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

From: Robert Baugh <robert_at_littleredgate.com>
Date: Wed 18 Jul 2001 12:01:56 -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?

I'd suggest one of the central issues is expectation.

Many of the comments revolve around what do you expect
when you're surfing or visiting certain sites, what're
your expectations of surfing at work and the
consequences.

As you don't expect to have much control over TV or
radio - apart from changing channel or turning it
down/off - you don't expect your computer to come out
with loud sound that may embarrass you unless, that is,
you're visiting a music site, gaming site, etc.

If you had a TV at work, you'd probably keep the volume
higher if you were watching the news rather than a
music channel, because of your expectations of the
noise/content. The web is so new, and offers so many
other ways to draw our attention, we ought to expect
anything - and so keep the volume down unless you
feel confident in the site you're looking at.

The dividing line comes with practical jokes like the
"Hey everyone, I'm watching porn over here" email -
you just can't do that over other media. Not sure what
the final answer to that is (!) but the surest one
could be to leave personal exe's for a home computer
or after-hours. Bit draconian though.

Robert Baugh
Founder and CEO
Little Red Gate
PO Box 219
Balaclava VIC 3183
Melbourne, Australia

P - 61 3 9505 9061
F - 61 3 9505 9063
E - robert_at_littleredgate.com



Received on Wed Jul 18 2001 - 12:01:56 CDT