(quips from related previous postings appear below)
 
I think of this as a very delicate issue, but the reality is that 1) in
the last year or so many lists have been booted from their original
sites and 2) hosting a list costs somebody somewhere something.  The
banner option is one way that a list can get sponsorship, and yes,
this is definitely advertising, but at least it is controlled advertising.
To me it's no different that when they mention the sponsors on PBS or NPR
shows.  I'm not thrilled, but again, somebody has to pay and this can be
one way to get the funds necessary to even have a list.
 
Most listowners I've spoken with say that they want to have a list so
badly that they're quite willing to allow a "this list is hosted by xxxx,
to unsub..." bottom banner message.  For many of these people, there's no
other way for them to have a list without paying for it themselves.
 
I agree that it's nicer to be on a list where there's no advertising in
the bottom banner, but those who are offended have options: they can
sponsor the list themselves, they can find someone who's willing to
sponsor the list for free with no ads, they can leave the list, or they
can start their own list on the same subject but without the ads.
 
My feelings and opinions--don't blame L-Soft
 
Susan Lowell
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
L-Soft international, Inc.
(owner songtalk, hampshire)
 
 On Fri, 14 Jun 1996, Winship wrote:
 
> On Thu, 13 Jun 1996, Philo wrote:
> > You know, I've wondered about this. I'm on one list that has a five-line
> > footer with addresses and a URL. Do the same people that put these footers
> > flame users for overlong .sig's? Isn't the concept the same? (Except that
> > the footer goes to WAY more people than any .sig)
>
>
> Same thing with top and bottom banners on list postings.  The first few
> times, "Hey, that's neat, they give us all that info right here!" But
> after you've seen it a few hundred times, and it increases the length of
> each posting, it's a nuisance.  The ones who will pay attention and learn
> how to do things on their own will do so without the banners, and will be
> irritated by them.  The ones who do not pay attention, do not learn
> despite being bombarded, will be equally irritated. They don't want to be
> bothered with that stuff since their friendly local listowner will take
> care of it for them.
>
> While some people seem to like them, I see the banners as lose/lose
> propositions.
>
>        Douglas Winship   Hays County, Texas  [log in to unmask]
>                     Secondary AUTOCAT Listowner
>                               MEDLAB-L
>