Pet Peeves

These are things which annoy me. These are things that are ill considered, a waste of time, poorly designed, or constructed. Products that are contaminated or not up to the usual quality of the manufacturer. Web pages that are like a run-on sentence, that is they are several printed pages long and take forever to load.

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When I run across these things I write letters, make phone calls, or send email messages. I encourage you, my visitor, to do the same. A recent change in Terms of Service at Yahoo.com resulted in a Boycott of their site and protests from thousands. To their good credit, they changed the Terms of Service so it was reasonable, clearly stated and something everyone could work with. Speaking out does work - but you have to speak out. Therefore, in no particular order:

From 8/4/99

• Auto Repair Shops Never Call!
• Tech Support - NOT! Peeves
• (Updated 1/23/2000!)Dealing with Intellectually Challenged Workers
• Deals that Aren't

Web Site Stupidities:

• Web pages that are so loaded down with advertisements they take an exceptionally long time to load. Email the Webmaster.
• Web pages that are the above, but are also the equivalent of 4-6 printed pages long. I call them "run-on web pages". Let the Webmast know!
• Ditto for those who want to send you instant messages (IM's) and you don't even know them and don't want to know them...
• Web sites where you want to email them but they require your life history before you can send them a letter. Tip: Go to Internic WHOIS and type in their domain name (not the http part or the www. just the name, like yourdomain.com and get their admin street address or PO box number and write them a snail mail letter!
• Companies who have useless internet battles over free services. Hey folks, is there a plan down the road to start charging for these 'free' services? Watch Out!

Now, like I said, one of my pet peeves is useless run-on web pages. So, keeping that in mind I have links to other brief pages which you can read. They have only an email graphic, no bells or whistles - just opinion. They load quickly.

And, I am not the only person who has peeved pages. Check out Ms. Forrest, at AOL Hometown.

If you have a pet peeve, Send it to me and I'll include it on one of these pages.

7/7/04 - Thanks to John Lodin: Auto repair shops never call!

9:00 a.m.

Customer: "When will my car be ready? Should I call you?"
Mechanic: "No, that's okay. We'll call YOU when we're done."

2:30 p.m.

Customer: "Just checking..."
Mechanic: "Still working on it; we'll call you when it's ready."

5:30 p.m.

Customer: "I don't mean to be pushy, but do you have an idea when it will be ready?"
Mechanic: "It's been ready for two hours."
Customer: "I'll be right over--"
Mechanic: "You'd better hurry, we close at six."

Go ahead, email me, make my mail day!
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