The discussion centers on the effectiveness of various types of spam encountered on the Internet. Participants highlight that pop-up ads claiming virus infections are particularly effective, as many users have inadvertently clicked on them. Another notable point is that spam from merchants, often related to products users are interested in, can blur the line between legitimate marketing and spam. Greeting card and penis enlargement spam are identified as prevalent and potentially lucrative categories. Additionally, a new form of extortion spam is mentioned, where individuals are threatened with false accusations unless they pay money. The conversation also touches on the ongoing battle between legitimate advertisers and fraudsters, suggesting that while fraudsters currently have the upper hand, established companies may eventually prevail. Suggestions for avoiding spam include using specific web browsers and mail servers to block unwanted ads and emails.