The Advertising Police

Greg Stuart, the head of the Interactive Advertising Bureau, an online advertising trade association, insists, "Users must accept the quid pro quo of advertising. They're getting something for free or at a reduced cost. Blocking ads violates that implied contract!" He must be talking to Jamie Kellner, the CEO of Turner Broadcasting, who used the same lame rationale about ad skipping and TiVo. Baloney!

Are you obligated to read every single ad in a magazine or newspaper or watch every commercial on television? Of course not! And Internet ads are more intrusive and offensive than advertising in any other media. Suppose you were reading your favorite magazine and when you turned the page, one of those perfumed inserts popped up and squirted you in the eye. That's what some Internet advertising reminds me of!

For every technology, there's a counter-technology. Some sites aggressively block ad blockers! In 2001, a German company called mediaBEAM developed AdKEY, software that knows if a browser has loaded ad graphics. If AdKEY determines a visitor is using ad-blocking software, it prevents them from entering the site. Shortly thereafter, a German hacking group called the Anti-AdKEY Initiative released details on how users could counter mediaBEAM's technology. The hackers, who mocked the system as "amateurish," said they were able to compromise AdKEY with only a few hours of experimentation and posted their workaround across the Internet. Some things will never change. That's what I love about hackers!

I personally don't block most ads. I allow banners ads, skyscrapers, and animations. I use ZoneAlarm Pro, which has a powerful array of privacy features, so I could block them if I chose. I don't because I love advertising. What I truly detest is badvertising!