There wasn''t just one last straw that prompted this conclusion, there were several.

First came a spam from FareAgent.com, pitching me a "free" credit report from PrivacyGuard.com. Of course, PrivacyGuard, in the long run, wants to sell me their credit reporting service. Both sites are owned by Netmarket Group Inc., and the interrelated marketing effort is clearly to their advantage.

I happen to like FareAgent; it''s one of the few air fare and reservation sites that doesn''t require you to register and provide tons of personal information before you can use the site. I''ve actually purchased tickets there. But knowing that they gave my personal data to a sister company that is now spamming me, I think I won''t go back. Yes, I may be one of a few, but I firmly believe that even my e-mail address is personal data.

Opt-in is one thing, and I can deal with that, although even if I opt in I want every single e-mail that I get to contain instructions for opting out. But these days, a lot of e-commerce marketers are sending spam, and sort of covering it up by including some opt out information down at the bottom. That ultimately creates more work for me and I do NOT want that. So, bye-bye FareAgent.

Who else is spamming me this week? Well, Service Merchandise, for one. I bought something from their online store more than a year ago and I''m still getting spam. This one was pitching Valentine''s Day gifts, but as far as I''m concerned they can take their diamond tennis bracelets and put them where Cupid can''t find them. To unsubscribe from this one I actually had to go to a Web site, not just send an e-mail. Arghh!

Then FerretSoft (I downloaded the FerretSoft search app two years ago and never used it) sends me spam pitching the ClearSet headset from ClearVox, which lets me talk on my cell phone without using my hands. I don''t even have a cell phone. Don''t want one, either.

Then along came this gem, which I don''t think was a joke, and certainly did nothing to brighten up my day: Affordable Headstones For Your Loved Ones. This spam went on to boast: "We carry the largest selections of affordable headstones for your loved ones. Our stones are made from the finest granite and marble money can buy. Because we have manufacturers in India, China, and the United States to name just a few, we can offer you our headstones at prices that are lower than the competition."

Just what I want, intimations of mortality by e-mail.

I just read a Reuters report about the privacy groups going ballistic over DoubleClick''s announced plan to begin combining its ability to track surfing habits on about 1,500 Web sites with people''s actual identities. I went ballistic. After wading through about six screens on the DoubleClick site, I was able to opt out completely.

Or so they say.

DoubleClick says that under its new program, not yet in effect, it would use the information it collects only to tailor advertising and direct mailings to desirable customers. And the company said it would also continue to exclude sensitive data about health and sexual matters along with "detailed" financial information from its profiles.

Only people who registered and provided personal data to one of the Web sites participating in the new program would be tracked by name, DoubleClick said. But once such tracking started, movements would be recorded at all the 1,500 Web sites that carry DoubleClick ads and provide tracking data.

The Center for Democracy and Technology, a nonprofit group based in Washington D.C., said the plan goes too far and would create a massive database that could later be accessed by the government, other companies and even parties to civil lawsuits.

I''m sorry. I want e-commerce on my terms. I don''t want to be virtually folded, spindled or mutilated, tracked, cross-referenced and spammed. And I don''t want to take up residence in your database. This technology is scary. Maybe that makes me a Luddite, but I think it also makes me an average American.