[BC] I'net intrusive ads (WAS:WOLF-FM/ )

[Lamar Owen]

On Sunday 26 February 2006 22:46, Barry Mishkind wrote:
> At 08:32 PM 2/26/2006, WFIFeng at aol.com wrote
>
> >I don't think that the point of his objection was the ads, themselves...
> > but that they *overrode his preferences*, and forced themselves to
> > display on his system. That kind of garbage bugs the daylights out of me,
> > as
> >well... like the
>
>          Preferences? I'll bet many of your listeners' preference
>          is not to hear the constant begging for money that
>          is the hallmark of religious radio.

Uh, Barry, where did THAT come from (I've already read the rest of the thread, 
too)?

What Willie (and I) find objectionable is the overriding of user preferences.  
It's as if a radio station could change your volume control, tone/eq controls 
(although processing hash does a good job of destroying listener control of 
tone), reset your frequency presets, and change the front-back fader over top 
of the listener's settings.  Oh, and while we're at it, we disable any other 
frequencies, make it tough to change the presets back, and disable the CD 
player so they HAVE to listen to that one station (and MANY program directors 
would do this if the technology existed!).  Many websites do this; exit the 
site, and a javascript bug reopens the site in a new window.  If I find one 
of those, the blackhole goes in my border router, and I never see that site 
again.  Period.

>          What you want is a free ride.  Why don't you
>          give to your listeners what you seem to want?

As a web users, it is not my responsibility to ensure the website's business 
model.  They want to do free pages supported by ads?  Well, I am not beholden 
to support their business model.  They want to make sure I get them revenue?  
Go subscription with content worth a subscription (like the BDR, for 
instance: worth subscribing).  Simple enough.  But just like a person can get 
up out of their chair during commercials on television, or change the 
frequency during a long spotset on a radio, I don't HAVE to look at ANYONE's 
Ads.  Period.  and I will not be forced to do so.  If someone tries to force 
me, I simply do not visit their website again.  Ever (I blackhole their 
domain in my local hosts file if necessary).

Likewise, no one is forced to support the 'listener-supported' business model 
used by many religious (and other non-commercial) broadcasters.  No one is 
forcing anyone to listen.
-- 
Lamar Owen
Director of Information Technology
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute
1 PARI Drive
Rosman, NC  28772
(828)862-5554
www.pari.edu