IMAP and spam

I use Mac Mail and have it set up to my account using IMAP (I used to use POP and just recently changed). Since IMAP mirror the same online mail service folders in Mail, I have a "Bulk Mail" folder displayed. Of course in this folder are offers for Viagra, "lady services", people wanting my money, etc. If I select them and delete them, they go into my Mail trash folder. This means that all this garbage (and there's lots of it) mixed in with my real mail in the folder. So I am trying to figure out what to do:

1) Can I delete the Bulk Mail folder in Mail? Will it be deleted in my online service if I do? Or just not displayed it in Mail?

2) Is there a way to totally delete the Bulk Mail contents, bypassing the Mail Trash folder?
3) Any other options?

Thanks for your help.

Weaselboy said:

1. Depends on how the IMAP server is setup. Normally, any folder you delete on the client will be deleted in the server. But they may have this Bulk Mail (junk?) folder protected so spam can automatically go there. I would not delete it.

2. Yes. Hold the option key down when deleting messages and they will delete without going into the Trash folder. You can command-a to select all then option-delete.

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Thank you for the info! I knew there had to be something I could do to keep that crap out of my regular emails. Just didn't know what.