Beethoven.com

by **Shapley** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:06 pm

Nicole,

I know you need to pay the bills, but would it be possible to screen your advertisers a bit more, and get rid of the talking pop-up ads? Fastclick gets by the pop-up blocker, which isn't that big of a deal, but it has now added a voice feature which allows the ads to assualt us verbally as well as visually. It's really annoying, and detracts from the listening pleasure of Beethoven.com.

Has anyone else noticed this?

V/R
Shapley

by **Catmando** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:06 am

Yes, I've noticed this too.

The first time it really freaked me out, as I couldn't figure out what it was, when I brushed by an icon with my mouse, there was a voice that yelled out "Hello-o!"

The second time it happened is when I realized it was one of the pop-up ads smileys.

I agree with you that they are a little annoying.

Ray

by **Nicole Marie** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:43 am

I've sent an email to Chris Larsen. He will have to go into the ad program and re-set the "rules" we tell the program to follow.

Does any one remember which ads had the "talking"?

by **barfle** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:43 am

The one with the smiley saying "hellooooo" can be retriggered several times. It's kind of fun, making it echo itself.

But, yeah, the first time I heard it, I was wondering what the heck was going on. It beats torturing insects.

by **Shapley** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:54 am

The "hello" took me a while to figure out where it was coming from, since it often activates after I've closed the window.

Besides, it sounds kind of like Nicole Marie.

V/R
Shapley

by **Shapley** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:57 am

Nicole,

No, I can't figure out which ones they are, since I usually close the window as soon as it shows up. I do know that the ad for 'smileys' is one of them. Not sure which others are doing it.

V/R
Shapley

by **CLarsen** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:09 am

Poor little smileys... nobody likes them. Anyways, they have been deleted from our ad system so the little guys shouldn't be talking over the stream any more. Sorry for the trouble. Thanks!

by **Shapley** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:37 am

Thanks, Again.

It's not that I don't like smiley's, I just don't like my computer speaking without being spoken to! It's rather rude, you know.

V/R
Shapley

by **zlosin** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:16 am

While working in my office at 3:30am, and a voice comes on saying hello, who should I send the cleaning bill to?

It scared the bejesus out of me.

by **Shapley** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:41 am

I think the talking smiley ads are part of the Wal-Mart/Chinese government/Swiss Gnome conspiracy, and that's why they have to go. Wal-Mart is infiltrating our computers, installing little door-greeters to monitor our activity. Frightening stuff!

V/R
Shapley

by **OperaTenor** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:55 pm

Originally posted by PSIP:
While working in my office at 3:30am, and a voice comes on saying hello, who should I send the cleaning bill to?
It scared the bejesus out of me.

Yes, that bejesus can really make a mess....