Networking, word-of-mouth, recommendations and referrals, social media, via your website, advertising...
The same way everyone grows their business without spamming and cold-calling.
I mean this in the least aggressive and judgmental tone I can muster...
... How is this our problem, and how does the fact that feet-on-ground networking takes a lot of effort justify spamming and cold-calling?
You can build a decent business through better methods such as networking and building a reputation for yourself (my chosen method when I was in the business) however some of my colleagues who wouldn't know a tech meet-up if it slapped them in the face were making twice the bonus I made exclusively through cold calling.
The question is why we should be expected to put up with it.
419 scams also get a tremendous amount of traction, and selling things via spam is also surprisingly profitable.
How are recruiters different, and why should they be not be treated as cancerous perversions of the system, and why should we adopt any stance other than complete hostility towards these cold-calling, spammy recruiters?
You shouldn't and I'll never say otherwise. My original point is that moaning about it is pointless. This is one of the most innovative communities I'm aware of and despite the fact that HN constantly bemoans the recruitment industry (and rightfully so) these discussions rarely, if ever focus on potential solutions to the problem.