I needed a bone to chew on...

While I echo the sentiment against the intrusion of these banners at the top of everyone's journals...I have a this to add.

Clearly all our journals are drawing lots of traffic and hits, both within AOL and without; with each rotation of the visitor counters AOL managers must have been wringing their hands in eager anticipation of possible revenue streams, ripe for the plucking. 

Yes, I do have links to both not-for-profit and for-profit websites on my sidebar.  I have my reasons for making those inclusions and did so with a clear conscience as no one is paying me for those links.  Some are local small businesses I wish to spotlight, as I live in an extremely economically challenged area.  Others are charitable organizations close to my heart.  If including these links to enterprises in my sidebar gave AOL management the impression that I wouldn't mind having some corporate giant's moniker hanging over my header, well then let me make this perfectly clear.  I do mind.  I mind very much.

However, I seriously doubt that anyone who takes the time to visit my journal will be distracted from their purpose by a mortgage ad or other financial frivolity flashing across the screen.  I think people are smart enough to know how to use the scroll bar to make those annoying banners disappear from their view.

Having said that, AOL would be wise to find another way to promote America's corporate economy.  I do my best to help out in that arena, but I draw the line at having my personal space exploited in this manner.

If the ads are still here in seven days, I will make my journal private.  If the ads do not go away permanently by December 1, I have no problem dumping AOL and cancelling my subscription.  I did it before, I can do it again.

So much for AOL's latest televison campaign.  Guess they just forgot to mention the users won't be protected from AOL.