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Internet advertising. Gods, is it irritating. Advertising generally is a cause of annoyance in many homes, but on the Internet the irritation is doubled. Every time I see a pop-up window I want to take the person who first programmed it and strangle him by his bollocks.
What, so because I see a cartoon in a skirt when I'm checking my email, I'm suddenly going to rush onto eBay and buy some tampons? Get real. All it makes me do is scowl and click past the advert faster. If any effect is caused then it's going to be negative - no woman want to think about things like that, even if the issue is current. She'll just go to the shop, choose a pretty packet or a well-known brand and remove herself from that particular aisle as quickly as possible. And seeing adverts like that is hardly good for men. I've noticed two reactions to adverts like this, firstly my boyfriend's, who pretend not to see it and goes a hideous shade of red whilst clicking on anything to change the screen, or secondly my brother's who snickers at it and carries on, but the next time his friend is over and you've lost your hair dryer, he'll smile sweetly at you and whisper in a carrying tone "Don't worry mate, she's on the blob" or something equally eloquent.
What, so because I see a cartoon in a skirt when I'm checking my email, I'm suddenly going to rush onto eBay and buy some tampons? Get real. All it makes me do is scowl and click past the advert faster. If any effect is caused then it's going to be negative - no woman want to think about things like that, even if the issue is current. She'll just go to the shop, choose a pretty packet or a well-known brand and remove herself from that particular aisle as quickly as possible. And seeing adverts like that is hardly good for men. I've noticed two reactions to adverts like this, firstly my boyfriend's, who pretend not to see it and goes a hideous shade of red whilst clicking on anything to change the screen, or secondly my brother's who snickers at it and carries on, but the next time his friend is over and you've lost your hair dryer, he'll smile sweetly at you and whisper in a carrying tone "Don't worry mate, she's on the blob" or something equally eloquent.
Neither of these reactions act to endear me to either party – I end up either praying for strength and throttling my brother or rolling my eyes because my boyfriend is such a (there really is no other word for it) sissy.
But it’s not just these adverts that pee me off. My next complaint? Charity adverts. These not only annoy me but upset me as well. It’s not my fault animals and children are abused or that there’s a drought somewhere so a village of African people is dying. I cannot do anything, so ruining my day by making me feel guiltily for the things me or my parents work hard to earn has no effect. Sure, I give to charity. My friends laugh at me when we go into town and I buy food because I nearly always end up sharing it with a tramp, I spent all last summer working in a charity shop for children and I help out at two youth groups. I’m seventeen, poor and time is all I can spare for these causes, so why make me feel bad? An advert like this actually made my little cousin of nine cry, but I think people like her and me are the only ones who notice them. Now, I’m not vegetarian or one of these ‘Save-The-whales’ types, I’m just human, and it’s that human empathy that makes me feel for these poor creatures.
I detest the makers of these adverts only slightly less that what they are fighting against – they are too extreme, and it’s this thoughtless extremity of belief that leads to things like suicide bombers. Also, this type of people are the same type that post shocking ‘Meat is murder’ propaganda videos on places like YouTube under the names of popular songs and shows. I was physically sick when I saw one of these. And it’s not like I don’t have heavy morals on animal rights and welfare. My form tutor last year actually banned any discussion of the former after a particularly lengthy lashing at the end of my tongue.
I’m not saying that all advertising is bad here. No, used well it is a powerful tool that can really help flagging internet-based businesses, but misused it is a irritating, pointless and on occasion disturbing.
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