Stephen Yeargin

In honor of the moron who opened “WhyFirefoxIsBlocked.com” and “WhyDiggIsBlocked.com”, I have opted to install the plugin that is causing him so much heartache.

Advertising is an art form, and effective ads have the ability to lure in an audience by creative and unexpected tactics. People stop reading newspapers? Move to radio. Kenneth won’t tell you the frequency? Go straight to television. TiVo skipping over commercials? Product placement in feature films and sitcoms. Missing a target demographic? Guerrilla advertising and viral video. The market evolves to the consumer wherever he or she may wander.

In contrast, those that buy and sell text links on Web sites are being about as innovative as a screen door on a submarine. Anyone who clicks on them is either a) desperate to find the information promised therein or b) is likely a competitor wanting to drive up the poster’s advertising costs with diminishing returns. If you take away the money Mr. Carlton paid for the two useless domains and the cash, in his mind, he has forfeited at the hands of a simple plugin, it becomes clear that it is not the housing and credit markets dragging down our economy. No, it is the lack of revenue generation from click-throughs on Danny Carlton’s Web site.

I also read a bit about how Universal Music Group views this new marketplace and wondered if CEO Doug Morris and Danny are good pals. Both have a complete disconnect from the notion of the informed and empowered consumer, relying on the old “if we build it” mantra that has ruined many an enterprise. Whether it is digital entertainment or how we interact with advertising-laden personal Web sites, it is ultimately the audience that sets the rules.

The fools try to shackle consumers for fast and easy profits while the brilliant challenge conventional wisdom and boldly innovate. And we often wonder why they are successful. And as for an answer to Danny’s question.

Update: So the second site was actually an attempt at parody at the first. I bet he’s pissed.