And now, for something completely different.
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2010/03/why-ad-blocking-is-devastating-to-the-sites-you-love.ars
Basically the site states that they are disabling the entire site for people using ad blocking software (ad blocker, no script, flash blocker etc.).
They go on to say that the use of such software is hurting their bottom line and that consumers are bad people that must be punished.
(long winded post to follow. Those seeking cliff notes or a tl;dr version, look elsewhere)
Over 300 years of advertising in American print media (magazines, newspapers, etc.)
100 years of Radio broadcasting
69 years of T.V. broadcast advertising
Some 30 years of internet advertising (both clickable and non-clickable)
and companies STILL have not figured how advertising works? Not only that, but over thousands of years of business, people have not figured out how to treat their customers?
Anything you do that annoys customers will drive them away. If i walk into a grocery store, and i have associates yelling at me "BUY THIS PRODUCT ITS ONLY $X.XX!" Then proceed to follow me around the store demanding i buy certain products (sounds a bit like Radio Shack... And I used to work there!), I'll just take my business elsewhere.
I stopped visiting certain gas stations because of the half dozen or so transients begging for change or "bus fare." Different issue, but same concept.
What is hilarious is that after all these years, managers and owners have STILL NOT figured this out. Instead they blame the consumer. "Ur doin it wrong!" NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! Look at the problem and find out why people are pissed. And people are pissed because they have 34567463 ads being shoved down their face at once. Not only that but these ads are crashing browsers, slowing down sites, and blowing out speakers (and ear drums). My neighbor does not want to hear about how Lysol kills the H1N1 virus, or how Mucinex does whatever it does. AND NEITHER DO I!
The issue is that advertisers and websites that host them seem to think that MY bandwidth and MY machine on MY end is theirs to do with as they see fit. Fuck you! You don't pay my bills!
The best thing about the internet, there is an infinite number of places i can go elsewhere for whatever content i seek.
Many of these sites are setup as hobbies. And last I checked, Hobbies were a reason to spend money, not make it.
There are other ways to make money. And if you think ads are the end all be all way to make money, 
[/rant] Here is your soapbox back. I feel better now.
Derek
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