I realize that the need to "monetize" or somehow pay for your interesting and worthwhile content is a critical component of your web world.
That said, when you throw the door open to this kind of craptastic "promoted content," any incremental money earned only comes at the cost of damage to the credibility of anything you choose to say.
In fact, I have been known to not direct traffic to a page or article because of this sort of schlockery.
Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.
(Dear Web Sites I Despise … pay no attention to the above.)
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What? You don't appreciate a stormy sleep aid?
Yep. When that stuff shows up I close the tab and go look elsewhere.
I agree. This stuff is appearing in more and more places, and becoming more and more frustrating.
Yeah, I try not to share pages with that crap.
The weirdest one I get is Mary Berry.
She is a judge on ‘The Great British Bake Off’ (you have Glenn Beck, we have cake competitions). Shes 80 this year, but still sprightly.
Someone has decided the best way to market their product is to ‘shop her to make her REALLY wrinkled, then promote an anti-wrinkle cream with the picture “This 70 [sic] year old grandmother looks 40 after one Crazy trick!”
I’m assuming this is placed by Johnny Foriegner – Do you really think the British are not going to notice one of the most famous women in Britain?
One increasing bugbear is auto play video ads. Its bad enough when the laptop freezes, but how long are people going to 3g/4g websites that eat data allowances?