Spam survey: 20% of U.S. surfers have buyed products from spam

For most Americans, spam is as popular as taxes and root canals. But a small cadre of contrarians look forward to junk e-mail.

One-fifth of U.S. residents acknowledge buying products from spam purveyors, according to a Yahoo Mail survey of 3,100 Internet users worldwide in May. A third said they respond to spam.

Spam-tolerant consumers say they react to the occasional product or service that catches their eye. Others respond with insults or requests to be removed from the mailing lists. Some even study messages to determine how to block them.