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More Ups and Downs

© Brian Hughes

Or more particularly this week, down with popups.

A couple of weeks ago I had something to say on the subject of advertising... you know, that which makes the world go round. At times like this I appreciate the fact that I don't have either a marketing or advertising background, so I can't really be accused of biting the hand that feeds me.

Revenue derived from companies that wish to promote their goods and services put a lot of food on a lot of tables and in many mouths but the advertising industry does have this nasty habit of pushing it's luck.

I was also heard to say that unlike commercial TV which thrives on the principle of "normal programming will be resumed shortly" the print media gives you the option of reading ads. or totally ignoring them. The same could be said of the Internet and the vast majority of commercial websites who depend on advertising income for their continued existence.

Whether we pay attention or not to banner ads. on the top of web pages the vast majority of them do ring cash register bells and if there are enough visitors surfing around a site they can not only put bread and butter on a table, but the odd dessert as well.

Subtle and unobtrusive aren't words that come to mind with Internet advertising but at most times it is possible to focus and concentrate on the content of a particular page as well as choose which pages are viewed.

Unfortunately it looks to me as if an increasing use is being made of popup ads which open up in a new browser window of varying sizes. Even worse, somebody invented a new type with a fancy name ; Exit Consoles which open a new window when you leave a site... which open a new window when you close that... and so on. You will see extreme cases where new windows open faster than you can close them until, if you're lucky, only your browser crashes.

Let me make my position clear. I hate this type of "in your face" advertising with a total passion and would reserve a very special form of cruel and inhuman punishment for those who practice it. How could anybody be stupid enough to believe there is any merit in it?

Thankfully their is contra- technology available to combat this evil and much of it is freeware. Take a look at this list of Internet Utilities and you will see a selection of these "popup killers."