patricktaylor wrote:Whilst I don't want ads on here, I don't mind them in the magazine.
This has me thinking about my reasons for disliking ads on the web but tolerating them in print.
Partly tradition, of course, newspapers and magazines have always had them, although 'quality' publications take care to prevent the layout of ads becoming too obtrusive.
Some problems on the web might be:
Screen size is often limited, particularly on tablets & smart phones. Ads are incredibly intrusive on small screens, also expensive and time wasting for people paying for mobile access.
Ads are more distracting on a bright back-lit display. They tend to go for bright colours to seek attention. This is particularly at odds with a cool textual site like this.
Animated ads are an abomination of t'devil.
The entire focus of a site such as this is peer-to-peer comment & advice. People are friendly, helpful, honest and open. This is at odds with advertisers trying to seduce us for profit.
I am reminded of a quotation from a poem by e e cummings: "a salesman is an it who stinks excuse ... "
Nick