Internet pet peeves

[yoda313]

Ok how about a thread about your particular pet peeves about the internet in general. Could be anything.

Here's one to start:

Sites that make you click from page to page to find out whats in a top 10 or top 25 list.

I know they need impressions so the more clicks means more impressions. But when I want to read a list of something I want to read it like this:

1
2
3
4
etc

Not click here, click there, click here.....

Annoying if you ask me.

I understand why they do it but it doesn't make me like it anymore.

What's yours?

[redwudz]

Probably my biggest irritation is a page that 'locks' you in and doesn't let you use the browser 'back' key'. I've learned that most times you can return to the previous page by using 'View>Go to' from the browser menu.

If that doesn't work. I would quit the browser and hope you aren't compromised. Maybe even shut down the PC. Malware uses this method to mess with your system. If you run into this often, make sure you have a good anti-malware program and a good firewall and keep them updated.

JMO, but Windows firewall is totally useless. Windows 'Defenser' isn't much better. Comodo firewall and Avast work well for me.

[yoda313]

I've learned that most times you can return to the previous page by using 'View>Go to' from the browser menu.

At least in firefox rightclick on the back arrow and select two websites down to the last real website - it might just be one. Not sure if IE is the same.

But yeah thats a good one too.

[olyteddy]

Sites that use a picture of words instead of words. You can't highlight them and right click for more information.

[El Heggunte]

Sites that entirely depend on Adobe Flash Player.

No, I'm not talking about Flash-based ads, I'm talking about pages that replace the olde and goode HTML code with carnivalish SWF files.

Another annoyance: pages that can keep scrolling down "forever" --- you press "Page Down", and the Javascript rewrites the "bottom" of the page on-the-fly. It was "good" while (apparently) only Google Images used it for the Firefox browser only, but now many blogs have given in to that idiocy as well.

[intracube]

intrusive advertising;
I block most types of adverts on my main machine using a mix of JavaScript blocking and domain filtering, so these days I rarely get bothered.

My new tablet hasn't got the same filtering and I had no idea how annoying advertising has got in recent years.... No longer limited to animated gif or Flash banners (the latter which sometimes make a noise when you move the cursor over them), but now we get adverts that appear right on top of the page you're trying to view.

Only way to get rid of them is to interact with them and click on an (x) symbol which I'm always wary of doing as any dodgy ad could redirect you to their site anyway.

EDIT: and yes, pages that stop you using standard browser features like middle mouse button to open a page in a new tab or designs that break the browser history and back/forward buttons (usually Flash based sites).

[Island_Dweller]

Adblockplus for firefox should help some of you out with intrusive ads.

[Baldrick]

Users who block ads.

.

[Island_Dweller]

I've disabled it for this forum.

[intracube]

Users who block ads.

.

"....and eat up all my bandwidth"

I still get at least some ad banners on videohelp - the ones served from the main domain.

and out of guilt I've just clicked on some of the banners to bump up the click through numbers

[ranchhand]

Redwudz & Firefox users: For those accursed websites that lock you in and won't respond to the Back arrow... use the History tab; click History, and the previous website will be listed 1 or 2 below that. Just click on it and you are out and back to normal. (Another tip of the hat to Firefox).
My bitch: HATE those sites that have a download you need and then they deliberately hide the download with crap software download buttons hoping you will click on the wrong button. That's why I use Filehippo whenever possible.

[vhelp]

Probably my biggest irritation is a page that 'locks' you in and doesn't let you use the browser 'back' key'. I've learned that most times you can return to the previous page by using 'View>Go to' from the browser menu.

If that doesn't work. I would quit the browser and hope you aren't compromised. Maybe even shut down the PC. Malware uses this method to mess with your system. If you run into this often, make sure you have a good anti-malware program and a good firewall and keep them updated.

when i get locked, my base address usually is google advanced search. so in these cases, i just close that tab. sometimes i'm lucky, and already cloned the tab in cases where i was deep in searching. but sometimes, all i need to succefully get out of a page lock is, i press the alt-cursorLeft key and hold that way until i'm back to my root google search page. it works if you have your keyboard set to fastest rate and also that your keyboard is fast. some OS's have a fast or turbo mode. i dont' know what it is or how to set it that way, but i think win2k had this. i don't know what xp or w7 is, if any. but having a super fast keyboard will get you out. i suspect the lock is based on some timer/refresh algo. anyway.

[thecoalman]

My pet peeve is anything with audio that starts playing with a page load.

Probably my biggest irritation is a page that 'locks' you in and doesn't let you use the browser 'back' key'. I've learned that most times you can return to the previous page by using 'View>Go to' from the browser menu.

They are using a meta redirect which is the "poor mans" way to redirect pages. It's just simple snippet of code in the header of the page that redirects you to another page. The problem is you're in a loop becsue the back button takes you to the page with the redirect which sends you back to the page you want to leave. Some sites doing that may not even realize the consequences of their mistake if it's rookie web designer who's simply not up to the task of redirecting properly server side.

If you click the back button twice really quick or right click the back button and go back two pages you can get out of it.

[thecoalman]

Users who block ads.

.

I serve up standard images and HTML that have random folders and names. LOL

[gadgetguy]

This!

My pet peeve is anything with audio that starts playing with a page load.

[yoda313]

i press the alt-cursorLeft key

Sweet trick! Thats actually faster than the right click trick. Thanks

[olyteddy]

This:

[gll99]

1- A do a lot of browsing for news incl sports.....so......News sites that post a story link that says something like (but not exclusively this just an attention grabber) .... "10 things you need to do immediately to protect you and your family from this rampant disease that is wildly spreading" ..... So it is a must read... right? Why haven't I heard this on my local news TV station? So I click on the story. Blah blah... whole blurb about the "10 things" might be 2 screens long with another link and then the punch line we'll send you this video..... They sneak these in with legitimate news story links. Hate them!!!!!!!

2) Speaking of news.... Many local newspapers now expect us to pay for the stories they post online. Don't they think we know that the bulk of what they show is regurgitated news from other international, national and regional agencies and it's available for free all over the net.

3) Broken scripts that tie the browser down for x seconds and then prompts you to stop it.

4) Almost forgot. Often listen to sports interviews news stories etc... sometimes really late at night. Just love those sites that reset the audio from low to full blast when I play a new Flash based video and I happen to be on speakers at the time. Scares the heck out of the dog and the wife is not too pleased either.

[Noahtuck]

users who block ads.

.

lol!!!

[Hoser Rob]

Sites that say "all cookies cleared" when you log out but they aren't. Like guess which site?

[zzyzzx]

I also hate it when the news story is a video and all I want is text and maybe a picture.

[gadgetguy]

This too!

I also hate it when the news story is a video and all I want is text and maybe a picture.

[thecoalman]

I prefer a written article any time but often with the articles that are rehashes of a video I've noticed they are sometimes summaries and leave out a lot of what was in the video.

[yoda313]

I too detest video only news articles. Especially if I'm doing some video encoding and surfing then I get bogged down loading the video (aging dual core pc).

I'd prefer at least a caption summary the video.

[Noahtuck]

Users who block ads.

.

Or when I click on an ad or banner and instead of opening in a new window/tab it just takes me away from the site I am on in the browser page!!



LOL!!

[Baldrick]

Users who block ads.

.

Or when I click on an ad or banner and instead of opening in a new window/tab it just takes me away from the site I am on in the browser page!!

I prefer that also...but google adsense doesn't allow it .