RE: Why spam is a problem.

["Christian Huitema" <huitema at windows.microsoft.com>]

Perry,

SPAM is a problem, but the solutions so far have a strong smell of
"throwing the baby with the bathwater." For example, a popular ISP
practice is to block all SMTP connections that are not directed to a
local ISP server: it blocks submission through legitimate servers run by
third parties, e.g. personal web servers. Another popular practice is to
block a whole network if SPAM originates from some of its addresses; an
extreme version of that blocks all mail from Korea or China; the belief
is that by doing so one forces network providers to clean up their act;
in practice, a lot of legitimate usage is prevented. There are other
irritating consequence, such as mailing restriction on IETF lists, which
we are forced to accept for the common good but which also makes
interaction harder than necessary.

So, Perry, are you proposing a solution? Or perhaps a process to find a
solution?

-- Christian Huitema