Commentsby
Bob Brandon....
Dear
Dr. Bombay,
Thank
God I've finally consulted a professional. For years, friends and
casual aquaintences have accused me of being half-baked and semi-literate.
Now I have it on the professional authority of Dr. Bombay. The incident
that led to my diagnosis happened a few weeks ago when I eagerly turned
to my favorite section (and your's) of the local newspaper: Dr.
Emilio Bombay, the Computer Advice columnist known the world over for
his probing and insightful leadership.
Every
week, literally dozens of us read in rapt wonder as he describes the idiocy
of the latest Microsoft product, or how to re-associate filetypes.
The man is a true literary genius. My idol. But to get back to the
story, I read his words with wild abandon, revelling in the texture of
his sarcasm, and brevity of his attack.
Until
suddenly, there it was. Doctor Bombay had just suggested using a
program that would remove those horrible banner ads from webpages.
What a feeling of freedom that must be, to load a page and not be bothered
by annoying ads. Well, naturally I had to write and give my opinion.
I was
outraged, I said, how can a website continue to provide you with entertainment,
information and other original content if we cannot show ads to our audience
to pay for it all? Besides, I continued, is there a program to remove
the ads from the newpaper page his column is on? Big mistake.
Judging by his reply, I must have impugned the honor, dignity or intellect
of the Great Dr. Bombay. Here is his reply:
"I guess it shouldn't have been a surprise to find all those banner ads--including
one for a cheesy matchmaking service--cluttering up your own Web site,
which appears to be a conglomeration of half-baked commentaries by semi-literate
"writers" striving desperately to feel their own importance.
Don't get me wrong. I think that's good. The Internet is the
last frontier of independent commentary, a democracy where even a loon
is entitled to 15 minutes on the soapbox.
But now I'm confused. I quote from your own article" "Sponsorships
... can influence the information your read, hear or see. Therefore,
much of the news you're presented (with) should be greeted with a measure
of skepticism" Couldn't have said it better myself."
Wow.
To imagine THE Dr. Bombay himself actually visited this site, and read
our half-baked commentaries is thrilling. To be the victim of his
ascerbic, yet misplaced wit is the ultimate buzz for a loon like me.
Unfortunately,
he never did address the issue of removing ads from webpages. The
facts are, while we do feature ads here at GetDetails.com, they do not
in any way shape or influence anything you'll read here. The advertisers
generally are represented by a go-between company. We sign on as
an affiliate, and place the ads ourselves. The only input an advertiser
can ever have on our editorial content is to request his ads be removed.
So
I stand by the statements I've made on the Editor's Message, and I also
stand by the praise that I heaped upon the illustrious Doctor Bombay.
Maybe
if I ever get to Fort Worth we can chase a few cows around, or whatever
it is they do for fun down there. Meanwhile, crestfallen, I'm
going somewhere to lick my wounds. |
 
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