Comments for twopointouch

Comment on Lies, Damned Lies and Twitter Usage Statistics by Newsline » Blog Archive » Has Twitter Lost its Mojo?

Newsline » Blog Archive » Has Twitter Lost its Mojo? — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:32:57 +0000

[...] that doesn’t mean Twitter is a fad and is failing as was pointed out on twopointouch.com by Ian Delaney: There are at least a couple of reasons why newer users aren’t following or [...]

Comment on Ad-Block, Game Theory and The Guardian by Tim Stubson

Tim Stubson — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:34:55 +0000

Die Helden sollten sich Cirie gestimmt. Sie ist nicht die stärkste Herausforderung, aber sie ist ein Spiel-Player. Wenn sie nicht loswerden, sie bald werden sie es bereuen.

Comment on Ad-Block, Game Theory and The Guardian by Stephen Downes

Stephen Downes — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:29:40 +0000

The problem with the reasoning in this article is that it presents “sites go bust” as a bad thing. From where I sit, it’s an indifferent thing, and maybe even a good thing.

If commercially supported websites were the only content on the internet, I might be inclined to agree with the reasoning. But in fact, the majority of my favourite sites are NOT ad supported (including, I might add, my own).

In fact, from where I sit, the commercial sites distort the web, hiring dozens of writers at below minimum wage to pump out generic content and linkbait. Quality content is lost in the sea of populism.

The reason I use ad-blocker on my Firefox browser isn’t because i want to browse a bunch of commercial sites for free. It’s because the commercial sites are almost unavoidable, getting in the way when I search for proper content, and then they assault me with offensive content and multiple popups when I hit them by accident.

Comment on Goodbye, Carphone Warehouse, You Lied and Cheated by Dave Walker

Dave Walker — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:18:13 +0000

I’m not surprised this is still going on. I still feel bitter about CPW. I was sorting through some old papers a few days ago and came across my contract. At the time I cancelled with CPW I had a dreadful time escaping because I was travelling and they would only accept a window of 5 days or so in which to cancel. I argued with a woman at CPW and said that the contract was a minimum of 30 days notice, not between 30 days and 35 days. She contradicted me and I was speaking from memory so didn’t argue the point forcefully and paid in advance for instant cancellation because I was travelling a lot and couldn’t be sure that the cancellation letter would arrive within the window (they insisted on written cancellation). Too early or too late and they just ignore it and make you start all over again. Anyway, when I read the contract it says no such thing, it simply makes reference to the current termination procedure, which wouldn’t stand up in court. I really wish that I’d stuck it out and taken them to the small claims court. It’s not the money, its the pure affrontery and deception that is so annoying. I’d never, ever have anything to do with them again!

Comment on Ad-Block, Game Theory and The Guardian by mathiasbaert

mathiasbaert — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:27:50 +0000

Ads are a bit like bad breath. From my friends I tolerate it until they get it fixed. If you’re a stranger with bad breath, our conversation is not likely to be long. So default is still blocked.

Comment on Goodbye, Carphone Warehouse, You Lied and Cheated by Lindy

Lindy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:01:32 +0000

I have had a dreadful experience with Carphone Warehouse, after not receiving an upgrade as promised, I called C W and 25 min later and £4.25 poorer I had been told by one less then charming women there was no way I could expect her to know when my phone was being delivered and suggested that she could not tell when C W would be getting a delivery from the supplier – correct me if I’m wrong but surely every company even really useless company’s like C W can call a supplier and have a very basic conversation along the lines of: Hi its Dummy from C W when can we expect our next delivery, we have a client who was promised a phone today? The mobile network I have signed up with did exactly that, when I walked into the store they did not have the mobile I wanted but told me very simply that the delivery was due the next day WOW genius no? The “customer service officer” I spoke to at Carphone Warehouse refused to put me through to a manager he even suggested that I may want him to put on another voice and repeat his previous empty apologies because apparently that’s all they can do. As far as I’m concerned a customer services person who can do no more then apologise is USELESS- I had my phone on speaker phone during this conversation and everyone was as shocked as I was at the refusal, I was then put on to escalations but again was told that all they could do was apologise, what about putting people through to solutions? I have since cancelled my contract which will take 30 days to come into effect (even though the contractual period is over) and signed up with a new provider I have also managed to convince 2 other colleagues not to renew services with CW especially since the are the only service provider who take 30 days to give you your puc number. Anyone thinking of signing up with C W BEWARE and order your puc number 30 days before you leave or chose a decent provider with well trained and informed customer services

Comment on Ad-Block, Game Theory and The Guardian by Ian Delaney

Ian Delaney — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:48:23 +0000

Or maybe it ought to work the opposite way round – show ads by default, but allow you to press the big red button when publishers behave badly to get rid of them all…

Comment on Ad-Block, Game Theory and The Guardian by mathiasbaert

mathiasbaert — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:23:34 +0000

I do whitelist. But part of the “problem” is that Adblock works so well and so transparently in combination with third party managed filters. I use AdblockPlus for Firefox and an automatically updating filter made by someone else. I do not see much ads, so I tend to forget there were supposed to be ads in the first place. On the other hand, I consider the www without Adblock nearly unusable.
Perhaps I’d like Adblock to ask me whether I want to whitelist a website whenever I bookmark it.

Comment on Ad-Block, Game Theory and The Guardian by Ian Delaney

Ian Delaney — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:34:39 +0000

Thanks, Mathias. I am sure you’re right that if ads were not so objectionable then there wouldn’t be such a hunger to get rid of them. @amayfield makes a similar point in his tweet.

Not sure many people will bother whitelisting sites, though. I wonder if there are any stats available?

Comment on Ad-Block, Game Theory and The Guardian by mathiasbaert

mathiasbaert — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:11:35 +0000

If Adblock is the most popular extension, there might be something wrong with the ads. Also, Adblock lets you whitelist the websites you want to support. Problem solved.