Well, I just got my first spam message (of sorts) from a 43 thingster:

Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 06:43:50 -0800 (PST) From: mindyfine on 43 Things <mindyfine@gmail.com> To: lyle@knology.net Subject: mindyfine has invited you to do something with them at 43 Things

mindyfine has invited you to do the following at 43 Things:

Help Ariah Win $10,000 in the My Office Makeover Contest @ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8985887/

Message from mindyfine: I saw one of your things is to change someone's life. You could make a HUGE difference in my husbands life by helping him win $10,000 to help pursue his small business plans...

Umm, no, Mindy (may I call you Mindy?) I currently have 19 things in my list, and “changing someone’s life” isn’t one of them. Never has been. When mysterious Nigerians contact me out of the blue with an e-mail like this, they at least have the decency to be offering me something in return for my assistance.

I suspect that people have been abusing 43 Things since day one, but this is the first time I personally have experienced it.