Advertising Annoyances

Scott Hardie | May 4, 2009
I think I need to stop referring to the sections of this site by their abbreviation so much, because people playing in one section don't really even notice the other sections. That's why I expanded their names at the top of the page. On the other hand, Kelly and I have noticed how many businesses are marketing themselves with the definitive article, like Circuit City's wall says "The City" and Pizza Hut's box says "The Hut," as if anyone would actually call them that. We're considering renaming this site "The Goo."

Anybody else want to gripe about marketing trends that bug you lately?

Tony Peters | May 4, 2009
"That's thinking with your dipstick"

Amy Austin | May 4, 2009
The idea that I'm being watched by the money I could be saving with Geico. Ridiculous *and* annoying.

Tony Peters | May 4, 2009
or for that matter being followed by it

Scott Hardie | May 5, 2009
Giving up your address just to do business with someone, knowing that they'll use it to send you junk mail. I stayed the night in a Ramada in Georgia a few weeks ago, and today I received my membership card and welcome materials for the Ramada Rewards program that I definitely never signed up for. Do you have to give your address to check into a hotel? I decline at retail shops, but something tells me most hotels wouldn't let me check in without me providing id.

Amy Austin | May 21, 2009
I have to confess that, while I wasn't a big fan of the abbreviated section headers or anything, I am finding it less convenient to see them completely spelled out. After all, I already know what the abbreviations stand for... but now it actually takes me a little bit longer to navigate because I don't process it as fast (i.e., I do have to read them to find what I'm looking for).

Steve West | May 21, 2009
Tongué at McCafé. On a sidewalk in Paris, the absolute last thing (except maybe a herd of Mexican pigs) I want to see is a friggin' McDonald's.

Erik Bates | May 21, 2009
[hidden by request]

Ryan Dunn | May 21, 2009
This made me chuckle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eN9KP6lOZs

Steve West | May 22, 2009
That one made me want to throw a shoe through my monitor.

Ryan Dunn | May 22, 2009
Tough crowd.

Scott Hardie | May 22, 2009
I will buy McDonald's for anyone who performs that dance at GooCon.

Matthew Preston | May 22, 2009
I am considering your proposal Scott. Does it have to be apple dippers though?

Scott Hardie | May 22, 2009
You may substitute chicken mcnuggets or chicken select strips.

Amy Austin | May 22, 2009
I'll do it with a burger in each hand -- top that.

Matthew Preston | May 23, 2009
After much silent deliberation, I can't top that Amy, you win...

However, would there be free McDonald's available if Aaron and I performed this at GooCon?

Amy Austin | May 23, 2009
LOL... I'd say free unlimited China buffet for that one -- I guess we'd better get busy practicing then!

Scott Hardie | May 23, 2009
Wait, did you mean perform the song, or actually do what the song suggests? Because I don't think I can sponsor the latter. There are other forums that might, though.

Aaron Shurtleff | May 25, 2009
Matthew, I fear my rap skills might not be up to the challenge...

but I might be able to get THIS to happen.

The song that is! Although I go like grapes...

Amy Austin | May 25, 2009
Double on the dippin'... no, wait... make that triples!

Reminder at GooCon: keep windows closed and breezes to a minimum. No alarm clocks or cell phones for Aaron.

Scott Hardie | August 6, 2009
In addition to The City and The Hut, we now have The Shack. Hey, whatever delays The Bankruptcy.

Jackie Mason | August 7, 2009
[hidden by request]

Amy Austin | August 7, 2009
Not just you, Jackie.

"The Bankruptcy" (chuckling in spite of it all)

Scott Hardie | August 8, 2009
I'm ok with The Shack. (And I mean the store, not the new name.) Every one that I have been in has the same funky smell, but there's good stuff for sale, especially if you're looking for specific equipment.

Jackie Mason | August 18, 2009
[hidden by request]

Tony Peters | August 18, 2009
I'm in the Depot on a daily basis but then I'm throwing lumber for team orange these days. It's funny on hot days we get a lot of people who come in just to walk around a big space with A/C....they tell me its the same way in the winter too....

when we bought our freezer no one beat Sears everyone else was either smaller/cheaper or more expensive and less efficient there was one local store with a Hotpoint that compared but Sears had free delivery which won in the end so we have a Kenmore

Scott Hardie | August 20, 2009
We wind up at the 24-hour Super Walmart often because Kelly likes to go out late at night and it's one of the few places open. I don't like shopping there because everyone looks so miserable. What a gray, dull, unhappy, soulless place to spend 90 minutes of your life, like purgatory on Earth. I've heard that you're more likely to spend money when you're sad or exposed to sadness, so perhaps the endless vision of poverty and depression that is the Bradenton Walmart at 2AM is just a psychological ploy to get us to buy another 12-pack of Sam's Choice.

Jackie Mason | August 21, 2009
[hidden by request]

Lori Lancaster | August 21, 2009
[hidden by request]

Amy Austin | September 23, 2009
I have to confess that, while I wasn't a big fan of the abbreviated section headers or anything, I am finding it less convenient to see them completely spelled out. After all, I already know what the abbreviations stand for... but now it actually takes me a little bit longer to navigate because I don't process it as fast (i.e., I do have to read them to find what I'm looking for).

Still feeling the same way... am I alone on this?

Steve West | September 23, 2009
I agree that the abbreviations make scanning simpler but worry that new users would see TMR and ignore it completely. Perhaps another selection in Options? Abbreviated or not, with Not Abbreviated as the default.

Scott Hardie | September 26, 2009
Done. Anybody else have small things they'd like to have an option to change around the site?

Amy Austin | September 26, 2009
Awesome... thanks, Scott!

Steve West | September 26, 2009
Sweet. Thanks.