Re: TalkBack: Pop-up ads are driving me nuts!  
 From: Wayne Brown  13:34 GMT on: 05/29/2001 
 
 
POP-UP ADS...THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN IN INTERNET ADVERTISING. 
THEY STARTED ON THE PORN SITES, THEN GRADUATED TO THE LOTTOS. WHAT I 
WANT TO KNOW IS, IF I HAVE TO PAY A KAZILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR MY 
INTERNET SERVICE, WHY MUST I BE SUBJECTED TO MORE AND MORE ADVERTS? 

I GOT FM RADIO TO ESCAPE THE COMMERCIALISM AND GUESS WHAT? I NO 
LONGER LISTEN TO COMMERCIAL RADIO.

I GOT CABLE TO AVOID COMMERCIALS AND SURE ENOUGH, I NO LONGER WATCH 
THE NETWORKS.

I DESIGN MY OWN WEB PAGES AND I SPECIFICALLY AVOID POP-UP ADS. FOR 
THAT MATTER, MY ADS ARE SEGREGATED FROM 90% OF MY WEB PAGE CONTENT. 
FURTHERMORE, I ONLY ALLOW SPECIFIC ADS FROM COMPANIES WHICH HAVE 
GIVEN ME POSITIVE EXPERIENCES, ON MY PAGES. MY AD REVENUE GARNERS 
ME SOME SLIGHT CLICK-THROUGH PROFIT AND THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.

SO WHY AM I SUBJECTED TO OBNOXIOUS ADS CONSTANTLY WHILE SURFING? 
SIMPLE...THE AMERICAN PREOCCUPATION WITH THAT VICIOUS PREDATOR...
"CAPITALIST CARNIVORUS".

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ADS PROMOTING SERVICES LIKE VIDEOS, 
CD'S, DVD'S, SOFTWARE, ETC. WHAT REALLY IRKS ME ARE THE ADS FOR 
MLM'S, COOKIE-CUTTERS, PYRAMID SCHEMES, CASINO GAMBLING, ETC. WHICH 
ARE ILLEGAL IN THE COMMON MARKET, OR AT THE VERY LEAST UNETHICAL.

THERE ARE THREE LEGAL WAYS TO MAKE MONEY ON THE NET. EITHER THROUGH 
CLICK-THROUGHS, MEMBERSHIPS, OR ACTUAL SALES.

SO, IF THESE ADS ARE TARGETING MY "SPECIAL INTERESTS", WHY WHEN 
PLAYING A FREE LOTTO AND BY THE VERY NATURE OF THE GAME, VISITING 
THEIR PAID SPONSORS; WHY AM I ASSAILED WITH POP-UP ADS FOR "FREE 
PANTY HOSE", OR "TRIPS TO CANCUN", OR "WALL STREET INVESTMENT 
SCAMS", OR "HOW TO SPY ON YOUR NEIGHBOR", ETC.

A SURE-FIRE WAY TO GET ME TO AVOID YOUR PRODUCT, OR REMOVE IT FROM 
MY SELECTED LISTS, IS TO INUNDATE ME WITH UNSOLICITED ADVERTISING. 
IF YOUR BUSINESS IS SO HUNGRY FOR REVENUE, THEN PERHAPS YOU SHOULD 
LOWER YOUR PRICES, OR RE-THINK YOUR PRODUCTS' IMPACT, OR GO BELLY-UP 
AND START FLIPPING BURGERS.     

I FIND IT IRONIC THAT THE X-RATED WEB SITES ARE MORE CONSUMER-FRIENDLY 
THAN THE "MAKE ME A MILLION" SCAM SITES. AT LEAST THEY TARGET MY 
INTERESTS.

IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU WHAT I'VE ALWAYS SAID: "NOT ALL OF THE 
WHORES ARE ON THE STREET CORNER".