” argument holds little weight and fools no one. You have already overstepped all boundaries by even considering it and you know it. You already know it’s wrong to do such a thing or you wouldn’t be hiding it. You’d let people know what you’re asking and why beforehand and leave the choice up to them. Notice you’re not doing that here …
I am very ethical and would not engage in the activity.
The fact that you even posted this topic in the first place speaks for itself.
I think it’s not good to sneak someone’s email and their personal information. It won’t be good, plus how can anyone feel good about sneaky list building.