RE: Unwanted Audio Ads (why not just turn speakers off?)
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:
>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.
What one person considers <<shouting>>, another
person enjoys. The posited logic that each viewer
should control what she or he hears from his/her
computer, and <<not the marketing team for Spielberg's
latest film>> is inscrutable. Can you imagine if each
Web operator had to design a Web site to fulfill the
specific inclinations of each viewer? Would we refuse
to enter an elevator and instead walk up 60 flights
because we haven't chosen to listen to Muzak? Do we
refuse to shop at our conveniently located supermarket
because it plays music that just might not please our
standards?
Why should the Internet be locked in to standards of
operation we don't even give a second thought to in
the physical world? We have enough problems developing
sites and applications with proper customer servicing
and tons of wasted hours resolving third-party browser
bugs, etc., without also having to design to each
person's personal likes and dislikes.
Mr. Shepherd very sanely points out that as viewers,
we *are* in control -- we have the choice of staying
or leaving, or turning the sound off.
Carmen Paulino
Received on Tue Jul 10 2001 - 10:36:33 CDT
