James Kirkpatrick's Not-So-Random Keyboard Strokes

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Posted by: James	9/25/2007 12:45 PM
I got exposed to just another example of how much advertising is seeping into our life. I went to my bank’s ATM yesterday and was exposed to an ad during the process. Before I could select “Get your card back”, I had to read an ad carefully to make sure I pressed the proper “Please don’t charge me $25 for whatever service you’re offering” button (this is a touch-screen ATM). If I’m using my bank’s own ATM, I’m not fond of this latest intrusion into our lives. Most of us are “nickeled and dimed” with various surcharges unless you’re careful and this is my bank’s latest foray into trickery and legal thievery. It’s bad enough when you’re in line at the ATM and you have slow users in front of you. Whether it’s because they are elderly, have poor eyesight, are slow readers, or just plain dumb, the last thing I want is for these buttbrains to have to decipher another screen before they get their card back. With this marketing screen being blatantly designed to trick you into selecting the option that debits your account, I’m sure there have been quite a few “victims” so far in the few days since they’ve rolled this one out to customers. Do I want to deny a bank, or any business for that matter, the right to increment their revenue? Absolutely not; but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. Am I annoyed at the new “splash” ads that are now moving across the bottom of my TV screen advertising a channel’s other shows? Of course, but I also find it a small price to pay as long as I can forward through every commercial on my DVR. I know this functionality will soon be disabled for any users who don’t know how to hack their DVR, so I’m enjoying this while it lasts. Believe me; the disabling of a DVR user’s ability to fast forward through commercials is coming sooner than you think. In the meantime, I will try not to be annoyed at every little intrusion, every little inroad, every little whittling away of non-advertising space that Madison Avenue has managed to seep into all our lives. I hate to say I’ll go down without swinging but it sure seems like total surrender to the marketing cylons and total assimilation to their intrusiveness is inevitable. This rant was brought to you by NO ONE.

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Re: Resistance is futile	By Meatball on 9/25/2007 12:55 PM
Well, I'm still using an "ancient" (3 years old) ReplayTV system for my main DVR. It's completely hackable ... but if it ever gives up the ghost and I've gotta use a normal one ... well, that's what torrenting TV shows is for. :)

Re: Resistance is futile	By Luddite on 9/25/2007 1:25 PM
I'll go back to my damn VCR if I can't foward through commercials on the DVR!!!

Re: Resistance is futile	By KB's on 9/25/2007 1:30 PM
I have read that they are toying with the idea of tossing up ads while the DVR is in pause mode and while you are FF/REW. I find that to be an acceptable alternative.

Re: Resistance is futile

By James on 9/25/2007 1:34 PM

KB, I guess that might be partially acceptable except for 3 things. 1 - If you're only pausing or fast forwarding 10 seconds, will the inserted commercial also end? Methinks not. 2 - I wonder how big the ad would be? Would it make it difficult to actually see your recorded show in the background to notice when the show starts up again while fast forwarding? 3 - Even if they do this, you can bet your arse they won't end the splashy ads midshow on your screen.

Re: Resistance is futile	By Blaser on 9/25/2007 2:19 PM
Why do drive-up ATM's have brail on them?

Re: Resistance is futile

By KB's on 9/25/2007 3:45 PM

Here is a quote from an I recently read about the Tivo ads. Ahhh, now your tivo will help send you junk mail, if you let it. TiVo officials say that starting in March users will begin to see static images, such as a company logo, appear on their television screens as they fast-forward through commercials. The billboard-like ads -- which will last about four seconds for a fast-forwarded 30-second spot -- may offer giveaways or links to other ads. Viewers could choose to provide some advertisers with their contact data in order to get more direct marketing.

Re: Resistance is futile	By Ian on 9/25/2007 5:11 PM
Good point to ponder, Blaser! Kind of like 7-11 stores in New York City. I once asked them why if they're open 24/7 365 days each year, do they have locks on the doors?

Re: Resistance is futile

By Donna on 9/25/2007 6:00 PM

I got annoyed when I was asked to set up my personal profile when using my banks new ATM. Now the ads appear and I'm waiting until it has completed before I can begin my transaction .... well.....grrrrr.... I'll get over it in the short term but if the damn thing asks me if I would like to hear this ad in English press 1 and Spanish press 2 - - - Fuck the machines!! I will use the cashback while shopping in the supermarket as my only ATM. /rant

Never give up! Never. Never. Never. Never!

By Syl's turn! on 9/26/2007 10:02 AM

Oh me? I simply detest advertising in all it's relentless and heinous forms. Hate it. In fact 'sonzabitches' is a refrain for me- it's what I say when I am accosted by the attempt at persuasion. A couple days ago they started to pull ads over my neighborhood in a biplane. Hate it - don't EVER buy Geico. (check) Don't ever buy Head On. (check) Don't ever buy all the completely unnecessary bullshit crap such as - one example: battery operated and timed release of a squirting horrid spray stink dispenser. Douches. -- And I use that word pejoratively and as an adjective for the advertisers, not just to dis their completely unnecessary product that implies a woman's body is not a natural self-cleaning body that can take care of itself as it has for millenniums. <><><><><><><><><><><><> How many more age defying creams will be seen rubbed into a seamless 22 year old model's face, how many more times can I see that sponsor's ad before they're blocked from my world. I'm also not very tolerant of advertising even if it brings me my morning paper every day... :¬) How many more children will think they absolutely need that 50% fructose corn syrup soft/fruit drink, that Happy Meal, that empty-of-nutrition snack cake, sugar soaked cereal, that branded lunch pail, that certain toy - I tell you advertising is flat out *disgusting* to me with it's influence and many parents just don't see it. I certainly hate how the children's ads use children as pawns to manipulate other children's ideas. Insidious. Evil. Bad. The Shell gas stations here (Tim has a truck, I still have no car - hooray!) are now forcing you to view ads on the pump before it starts - never buy Shell. (check) And oh -- for the love of God don't buy any politicians soft money ads - already appearing in the aren't-we-so-active-city-here-SF. Propositions and activism means I've already seen Demo and Republican attack ads (do I need to say they were not sponsored by moveon.org?) There's a Prop to divide our large number of electoral votes - lawd stop them...and stop the freakin' pharmaceutical companies from spending all their 'research' money on advertising and free samples and sponsored giveaways to our medical professionals. AAAaaaaaaaaaaaAAAaaargh. I want to be a pirate and start swashbuckling and slicing things up with a sword. Finally - hey James - was that my nerve you just hit? [Well Syl - just one of them....there are others that are just as easily exposed.] We now return to your regularly scheduled blog reading. Damn commercials - why are they even ON cable - you're paying for that...oh wait - save that one. Never give up, never never never. Fight the influence.

Re: Hell no, I'm not buying that	By Syl's turn! on 9/26/2007 10:04 AM
See Donna - now that's a rant. hee hee!

Re: Resistance is futile	By Syl's turn! on 9/26/2007 10:07 AM
To Ian:<br><br>The 7/11 stores have locks on their doors because they are supposed to lock thieves & gunmen inside while they wait for police to arrive to arrest them. HAHAHAHahahahaaaaaaa - seriously.

Always - Resistance	By Syl - oh who can stop me now? on 9/26/2007 11:44 AM
Destroy the lobbyists.

Re: Resistance is futile	By Muuurph on 9/26/2007 1:51 PM
Would what Sylly just done be called a "blogjack"?<br><br>I think someone has some issues...

Re: Resistance is futile	By Ian on 9/26/2007 2:24 PM
Hey Syl- What thieves? LOL! Back when I was growing up, the crime rate was zero-our local police station was only open during the day- they closed their doors at 5 p.m.

Re: Resistance is futile	By James on 9/26/2007 2:42 PM
Good ol' Thiells, NY - Birthplace of our 50th president. :)

Re: Resistance is futile	By James on 9/26/2007 2:43 PM
I don't mind the blogjack. I love to see hate. Rant on and on and on. Love is for teenagers on ecstasy and has no place on my blog.

Re: Resistance is futile	By Ian on 9/26/2007 5:33 PM
Just remember- hate is not the opposite of love; it's indifference- little factoid for you!

Re: Resistance is futile	By Ian on 9/26/2007 5:35 PM
Well, now we have 24 hour police, but still much lower crime rate than in good ol' city of Hamtramck;)

Re: Resistance is futile	By Ian on 9/26/2007 5:54 PM
And very impressive that you remember Thiells:) Do you remember the date of your last visit? (7/19/92)

Resist at all costs - your integrity could be at stake

By Syl on 9/26/2007 10:45 PM

You're sweet Muuuuurph. On other earlier occasions I have directly offered to shorten my posts and have been met with the our lovely blogger's dismay. Sometimes it's just 'on' for me, the man himself has sent me Lalooooser idiot-speak links so I could spout in personal emails. I'm a lucky, opinionated and passionate girl. I'm a fantastically fun drinker. :¬) Wait - am I still boycotting emoticons and their use? <><><><><><><><><><><> Um. Speaking of fuller disclosure: Should I mention that I worked as a Production Manager in the advertising industry for 7+ years...? I'm skewed. <>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> My longer posts used to look better with the you know.

Re: Resistance is futile	By Syl on 9/26/2007 10:56 PM
Hamtramck - that just rolls off the tongue/lips with a thud.<br><br>In my little hometown, my sister's friend's dad was a county Sheriff and the Cop (yes, THE cop) was busy with burglary reports and teenage daytime break-ins, and maybe street fights outside the bars - plural - on weekends.

Re: Resistance is futile	By James on 9/27/2007 9:24 AM
Double full disclosure - not only did Syl work in the ad industry, I worked for her as a freelancer taking photos of billboards throughout metro Atlanta. I sent her photos, she sent me money, I spent the money on alcohol - it was a wonderful circle of life.

Re: Resistance is futile	By KB's on 9/27/2007 9:50 AM
So... James was Syl's cheap whore.

Re: Resistance is recent	By Syl on 9/27/2007 11:19 AM
Oh my - I'm starting to feel a little warm. Gracious. I'm sure that if he'd been my cheap whore we would have had a few drinks together by now. But he's pricey (airplane ticket-wise) - even though he's in a bad part of the nation!

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