Re: Spam ... that discussion has been way to long. Hasn't it?

From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@together.net)
Date: Fri Feb 05 1999 - 12:39:26 MST


mark@unicorn.com wrote:

> hal@rain.org wrote:
> >Maybe it is time to see about creating an Internet Standard for ways
> >of expressing "postage" or other distinguishing features of non-spam
> >email.
>
> My main concern with Adam Back's scheme (the only one I've seen mentioned)
> is that it's purely a cost to the sender, there's no benefit to the
> recipient. Ideally it should be a transfer of value, but I can't think of
> too many calculations that the average person would care much about.
>
> But I think the idea of some kind of IETF standard is a good one, as it's
> a lever for getting such systems incorporated into email software.
>

Yes. Please. However, why can't mail servers that the recipient belongs to
merely check the validity of the emails header addresses and origins of every
message, bouncing the ones that look specious? I almost want to write a perl
script that does just that....I wish I weren't so busy with my own ISP
startup.

If the Electronic Freedom Foundation is what its cracked up to be, they could
easily launch a campaign to get unverified message bouncers installed on any
ISP mail server on which a customer requests it, and give the customer the
ability to turn it on or off...

Mike Lorrey



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