Comment 1 for bug 708223

I agree that this is very often a PITA. The counter argument is that it's bad etiquette (and in some places illegal) to sign people up for mailing lists without their approval (i.e. opt-out). We've so far erred on the side of requiring opt-in for mailing lists.

Maybe we need to loosen that constraint, but what conditions should apply to opt-out subscriptions? Perhaps we can inform users when they sign up for Launchpad, that their emails may get subscribed to mailing lists. We could make it even easier for them to opt-out, or we could allow people to set something in their account that would prevent someone else from subscribing them (i.e. force opt-in).

Anyway, it could use some thought, but I have also been in this situation, and I agree it's not great.