I looked into VL a little bit. Looks like they've been around a while, but only adding affiliate tags to existing links on sites. I gather that this context linking is new to them.
Either one of those, I don't care how loudly they scream otherwise, I consider to be substantial alteration of the user experience. Yes, I know on most sites we're technically the product to be sold to advertisers since that's how they make their money to keep the doors open and the lights on, but on the other hand, I'd at least like them to lay off my actual posts unless they're packed with illegal content.
Sadly, this sort of thing illustrates precisely why I run AdBlock and NoScript on Firefox, and that I do the same in Chrome, and I never ever ever run Explorer if I have a choice. It's also slowly moving me towards the idea that I should probably just buy my own site if I want to have any real online presence.
If you haven't yet, Bob, I'd still register a complaint for the brief period of time that the links were showing up, since they say "ad free for paid", and obviously didn't really mean it.
--
"You know how parents tell you everything's going to fine, but you know they're lying to make you feel better? Everything's going to be fine." - The Doctor
Either one of those, I don't care how loudly they scream otherwise, I consider to be substantial alteration of the user experience. Yes, I know on most sites we're technically the product to be sold to advertisers since that's how they make their money to keep the doors open and the lights on, but on the other hand, I'd at least like them to lay off my actual posts unless they're packed with illegal content.
Sadly, this sort of thing illustrates precisely why I run AdBlock and NoScript on Firefox, and that I do the same in Chrome, and I never ever ever run Explorer if I have a choice. It's also slowly moving me towards the idea that I should probably just buy my own site if I want to have any real online presence.
If you haven't yet, Bob, I'd still register a complaint for the brief period of time that the links were showing up, since they say "ad free for paid", and obviously didn't really mean it.
--
"You know how parents tell you everything's going to fine, but you know they're lying to make you feel better? Everything's going to be fine." - The Doctor