Comments on: 6 Worst Frozen Diet Foods . . . https://habitablezone.com/2014/01/29/6-worst-frozen-diet-foods/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:18:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2014/01/29/6-worst-frozen-diet-foods/#comment-29569 DanS Thu, 30 Jan 2014 12:40:12 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=42624#comment-29569 My time online is limited, but I'll see what I can do. (n/t) My time online is limited, but I’ll see what I can do. (n/t)

]]> By: Robert https://habitablezone.com/2014/01/29/6-worst-frozen-diet-foods/#comment-29565 Robert Wed, 29 Jan 2014 20:09:05 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=42624#comment-29565 This has been bothering me, too. It's what I meant when I referred to the new genre of "clickwriting", and that you'd brought us some examples. Clickwriting is a 100% commercial tactic which dangles an incomplete set of information in front of you (like an infomercial teaser), crafted to provide the maximum motivation to click through to the source web page...where, of course, you'll have cookies dropped and your visit registered in a dozen ad networks, and you'll see a narrow column of text flanked by a dozen static ads and very likely an autorunning commercial video. Kind of a "metadvertising". In other words, every time you copy that headline and reproduce the teaser text with its link to an ad-wall, you're in effect posting an ad on the HabitableZone. Just because the advertising is at the other end of a link doesn't dilute the essentially commercial nature of the post--their purpose is to haul in people to view the ads. bowser's also right that you're neglecting to treat the quoted text as visibly quoted (using the <blockquote> tag), and not identifying the source. Although we know by now that you didn't write the post, there's nothing in the post to actually say so. I think what would help make me comfortable with this kind of post is if you'd increase your content above zero percent. In other words, instead of just reproducing their teaser, write up what you found when you clicked the link, and what you think about it, and why we should care and want to take another dip in the commercial cesspool. Be our guide, not their shill. This has been bothering me, too. It’s what I meant when I referred to the new genre of “clickwriting”, and that you’d brought us some examples.

Clickwriting is a 100% commercial tactic which dangles an incomplete set of information in front of you (like an infomercial teaser), crafted to provide the maximum motivation to click through to the source web page…where, of course, you’ll have cookies dropped and your visit registered in a dozen ad networks, and you’ll see a narrow column of text flanked by a dozen static ads and very likely an autorunning commercial video. Kind of a “metadvertising”.

In other words, every time you copy that headline and reproduce the teaser text with its link to an ad-wall, you’re in effect posting an ad on the HabitableZone. Just because the advertising is at the other end of a link doesn’t dilute the essentially commercial nature of the post–their purpose is to haul in people to view the ads.

bowser’s also right that you’re neglecting to treat the quoted text as visibly quoted (using the <blockquote> tag), and not identifying the source. Although we know by now that you didn’t write the post, there’s nothing in the post to actually say so.

I think what would help make me comfortable with this kind of post is if you’d increase your content above zero percent. In other words, instead of just reproducing their teaser, write up what you found when you clicked the link, and what you think about it, and why we should care and want to take another dip in the commercial cesspool.

Be our guide, not their shill.

]]> By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2014/01/29/6-worst-frozen-diet-foods/#comment-29561 DanS Wed, 29 Jan 2014 17:19:50 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=42624#comment-29561 Rodale, Inc., does employ ads, and at menshealth.com you'll often find one over the initial page, a sort of cover sheet. Simply click to disregard, and there's the full article. Going through the different pages, generally one per item covered, you may hit the commercial page again. It's a random hit. Getting around this, I choose "PRINT THIS LIST" with the red arrow on the initial page, and it's all there on a single sheet -- with a print dialog box that you can simply close out. Rodale, Inc., does employ ads, and at menshealth.com you’ll often find one over the initial page, a sort of cover sheet. Simply click to disregard, and there’s the full article. Going through the different pages, generally one per item covered, you may hit the commercial page again. It’s a random hit. Getting around this, I choose “PRINT THIS LIST” with the red arrow on the initial page, and it’s all there on a single sheet — with a print dialog box that you can simply close out.

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2014/01/29/6-worst-frozen-diet-foods/#comment-29558 bowser Wed, 29 Jan 2014 16:11:28 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=42624#comment-29558 Dan, as much as I enjoy your posts along these lines, and I do a lot, I love lists, I think this one may cross two lines. First, the original should at least be in quotes and it's a bit long for that, and second it seems to be spam. Following the links leads to an item with paid commercial substitutes. Following those links to the next item just leads to a commercial. It's my belief this one, and only this one, may be inappropriate. I do look forward to more of your lists, though. I usually enjoy them. Dan, as much as I enjoy your posts along these lines, and I do a lot, I love lists, I think this one may cross two lines.

First, the original should at least be in quotes and it’s a bit long for that, and second it seems to be spam. Following the links leads to an item with paid commercial substitutes. Following those links to the next item just leads to a commercial.

It’s my belief this one, and only this one, may be inappropriate. I do look forward to more of your lists, though. I usually enjoy them.

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