Top Ten Do's and Don'ts in preventing Spam

Don't click "unsubscribe" - this option at the bottom of a spam email message is a trick. Only if you remember subscribing to the sender and you know for a fact that the sender is reputable, only then use the unsubscribe option provided. Otherwise, unless you get more than a few emails over time from the same place, they will be using your unsubscribe to send you more information.
Don't view or even pre-view a suspicious message while online - when the pictures used in the message are pulled from the spammer's server, you are telling the spammer that you received the message (even if you don't reply). Turning of HTML in your eMail program so you don't receive the embedded images will remedy this.
Don't use the standard mailto: tag on web pages. One way that spammers get your email address is with automated programs (spam bots) that extract them from your web page. These spam bots do not actually open your web page, they look at the HTML code behind the scenes of your web page for the "mailto:" HTML tag. Once your email address is harvested, it is sold to spammers.
Do use a web-based form. But make sure you use a form that DOES NOT require the "<input type="hidden" name="recipient" value="you@YourDomain.com"> HTML tag or you are defeating the purpose. Spam bots can harvest your eMail address from the HTML code in your web page using this method. Once your email address is harvested, it is sold to spammers.
Do spend time complaining about spam, responsibly and appropriately. But be aware that this will cost time, money, or both in order to achieve a slimmer email in-box. Many huge hosting companies that allow email relaying receive so many daily spam complaints that they may not respond to your complaints. The majority of Spam originates from countries outside the USA where Spam laws are lax or non-existant.
Don't ever EVER EVER buy anything from a spammer! Search and find a reputable company that sells the product you are considering purchasing.
Do realize that you may have ok'd the spam - if you have ever provided your email address to a company that stated in it's privacy policy that it will provide your information "to affiliated sites"... this means that if they affiliate with 10,000 sites, then you may get 10,000 or more pieces of legal junk email. We do not believe this is responsible or ethical of companies to do, but it is the basis for a large number of the spams that people get. Millions of people have wanted to win contests or prizes, only in many cases to find out that they won a slot on the "Wheel of Spam Carousel".
Do Get a disposable or extra email account (like GMail, Yahoo or Hotmail) to give to "suspicious" sites (even if they have a privacy policy that you like).
Do stay informed - technology, laws, and tricks are evolving. A good place to start is http://spam.abuse.net/.
Don't get too crazy about spam - you have better uses for your time and energy! "An ounce of prevention is WAY worth a ton of cure" when dealing with Spam.