[Christien]

One thing I've been thinking of, if things get out of hand (which, for me at least, they haven't yet), is to implement a password system, whereby you use a codeword in the subject line, which you freely give to anyone you give your email address to - put in in your email sig, on your business card, etc. Basically, when someone emails you they have to include the code word in the subject line. Then set up a filter in your email program that moves any email with the code word in the subject line into a folder called "real mail" or something. Then just delete everything remaining in the inbox (which wouldn't have the codeword in the subject line), as that will be the spam. The only holdback to this would be emails sent by a bot (email lists, auto-responses, etc).