Insidious Marketing on The Escapist

[TheGauntman]

Forgive the sensationalist title, but this has been irking me.

Has anyone else noticed that the Captcha prior to posting has changed recently? It is still a 'type text when prompted' option, but it is now generated by a company called Solve Media and it asks for your opinion on a product or to type in a couple of words that describe a consumer item (like 'power tool').

If you think I'm just swinging at shadows, check out their website http://www.solvemedia.com/ and tell me it's not a promotional tool.

Perhaps I listened to too much Bill Hicks when I was younger, but I loathe marketing and advertising, and to see it implemented in such an underhand and sneaky fashion makes me angry.

You want me to disable AdBlocker, Escapist? No probs, I'm willing to do that for you. But when you shovel ads into such a fundamental part of the mechanics or the site, I must protest.

Discussion value: Do you like the change? Not like it? Didn't notice? Don't care?

 

[Spambot 3000]

I don't really care. Whenever the captcha asks for my opinion on a company or product my response is usually 'skdjdjsvxh' or 'fuck you' and those seem to work fine. So it doesn't bother me.

 

[Neverhoodian]

I have no idea what you're talking about. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to drive to Little Caesar's in my Toyota Corolla and pick up a delicious Hot-N-Ready pizza (after I consult my financial advisor at CitiBank, of course).

Seriously though, I preferred reCAPTCHA. Sure I couldn't always read it, but at least I didn't feel like a corporate puppet. Besides, reCAPTCHA is helping out a good cause (preserving literature by digitizing it).

 

[TheGauntman]

I have no idea what you're talking about. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to drive to Little Caesar's in my Toyota Corolla and pick up a delicious Hot-N-Ready pizza (after I consult my financial advisor at CitiBank, of course).

Haha, nice one.

I don't really care. Whenever the captcha asks for my opinion on a company or product my response is usually 'skdjdjsvxh' or 'fuck you' and those seem to work fine. So it doesn't bother me.

My default so far has been a snide remark about Solve Media. What are they gonna do, sue me?

 

[Mr Cwtchy]

I don't care. I'll take these over the previous captchas where I had to spend 5 minutes each time deciphering them.

 

[repeating integers]

I kinda liked the previous captchas. Sometimes the things they came up with were just hilarious.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Eh, usual response about paying to join the thingy where you don't have to put up with the thingies that allow the site to pay for itself.

 

[CAPTCHA]

It's the other half of the new capture that bothers me. It's quote-ability has increased the number posts with Capture: XXX at the end. It's a bit of a pet hate of mine.

 

[Jonluw]

I don't care.
You can write whatever you like about the product, so it's easier to deal with than ordinary captchas. I normally just take the brand and add -ish to the end of it.

 

[Spambot 3000]

I don't really care. Whenever the captcha asks for my opinion on a company or product my response is usually 'skdjdjsvxh' or 'fuck you' and those seem to work fine. So it doesn't bother me.

My default so far has been a snide remark about Solve Media. What are they gonna do, sue me?

You know, these captchas are actually quite a rubbish form of advertisement I reckon. I thought the whole point of an advert was for it to say, 'Look! This is our product/company and this is your opinion on it!', not for it to say, 'Look! This is our product/company! What's your opinion on it?'

 

[bobmus]

What's that about paying money to be here?
Something called the Publisher's Club?
No CAPTCHA tests at all?
It costs basically nothing?
Crazy talk!

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

It's a pretty awful system.
The first few times i was really confused because i had no idea what the product or company was.

I guess i've got more products to put on my 'never buy due to annoying advertisements' list

 

[Thunderous Cacophony]

Seriously though, I preferred reCAPTCHA. Sure I couldn't always read it, but at least I didn't feel like a corporate puppet. Besides, reCAPTCHA is helping out a good cause (preserving literature by digitizing it).

This. I work in history, I can't tell you how much better it is to crowd-source this stuff, rather than having some overworked/unpaid intern do it. I don't mind the ads that the Escapist runs, but I wish they would bring back reCAPTCHA.

 

[MercurySteam]

Captcha? What Captcha? I haven't seen those things in ages. On an unrelated note: PubClub recruitment is at an all time high!

 

[dexxyoto]

I confess my knee jerk reaction is something along the lines of "Wait, instead of helping preserve books I'm helping advertisers? Sod that!"

In truth though I can understand the desire to do it. If it helps keep site costs down I'm not going to ***** too hard. it's still better than those bloody ad wraps they do with videos every one in a while.

As well calling it insidious seems a bit unreasonable. They're not hiding the fact that they're advertisers.

Also why the intense lack of screencaps folks?

 

[zelda2fanboy]

What's that about paying money to be here?
Something called the Publisher's Club?
No CAPTCHA tests at all?
It costs basically nothing?
Crazy talk!

Agreed. This isn't a charity or a not-for-profit. It's difficult to turn a buck on the internet, and with as high of quality of shows and forums as this site has, I figure they can do whatever they want to get/save money.

Captcha was "silver spoon."

 

[chadachada123]

90% of mine are for the All New Chevy Sonic >.>

I wouldn't mind this type of advertising if it actually gave me a new one every time, but these Chevy ones are annoying as hell.

 

[M920CAIN]

I'm just posting to see the captcha, don't mind me

 

[RipRoaringWaterfowl]

The new captchas are actualy pretty fun. I can say whatever I wish about a product and get some laughs.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to drive my Chevy Sonic over to Little Caesars to get a HotN'Ready pizza, then stop by CitiBank before going to Williamsburg, Virginia to get some diarrhea-inducing Taco Bell and buy a Toyota Corolla so I can move forward but just don't stop.