RE: Unwanted Audio Ads (why not just turn speakers off?)

From: Brian Shepherd <Brian.Shepherd_at_TechnologyReview.com>
Date: Tue 03 Jul 2001 10:26:17 -0500

BRIAN SHEPHERD <Brian.Shepherd_at_TechnologyReview.com> WROTE:

>* * * why don't you simply turn your sound off
>before you go surfing to entertainment sites on company
>time, or keep it off altogether?

TO WHICH MARK WELCH <markwelch_at_markwelch.com> REPLIED:

>Let me stress that as our company's Chief Strategist,
>my job includes surfing entertainment sites where we
>might want to advertise. And I mostly work alone from
>a home office, so even the "Dr. Ruth" audio (mentioned
>in another post) wouldn't get me in trouble (there are
>no kids here).

>But the real point of my post wasn't about getting
>fired: it was about who should control what I hear from
>my computer. I think it should be me, not the marketing
>team for Spielberg's latest film. I can tolerate a lot
>of attention-grabbing efforts by internet marketers,
>but shouting in my ear isn't one of them.

I hear what you're saying, but I really have to
disagree. You and only YOU control the sound on your
computer. You either have it on, or off. That being
said, you've added (or it was pre-loaded) a browser
onto that computer of yours. Remember, the computer is
a tool that enables you to use the web. By downloading
and using a browser (which is a piece of software) and
going to other sites you are no longer in control, nor
should you be. If I have an entertainment site that
you come to visit, I AM in control over what you the
visitor hears on MY site, whether that is content or
an ad. If you don't like it, then you leave, no
questions asked. Why should YOU be in control over
what you hear when you come to MY site? My site is
like my house, you're welcome to come visit, but I am
the host and in control what you see and hear. My
front door is open for you to leave if you don't like
what you see and hear. I'll be very sorry to see you
go, but that's the house rules. It's a little like me
going to http://www.markwelch.com/ and saying to you,
"Mark, I really find that little square on your site
that blinks Movie Posters, really annoying. I want you
to remove it because it encroaches on my ability to
control things that flash and blink on my computer
screen". I would expect you to say, "thanks for the
feedback, but too bad. It's part of markwelch.com"
and while I'm sorry to hear you won't come back, I'm
not removing it."

I respect your right to not like the sound, and will
defend and fight on your behalf your right to leave
and never come back. However (and this is all
hypothetical on my part as I don't own or run an
entertainment site) I think a site owner controls the
sounds you hear when you visit that site, not you.

Brian Shepherd



Received on Tue Jul 03 2001 - 10:26:17 CDT