I was instigated to write this because of the reaction I sometimes get upon using the word "spam" (see typical reaction here: https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/344963/page/1/#2122614).  The word "spam" can be used in many ways of course (junk email, junk food, etc), but let us examine how it is used in computer games, particularly this one.

The most common, most used meaning, which can be either noun or verb but connotes the same thing, is a derogatory meaning or "put down" term which means to build nothing but one type of unit.  "Carrier spam" would be the noun usage, and "he spammed carriers" would be the verb usage.

However, there is another usage, which means to build a particular type of unit in a "series" or "run."  I use the term in this particular way quite frequently.  For instance, when playing vasari, my typical pattern would be to drop a mil lab and run off a series of assailants.  If I'm not mistaken, you can usually get around 7 or 8 assailants out (assuming you have a few scouts out as well) before having to "fleet up" to the next level.  So, I usually do an initial "assailant spam."  This is different than the meaning above, because I won't build assailants EXCLUSIVELY, rather I will build them in a series, i.e. run off about 10, then depending on the circumstances start building something else (for instance, if I see carriers coming, start up a flak spam).

There are in fact even more gaming usages.  "He spammed malice" would mean that he used a special ability over and over again.  "Man, did he spam trade ports!" means that you just made it to the guy's back worlds and saw tons of trade ports.

I do not care to debate whether spamming of anything is good or bad at this juncture (if you want to believe one way or the other, that's your business); however, I would say to the "anti-spammers" out there to please not cast such a jaundiced eye towards meaning #2 (building a unit type in a "series" or "run").  I mean, surely it should not be considered verbotten to build units in a series?  Otherwise, you could never build the same unit twice in a row.  You couldn't even run off a few scouts in the open, because that would be "spamming" and thus would be verbotten!