I think there were changes to U.S. law a few years ago that may have slowed down the bulk e-mail business. Checking my e-mail account used to take 15 minutes sometimes to download all the spam. However, other than the pages of dirty picture ads and get rich scams I used to receive on another account, some of my reasons are philosophic and some practical.
A practical reason is that a type of virus works by generating e-mail to everybody on a computer's e-mail list. The more lists an address is on, the greater chance of getting one of these things.
Another reason is that the ability to construct 'stolen identities' works because a lot of personal information is available through public sources. A relative of somebody I know did have her identity stolen. The financial loss wasn't large only due to a fortunate accident. I maintain quite a few accounts here and there. If each account contains some incidental piece of personal information, a detailed personal profile can be constructed. All this information can be linked through the e-mail address. The less personal information available through public sources, the better.
The philosophical reasons are just the way I am. I think I try to both give and receive fair value for work given and things received. I know nothing of value is free, so if I receive, I expect to pay in some way. If read newspapers, I've got to turn pages of ads. If I watch TV, I've got to spend time watching ads. It takes resources to provide these things. If I use them, I've got to pay the price. This site takes resources to maintain, and there are ad banners. Fair enough, and real good value received here.
However, people who build bulk e-mail lists are providing nothing of value in return for the e-mail addresses taken (except for people who want to receive spam). It is a form of theft. I, myself, am unwilling to help people make money from an e-mail address that I use for personal communication, especially when all I receive is the aggravation of having to deal with spam.
For similar reason, I also disable 'cookies,' except for here where I trust that 'cookies' aren't being used to construct a list of web sites I visit. As with my e-mail address; if somebody takes something of mine, I expect to receive value for it. I also don't participate in telephone opinion polls, but with phone surveys, at least somebody asks before taking.
