I had thought it originated from the acronym:

Self-Promoting Advertisement Message.

Michael

----------
> From: Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: NVC what is spam?
> Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 7:29 PM
>
> To the original question....the reason why junk email is termed spam goes
> back to the Monty Python "Spam" routine in which the word spam is used
over
> and over and over again....
>
> After this discussion of spam, I must end with a prayer....
>
> O Lord, we beseech thee,
> Who croaked the Bishop of Westminister?
>
>
>
>
> Ric