[dclowd9901]

I think our mail systems are probably some of the most wasteful aspects of our society. At this point, I really can’t imagine the need for actual mail to come to my house. Fully 95% of the mail I get is adverts, 4.999% are bills (that could be digital), and .001% is genuine letters from another person.

All that paper, fuel and wasted human effort to make sure I get something I throw away in the recycle bin immediately after I get it. It should honestly be a crime and I don’t know how it isn’t.

[randomhodler84]

Whaaat? Very much disagree. I think you are forgetting packages. Where I live, the postal service delivers packages every day of the week. Sundays included. The mail is a critical service, done efficiently and with a smile. The world would end if people could not get their packages.

[jrockway]

The government figured out the ad-sponsored business model well before Facebook and Twitter. I only receive junk mail, but I guess it subsidizes package delivery that I actually want.

[the_angry_angel]

FWIW If you’re in the UK you can opt out of non addressed mail (https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/...) delivered via RM

In 2005 the Royal Mail was fully privatised. Since then I personally feel the amount of unaddressed mail has increased. But that might be in my head

[soneil]

In most western countries the mail is the official way to reach you. Court, legal, tax, etc documents will all come via the national post. That’s a large part of why they’re protected, we don’t have a good mechanism to replace this. At the very least, gig-workers ain’t it.

[manwe150]

(IANAL) I thought the court was required to serve more important papers (like warrants) via courier, in-person. But agreed that does lack scalability.