Smashing Magazine Puts us All in the Naughty Corner
Photo by Ante todo, Pablo Zárate
Smashing Magazine – not happy with releasing mediocre content and being suspiciously delighted about it – have reached the end of their tether. Who are we to consume their content for free, merely using the tried-and-tested (by every other site in the known universe) business model of in-page advertising? Who are we to think that the Internet is an open and fair medium for each to enjoy as much as the other? Who are we to notice the fact that entire IPTV networks seem to exist contentedly on an ad-supported and donation based business model?
No-one, that’s who. We are bad, bad people and need (apparently) to be taught a lesson.
To show us the error of our ways, Smashing Magazine deigned to take our toys away. We were left with nothing but a single page showing us their latest PDF book (a regurgitation of articles we have already read for free). No matter which page you tried to access, no matter how hard you tried to escape, the book loomed in front of you, demanding you make amends for being such a selfish and spoilt child web designer by giving them some money. So much traffic was created by this technique, that it eventually became impossible even to purchase the book. It was a bit like your girlfriend promising you sexual favours for chocolate and refusing to open her mouth.
Paul Scrivens, after reminding us (as always) that he is the publisher of Splashpress Media and kind of a big deal, mentioned these very points but in such a hugely apologetic and diplomatic manner that it becomes hard for the reader to understand whether he is impressed by Smashing Magazine, finds them abhorrent, or is going to the shops to get a cucumber and cream cheese sandwich and mindlessly mumbling to himself on the way.
Never fear, dear reader. We will always report the (vaguely true) truth without fear of offence. Or fear of telling the truth.
Glad to see the snark coming back. Just do it consistently and not twice a month so we can all pretend not to enjoy it, but secretly pray that you speak of us again.
Did you know I’m the publisher of Splashpress Media?
Aha, we see what you did there, Scrivs
In all seriousness, it’s rather disappointing to see them resorting to such means…
Who’s Scrivens? What’s Splashpress? What’s TheTapir?
If this weren’t written that eloquently, one would have thunk Krug’s behind all this.