rabid1st

This is what I think of as an abbreviated LiveJournal style. It seems to be different, somehow. But I know it has been many years since I was a regular on LiveJournal, so perhaps I am simply comparing it unfairly to newer tech.

But the fact is that new tech really bugs me. I like a simple interface. I don't like loads of random crap happening. And I especially don't like a steep learning curve on a comparatively simple urge to talk about my cat or take photos of some flowers in my yard or call someone and leave a message.

When it comes to random crap and ads and political rants, I suppose I have some experience with Twitter, back when it was Twitter. And Instagram. And Tumblr. I like to have the assorted interests just drift by my face sometimes. Cute Dog. Jorts. Famous writer. Advert for cleansing facial lotions. Strange Diet Guru. Recipe for bunny shaped cupcakes.

We have a reading page here. I could use a few more posts on it, but I suppose I must give to receive.

So, here I am feeling nostalgic and maybe hopeful that people might finally be fed up with Tech Bros keeping us from having nice things.

Okay, I'm a cooperative citizen of the consumer culture. I don't mind paying for things. I think television shows are products and I want to support my favorite brands. Show me an ad for a Buick Regal. Heck, show me two.

I turn up as requested at 8/9 central to support shows I enjoy. And I consider their ads, so that they can pay their actors and writers and stay on the air. But, I've spoken to you before (ranted to you?) about the obtrusive network logos all over the products I am trying to enjoy. It's like buying cornflakes and having some guy constantly interrupt you as you eat them with a pitch about raisin bran. Just let me eat my frakkin' cornflakes, dude. I've made a decision to support the cornflake manufacture. I will get to other brands. Certainly, tell me they exist if you must. But stop annoying me during the cornflake consumption. And tomorrow I might well decide to also buy raisin bran...but not if it means I must endure this constant interrupting. OKAY?

SIGH!

Anyway, so...more and more I elect to watch shows online just to avoid the heavy handed network advertising that has made viewing such a chore. Now, some of the networks are becoming savvy to the online market of Hulu and are forcing me to go to their website to watch.

Still..I'm easy...I go with that. I am then assuming that I will be bombarded with info on shows I don't really want to watch. All around my screen stars will be dancing and Dano will be drawing his weapon before a monster wave hits him and turns him into a wet t-shirt model. I accept that I will be force fed a product advert for a product I have no intention of ever buying. That's a price I am willing to pay. And I will watch an ad or two with a happy smile on my face, because even though I am a captive audience, I think it is only fair to pay for the viewing convenience.

But...just now...I went to the CW to catch up on America's Next Top Model and they made me watch 4 ads in a row. That's 4 before I gave up and wrote an angry feedback memo...and came here to rant. Lord knows how many they were hoping to make me watch.

Let me be clear about this...America's Next Top Model...isn't a show I particularly prize. I don't really care if I don't watch it. I've missed the first three episodes this season without a qualm.But, it's a slow Sunday night. So, I thought I might catch up on it and maybe if I enjoy what I see, I might watch the rest of it this season.

Follow me here. I am a viewer that MIGHT watch their show on network, where they can sell loads more advertising. All they have to do is get me caught up on the show so far and they have a new viewer. A good deal for them. But was before I was hit with this extreme greed on their part. Now, ANTM and its parent network can go straight to hell for all I care. They have seriously overestimated how much patience I can spare America's Next Top Model.

And, OMG, network profits are down, ratings are down? Why is that? Could it be because television is practically unwatchable? I truly believe the main reason our economy is tanking is that nobody making a product in this country has any respect for their customers. Television viewers are there not to buy mouthwash but to watch a television show. Networks exploit us for profit. And we are, more and more, simply deciding we can do without the crap they are trying to sell to us.

Le Pant! Le Gasp!

Sorry! But I really feel very strongly that what we need in this country is a decent product for the people. Hire enough employees, pay them a decent wage, charge what the product is ACTUALLY worth and stop being such complete assholes to your customers.

Rae

I have had occasion before to rant about the offensive network logos and promos that run over the top of our programs. I believe these sort of obstructions to viewing pleasure cost the networks viewership and also encourage program piracy. A few weeks ago NBC ran some very offensive Despicable Me advertising across the bottom of shows. The little annoying guys would dance and drag huge obstructive signs across the program I was trying to watch. Result? I changed my mind about seeing Despicable Me. I had planned to go see it, but the offensive ads made me tell my sister I would rather just stay home and she could save her money. So they lost two viewers. I also stopped watching NBC for the duration and watched my shows on HULU.

Tonight, the season finale of Whale Wars, which I had been looking forward to for weeks and which I would share with both my companion and my sister (neither of them would watch on their own)...was ruined by the Animal Planet logo. I literally had to turn the damned thing off after 10 minutes. I could not stand having that huge block lettering plastered across the action. They made the classic offensive mistake of placing the three inch square blight in the upper right part of the screen. This meant that it was right over the faces of the people in the show. WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY THINKING?

It is time to stop watching shows that do this sort of crap. Who is with me? Networks need to stop pissing all over television like this. They can't seem to stop marking their territory. It's only gotten this bad in the last few years. It's one thing to protect your property with some kind of logo. It is quite another matter to make watching a show a trial to the viewer. I mean, I don't really care if Animal Planet stays on the air or not. I want a particular product from them...and I don't see why I should put up with their self-aggrandizing ruining the very thing I've given them ratings points to experience. I'm there for the program. If they can't deliver it, someone else will.