6 November 2006 - Most people find spam emails more intrusive and irritating than junk mail landing on their doormat, according to Canadian research.
A study by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia found that most people are less irritated by unsolicited junk mail than by spam.
"Spam is definitely regarded as more annoying, irritating and intrusive than postal direct mail," said Mariko Morimoto, who conducted the research.
Results from a focus group study conducted found that people find spam more intrusive than direct mail because it makes it harder to get to legitimate and wanted messages. Discarding direct mail, on the other hand, was not perceived as time consuming.
The vast majority also resent the virtual messages because there's usually more of them and because they're more apt to be of an unwanted sexual nature.
And there's one other big advantage of junk mail - consumers can request the post office not deliver it to people's door. 'No flyers' signs have become more commonplace in Canada in recent years, and Canada Post insists their letter carriers respect them.