Suppose everybody who sent you an email had to credit a penny from their email host to your email host as part of the protocol. If the email wasn't spam, you'd click a "refund" button in your mail-reader software. Questions:1) Spam would drop to zero so fast, that everybody could just set "auto-refund" and forget about it. Do you see some kind of equilibriun emerging, between the token size, the hassle in handling it, and the frequency of spam?2) Upgrading mail hosts, such as MSN, Yahoo, Eudora, and AOL, to become a clearinghouse for actual cash would be costly. Do you see the benefits of eliminating spam as covering this cost?3) Assume the hassle of filtering your own unwanted email advertisements is less than the hassle of having AOL mail Microsoft a check for $45 at the end of each month. Once the topology is subisidized in this manner, what new incentive-transmission opportunities can you see evolving?When I worked in the distribution network of a big manufacturing company, it was a nightmare hounding Joe to call Jill after Jill called me. I always wished I could position some sort of electonic payment token for Joe at Jill, and then forget about it.MP

i wonder if a modification of this idea would work for posts on WilmottMJ

There was a modification of this idea discussed in the Economist a couple of weeks ago (Oct 19th). Basically it involved bulk email senders sending their email with some sort of 'bonded message'. Then, if I received an email that was bonded, and I considered it SPAM, I can complain to the bonding agency and they will fine the company - maybe 10 cents for each person that complains. Then I could activate my computer to not accept any emails that aren't sent directly to me that aren't bonded. It is being proposed by Ironport, a company linked to goto.com (which charges sites for good listings in the search engine). It would be slightly less revolutionary than what you are suggesting, but wouldn't require everyday users to deal with money.If anyone wants to read the full article, send me a private message and I'll email it to you.MJ - that is a great idea. I'd love to be paid to read Wilmott posts all day!