I use Adblock.
Let's just get that out in the open.
I also happen know widespread Adblock usage is bad for internet content providers.
But, I still use Adblock.
Before I continue, for those unaware, let me explain how the internet works and why so many people make a living on it without selling anything to you.
In every business exchange- every case where someone is being given money in exchange for something- there is a customer, a seller and a product or service. In the unusual economical systems of "free" websites that still make money, well, you usually aren't the customer.
In writing this I assume you are a Facebook user, because most people are. If you aren't, imagine you are. Or think of another free website you use for anything except buying things.
Now, there is a difference between a Facebook user and a Facebook customer. You are not a Facebook customer. You are a Facebook product. We are the collected demographics that Facebook sells to anyone who has something they want to sell to us.
You will notice on Facebook that the adverts you see are usually tied to the information you give to Facebook about yourself- the whole reason Facebook cares so much about what you "like" is so their customers- the advertising agencies and marketing departments- can find customers of their own (you). Other more specialised websites usually have a more specific demographic and are sought after by anyone wishing to advertise to that demographic.
YouTube bloggers make money off their audience through adverts.
Half the webcomics I read (well, the ones that don't have lucrative merchandising gigs going) make money on adverts.
Heck, I'm using Google AdSense on this very blog to squeeze precious pennies out of the two dozen or so views I get per post.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(I refer to the Disney movie, not the original or any other adaptation. The Disney version that most people have heard of. Just FYI.)
One of my favourite icebreakers to use when making conversation with people is, "What's your favourite Disney movie?". This is a great question for many reasons. First of all I've noticed that almost everyone I've asked this to has named a different one (often titles I've totally forgotten about), their reasons can tell you a fair bit about the person you're talking to, and it can lead on to some very interesting conversations.
And for some reason on some parts of the internet, it is commonly accepted that "Make a Man out of You", from Mulan, is the best Disney song ever. The people this is commonly accepted by, oddly enough, are usually the ones who forget about Frollo's fantastic monologue song ("Hellfire") in Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Anyway. Here is where I explain why I love Hunchback so much. I will continue under the assumption that you have seen the film, though avoiding major spoilers.
One of my favourite icebreakers to use when making conversation with people is, "What's your favourite Disney movie?". This is a great question for many reasons. First of all I've noticed that almost everyone I've asked this to has named a different one (often titles I've totally forgotten about), their reasons can tell you a fair bit about the person you're talking to, and it can lead on to some very interesting conversations.
And for some reason on some parts of the internet, it is commonly accepted that "Make a Man out of You", from Mulan, is the best Disney song ever. The people this is commonly accepted by, oddly enough, are usually the ones who forget about Frollo's fantastic monologue song ("Hellfire") in Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Anyway. Here is where I explain why I love Hunchback so much. I will continue under the assumption that you have seen the film, though avoiding major spoilers.
"Start a blog", they said.
I have a blog already. This one. I just don't use it because I can't be bothered.
"They", by the way, refers to a couple of people from work (well, mostly Alex) apparently liking the things I say on Facebook. Personally I'm not sure if that's true or just an elaborate conspiracy to get me to stop cluttering their news feeds. But I like to take people at face value.
In the name of irony, I am going to blog about why I don't blog. Well, more specifically about why the things I say on Facebook wouldn't make good blog material. I can blog just fine when I can be arsed, as I am about to demonstrate.
Put simply, I have a rather specific posting style on my Facebook statuses that does not translate well to blog form. Status messages are meant to be short and sweet, limited to a sentence or two. I prefer Facebook over Twitter because it lacks the 140-character limit, but I feel the principle of posting short anecdotes still applies. Facebook, by its very format, is clearly meant to be read by people who don't want to pay attention to any single item for more than about five to ten seconds or so.
Which is why, when I post something on Facebook about things that happen during my day, I like to be brief.
And by being brief on Facebook, I've learned to have a lot of fun "enhancing" the truth.
No, no, I don't lie. I just pick specific details to emphasise- leaving out the context and presenting only the conclusion so as to properly demonstrate just how wacky and out-there it something actually is. Pepper with a little bit of snarky sarcasm and serve.
What we're left with is something that sounds interesting, and yet leaves enough to imagination that the reader will probably invent their own far more interesting version of the truth. (Or otherwise, encourage any interested parties to ask for the rest of the story.)
Now, this posting style does not lend itself well to a blog, where I'm not constrained by any limits on how brief to make my comments. Obviously a blog is no place to summarise your life in a snappy one-liner and leave it at that (well, unless it's a Tumblr "blog"). And when it comes to my life, well, I don't like talking to a whole crowd about my day, because it's usually not all that interesting, except maybe to those already invested in my life.
Maybe that's because I all but grew up on the internet- a land where most of what you say about your "feelings" and things that happened to you lately are met with "haha, nobody cares", but I've come to understand that if I want people to care about what I say, it needs to somehow be relevant or interesting to them. Something that makes a point, gives you something to think about or in any way affects you.
Like recommending that you try a cheese and strawberry sandwich.
No, seriously, go do that.
Stop wondering whether or not I put on clothes and left the house today and make yourself a cheese and strawberry sandwich. If you don't have strawberries, jam is fine too.
Go on, try it.
I'm done here.
"They", by the way, refers to a couple of people from work (well, mostly Alex) apparently liking the things I say on Facebook. Personally I'm not sure if that's true or just an elaborate conspiracy to get me to stop cluttering their news feeds. But I like to take people at face value.
In the name of irony, I am going to blog about why I don't blog. Well, more specifically about why the things I say on Facebook wouldn't make good blog material. I can blog just fine when I can be arsed, as I am about to demonstrate.
Put simply, I have a rather specific posting style on my Facebook statuses that does not translate well to blog form. Status messages are meant to be short and sweet, limited to a sentence or two. I prefer Facebook over Twitter because it lacks the 140-character limit, but I feel the principle of posting short anecdotes still applies. Facebook, by its very format, is clearly meant to be read by people who don't want to pay attention to any single item for more than about five to ten seconds or so.
Which is why, when I post something on Facebook about things that happen during my day, I like to be brief.
And by being brief on Facebook, I've learned to have a lot of fun "enhancing" the truth.
No, no, I don't lie. I just pick specific details to emphasise- leaving out the context and presenting only the conclusion so as to properly demonstrate just how wacky and out-there it something actually is. Pepper with a little bit of snarky sarcasm and serve.
What we're left with is something that sounds interesting, and yet leaves enough to imagination that the reader will probably invent their own far more interesting version of the truth. (Or otherwise, encourage any interested parties to ask for the rest of the story.)
Now, this posting style does not lend itself well to a blog, where I'm not constrained by any limits on how brief to make my comments. Obviously a blog is no place to summarise your life in a snappy one-liner and leave it at that (well, unless it's a Tumblr "blog"). And when it comes to my life, well, I don't like talking to a whole crowd about my day, because it's usually not all that interesting, except maybe to those already invested in my life.
Maybe that's because I all but grew up on the internet- a land where most of what you say about your "feelings" and things that happened to you lately are met with "haha, nobody cares", but I've come to understand that if I want people to care about what I say, it needs to somehow be relevant or interesting to them. Something that makes a point, gives you something to think about or in any way affects you.
Like recommending that you try a cheese and strawberry sandwich.
No, seriously, go do that.
Stop wondering whether or not I put on clothes and left the house today and make yourself a cheese and strawberry sandwich. If you don't have strawberries, jam is fine too.
Go on, try it.
I'm done here.
Hello Again, World
It has been a while since I posted here. Not a whole lot to say right now. Was originally planning to continue that story I started, but there's been no inspiration for the next part. Haven't forgotten about this blog though. Will update with something soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)