I agree entirely. There might be an Advertizers section/set of pages, where you could find out about specific advertizers, their products, the company. The ads would then point to that, rather than the actual advertizer's site...
Just exactly how does it help slashdot to put ad huge giant blinking ad at the top of every page?
They need money, true. They need money to buy more bandwidth to server more ads... Humm.
Ok. What if I consider the value of slashdot to me to be to the tune of $3 per year? How do I pay that? Do I make monthly payments of $0.4? Do I make a lump sum payment of $3? Do I negate that three bux because they subjected me to the flashing demons at the top who want to sell me overpriced junk?
Essentially, Slashdot is trying to make money from readers, in order to pay for operations.
I think it's a worthy goal, but,
If I want to buy a mouse, I go to my local dealer.
If I want a car I go to my local dealer.
If I want a box of cereal, I go to my local dealer.
I even go to the local bookstore to buy a book. Don't take me wrong, I like Amazon and stuff, but I like to take it out of the shelf, leaf through it, read the chapter headings, some text, and decide if I like it. At that point, I can pay for it, and presto, I am at the coffee shop next door, reading my new book, sipping on some latté.
So, I just absolutely ignore the ads. I mean, I don't even know they are there. I think of them as the back arrow on my toolbar. Ever since I use ALT left-arrow, I just tune it out completely.
It's sort of like breathing. If I feel like controlling my breathing, I can, but no more than a few minutes, and you know what, I go months without doing it...
Now, there are a few things I like to look at (besides Porn-which I don't pay for). They are:
CNN.com
ZDNET.com (and they'd better cut out those huge ads, I hate them)
Slashdot.com
Hotmail.com (I know I know)
my own web site, when I feel like being creative.
And that's it.
Would I pay for anything on the net? No.
Would I stop going to a web site because it annoyed me with just too many ads, bad content, and tried to charge me? You bet.
OK. So what would I pay for?
I recently paid 2 bux to http://www.useit.com/ via the amazon micropayment thingy because I really like what the man has to say. I even bought his $45 book (again, at my local store).
Why?
Content.
That's all.
As far as having to pay for bandwith, I disagree. Make your site cleaner, meaning, keep your HTML as close to W3 recommended style as possible, have zero graphics (that'll really chafe Adobe), and get rid of all fancy design. In my opinion, a page that needs more than 25k is being wasteful somewhere.
On the ad thing, I would prefer a hyperlink and a description, sort of like: Visit www.somesponsor.com and learn about the new gizmo to anything else.
Remember, if I want to get bombarded with ads, I go to the supermarket or the mall. I use the web to learn, not be treated like a sheep. Bleeehhh.
The french political system is abysmally crooked. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that AOL France had tipped the scale with a golden franc in the right place... I mean, AOL really can control who can go where and who can't. But don't be disappointed about not finding the link, the french are also very good about keeping information from the public eye. Oh, and my folks (I was born in France) did suffer during the war, but thanks to American GIs, I didn't have to learn German in school, and I am immensely grateful for that.
On another note, this whole polemic on the inherent incapability of countries to regulate content (information) on the internet is simply wonderful. It outlines the need to reform what people consider to be "countries".
Slashdot Mirror
Just a thought
Just exactly how does it help slashdot to put ad huge giant blinking ad at the top of every page?
They need money, true. They need money to buy more bandwidth to server more ads... Humm.
Ok. What if I consider the value of slashdot to me to be to the tune of $3 per year? How do I pay that? Do I make monthly payments of $0.4? Do I make a lump sum payment of $3? Do I negate that three bux because they subjected me to the flashing demons at the top who want to sell me overpriced junk?
Essentially, Slashdot is trying to make money from readers, in order to pay for operations.
I think it's a worthy goal, but,
If I want to buy a mouse, I go to my local dealer.
If I want a car I go to my local dealer.
If I want a box of cereal, I go to my local dealer.
I even go to the local bookstore to buy a book. Don't take me wrong, I like Amazon and stuff, but I like to take it out of the shelf, leaf through it, read the chapter headings, some text, and decide if I like it. At that point, I can pay for it, and presto, I am at the coffee shop next door, reading my new book, sipping on some latté.
So, I just absolutely ignore the ads. I mean, I don't even know they are there. I think of them as the back arrow on my toolbar. Ever since I use ALT left-arrow, I just tune it out completely. It's sort of like breathing. If I feel like controlling my breathing, I can, but no more than a few minutes, and you know what, I go months without doing it...
Now, there are a few things I like to look at (besides Porn-which I don't pay for). They are:
And that's it.
Would I pay for anything on the net? No.
Would I stop going to a web site because it annoyed me with just too many ads, bad content, and tried to charge me? You bet.
OK. So what would I pay for?
I recently paid 2 bux to http://www.useit.com/ via the amazon micropayment thingy because I really like what the man has to say. I even bought his $45 book (again, at my local store).
Why?
Content.
That's all.
As far as having to pay for bandwith, I disagree. Make your site cleaner, meaning, keep your HTML as close to W3 recommended style as possible, have zero graphics (that'll really chafe Adobe), and get rid of all fancy design. In my opinion, a page that needs more than 25k is being wasteful somewhere.
On the ad thing, I would prefer a hyperlink and a description, sort of like: Visit www.somesponsor.com and learn about the new gizmo to anything else.
Remember, if I want to get bombarded with ads, I go to the supermarket or the mall. I use the web to learn, not be treated like a sheep. Bleeehhh.
Ooops, wrong world.
hehe
The french political system is abysmally crooked. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that AOL France had tipped the scale with a golden franc in the right place... I mean, AOL really can control who can go where and who can't. But don't be disappointed about not finding the link, the french are also very good about keeping information from the public eye. Oh, and my folks (I was born in France) did suffer during the war, but thanks to American GIs, I didn't have to learn German in school, and I am immensely grateful for that. On another note, this whole polemic on the inherent incapability of countries to regulate content (information) on the internet is simply wonderful. It outlines the need to reform what people consider to be "countries".