I've used email since the beginning, and I fondly remember the days when

each and every email received was 'good' mail. Now, every day I have to

search a haystack for a possible needle. The situation is out of control and

demands a solution.

I firmly believe that the solution to the problem is legislation and

enforcement at the ISP level using a (sophisticated) no-spam list mechanic.

By 'sophisticated', I mean giving users the ability to customize their

definition of spam, e.g. someone who wants spam about mortgages could add

the keyword 'mortgages' to their 'okay' list. And, of course, it would have

to be worldwide.

A less acceptable approach would be a postage stamp-like charge for email,

which of course the ISP's would love, but (a) wouldn't stop spam, and (b)

would make Internet usage unnecessarily more costly for everyone. Not a good

solution.

The opt-in approach (which we don't need a vendor for, we can just using

email filtering) will stop, for example, an effort by a long lost friend to

contact you, among many other unhelpful scenarios. I consider this the least

desirable solution, yet it very much appears to be the direction of the day.

Bill

> It seems to be working well.

>

> FYI, It's an opt-in system. When someone emails you they

> have to opt-in on a web page. You then have the option to

> accept them in your whitelist or not. I imported my address

> book and setup all of the email list names and get those just

> fine. So far, so good...

>

> C