[LINK] Fwd: Re: Unusable Web-Site

[Ivan Trundle]

On 16/07/2007, at 2:42 PM, Roger Clarke wrote:

> At 14:28 +1000 16/7/07, Ivan Trundle wrote:
>>  ... SafariBlock ... AdBlock ... Safari Stand ...
>> Leave the web managers in their own world, seeking funding from  
>> companies who believe that this type of advertising is effective.
>
> Unfortunately it's a solution that doesn't scale.  I can spend some  
> time and do such things, but it doesn't fix the problem for other  
> users.

Other users might not see it as a problem, though.

I have teenage children who have no problems viewing four kinds of  
media all at the same time, and digesting the 'important' bits  
according to their preferences. They're not unique, by any means.

Nonetheless, at what point does an advertisement move from being 'eye- 
catching' to 'annoying'? And for which age group?

Ultimately, marketing forces will push as hard as they can, and those  
of us who are unable to find their own solutions will become part of  
the consumer populace that currently enjoy billboard ads, read  
magazines for the advertisements, etc.

> We need an Internet Consumers Association that works on - and in  
> conjunction with - IIA, AIIA and marketing and advertising industry  
> associations, to get the messages through to marketers and  
> advertisers.

Marketing associations are unlikely to introduce a standard which  
limits the reach or effectiveness of advertising. However, the  
current federal government would probably support self-regulation of  
this nature, thus guaranteeing a code with no teeth, and no impact.

I believe that the solution IS scalable: and neatly so: those  
inclined to accept advertising will blithely let it roll in, whereas  
those of us who dislike it (or find it too distracting) will find  
ways to block it.

Disclosure: I've worked in the publishing industry long enough to  
know that advertising is needed, but most print-based media knows the  
acceptable level of advertising that can support a print publication.  
There are no standards or limits, however, on how distracting the  
advertising can be in print, but all publishers know what happens  
when the boundaries are pushed (readership drops - unless you're  
publishing 'The Trading Post').

I'm not sure where the web fits in, or if it requires any advertising  
regulation or codification at all.

iT