Some of us..."plonk" (set our newreader to ignore/delete) some poster's
posts.
The list of who and how to is here http://youareseeing.blogspot.com/
If you're using Outlook Express, when you see their post, Highlight/select
the post.
Click on 'message' between 'tools and help' at the top of OE...
then click on block sender..
Instructions for other newsreader software are on that web page.
If somebody rude replies to this post, plonk him.

Some of us..."munge" our email addresses, so we don't get spammed.
(If you're using Google or news.individual.net to post, you won't be able
to do this).
These are the instructions that someone sent me on how to do it with
Outlook Express (which I don't use).
In Outlook Express 6.
Click on *tools* at the top.
Down to *accounts* and click.
In the box that opens, click on *news* tab at the top.
Now click on the *properties* tab at the right.
Leave the top box alone (this needs to be the server you get your groups
from for real!

Where it says Name: type in whatever you want people to see as your
name. (John Doe or Jane Doe).  Whatever you decide for that one, most
people keep it
consistent
"name recognition", so that their circumstance is remembered

You will also see where it says Email - type here whatever you want
people to see as your address. put whatever you want before the @
what goes after the @ should not be your nor a valid email
address/website
Some use privacy.net which is set up specifically (apparently) for that
purpose
Some use anon.anon or invalid.inv or anon.inv (or some combination like
that.

Do not change the tab at the top that says server!! This is just seen in
your
computer to get the newsgroups to pull in!

Click *apply* at the bottom and then "ok" to close the box.
Go ahead and close out all boxes that are still open.
As long as you clicked the "apply" button before "ok" your changes are
held!

If you can't munge, some people use Mailwasher http://www.mailwasher.net/
to get rid of spams sent to them.
I use an older version of PopPeeper http://www.poppeeper.com/