January 22, 2009
There are a lot of things that piss me off. I am a fairly unreasonable human being. I’m not kidding, you can ask my husband, my mom or any poor sucker that has gotten stuck listening to me rant and rave about how much I hate Kurt Warner this week.
Whatever. I am off topic already and I am only one short paragraph deep into this post which I had originally intended to be a tweet. (Damn you 140 character maximum. I can be brief, but I am human. Sometimes I need 150.)
Make that off topic twice in two paragraphs. It is fortunate that my blog pet peeve isn’t bloggers who stray from the intended theme of the post.
I currently have more than one paying job that requires me to read blogs. (I know, my life it tough.) In the course of some of my busier days it is not at all unlikely that I will read 250 different blogs in a day. There are a lot of things I find irritating. It bugs me when people use more than four colors of font in a post (except Bossy. She can pull that kind of thing off. Most people can’t.), blogs that have yellow backgrounds and hot pink writing hurt my eyes, I find 20 blinking pieces of flair in a sidebar annoying – it is like the people who put all that shit in their yard for Christmas.
The single thing that will assure that I will not read a blog (unless contractually forced to do so by my employer) is if I click on a url and I am assaulted by the writer’s favorite music.
I don’t want to listen to it. It is distracting. Sometimes it catches me off guard and it actually scares me. Sometimes it wakes my children up if I am trying to get some work done early in the morning.
And take a second to think of those poor people who are trying to read blogs at work with0ut getting caught. Nice job loud blogger. You just got my friend fired. I hope you are happy we all know you like U2 now. It is nice to see Bono finally getting some visibility after all these years.
Where is the font for sarcasm when I need it?
I suppose the short version of this rant is that my new blog pet peeve is when blogs play music.
Huh. I guess I could have tweeted that after all.
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January 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm, Gwen Says:
I so totally f’ing agree. I hate clicking on a new blog and having it blare out of my speakers. There is a reason feed readers were invented.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm, Goddess in Progress Says:
Oh. My. God. I couldn’t possibly agree more. It makes me nuts to be assaulted with music on someone’s site without my prior consent. Even when it’s good music. And, let’s face it, it’s usually not. And I’m a music lover!
Ugh. Worst. Widget. Ever.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:01 pm, ms. changes pants while driving Says:
ohmygod. that’s totally me with the loud music. only on the page of the people i stalk daily. it’s loud. i know it’s loud. i will remove it.
BUT, i don’t have a yellow background, i don’t have flashy crap in the sidebars.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:02 pm, Backpacking Dad Says:
What’s a blog?
:}
This particular pet peeve is one reason I never bother with MySpace. Every damned page there spews music at you. Sorry cousin-in-her-twenties, I won’t be keeping up with your daily college vomitfests because you like stupid music and you advertise it.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:07 pm, Headless Mom Says:
I hate that too. That is why my laptop is always! always! on mute.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:30 pm, Lori in Denver Says:
Ruh Roh.
I’m guilty of the hot pink print. But not the yellow background and NOT the music.
We should have a bloggy rant week. I hate all the word confirmation required by bloggers who probably don’t get all that much spam.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:48 pm, B and T Crowd Says:
Amen! I must admit back in the early days of the internet (1996), I thought it was cool having a MIDI file play on my AOL site. It was so worth the many browser crashes!
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:54 pm, Vicky Says:
AUGH! Music is the worst. Or close to it. I hate blogs that have tiny teeny blog post sections and the rest of the blog is buttons, giant header, flowery crap and just STUFF all over the place. You can’t even find the stupid blog post. Makes me INSANE…
P.S. I have always hated Kurt Warner too.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:12 pm, Mrs. Who Says:
Oooooh, I hate that too. I keep reading that everyone hates that – why do bloggers keep doing it??
My other pet peeve? People who write about their dreams. And people who start of by saying they hate when someone writes about their dreams? And then they write about their dreams.
Uh. I hope nobody reading this writes about their dreams. If so. Sorry.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:27 pm, mammaloves Says:
Think I’ve stopped following all of those people–or it’s just that you can’t play music through your tweets on Twitter.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm, del Says:
Unexpected music scares the bejoingers out of me!
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm, zeghsy Says:
i had the darnedest time making sure my dance teacher wouldn’t have music planning the moment someone went to his new website for the studio. on top of reading at work (shh!), i listen to music from my hard drive. when something comes blasting in, i don’t even bother looking at who’s site it is, i’m gone. immediately. thank goodness my teacher took my advice. the music is optional only after you’ve gotten there silently.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:46 pm, sunshine Says:
I agree.
And it was raspberry wheat beer, not milk. That still counts though, right?!
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:19 pm, Molly Says:
I think Kurt Warner looks like a child molester who’s trying to buy the house next door to me. I’m just sayin’.
I keep my laptop on mute for that very reason. The last thing I want to hear at 5:15 in the morning is “If You Like It Then You Shoulda Put A Ring On It.”
January 22nd, 2009 at 6:11 pm, HeyJoe Says:
A good and worthy pet peeve. Do not feel ashamed. Not that you do, but just in case you did, do not.
Maybe she’s retarded.
January 22nd, 2009 at 6:44 pm, Sara Says:
Amen!
I don’t care what your favorite song is! That’s why I gave up on myspace!
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm, Queen of Feisty Says:
I am now officially removing the music from my page.
Yes in particular to your post, but also because it scares the shit out of me. My speakers are 99% of the time off. And the few times my DH leaves them on, I forget and when I go in I get the crap scared out of me. And more then likly wakes the baby in the next room.
Thanks for the eye opener. Didn’t realize it was so annoying. But I do hate the bad font color with bad background! And Blinkies are just insane! I get to motion sick from them anyways!
Feisty
(going to remove the music now… head down in shame…)
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:50 pm, Jess Says:
I hate Kurt Warner too. Does he still have the scary wife with the Susan Powers hair cut???? Guess we’ll be seeing her on the 1st, yippy-fucking-skippy.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:48 pm, cartoongoddess Says:
…and for that very reason, I keep my sound turned off at all times.
As a web designer and instructor, I advise clients and students that unless the site sells music it is a BAD idea. Even if the site sells music, the file shouldn’t automatically play. The user needs to make that choice.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:12 pm, Oh, The Joys Says:
Hallelujah and amen.
(How about top banners that are so big you have to scroll down to see the top of the post?)
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:22 pm, Becky Says:
Kurt Warner. Hmm. Is he related to Dexter?
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:53 pm, Hilary Says:
Agreed! Agreed! Agreed!
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 pm, Pocklock Says:
Definitely hate the music. It woke up my baby once during the ONE day she slept like that WEEK.
Know what else I hate? Having to scroll sideways because someone uploaded a GINORMOUS picture!
Ahhh. I feel better now.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:05 pm, Jen Says:
I stumble across a blog with music I make a point to never go back. I know it’s probably bitchy of me but I just can’t stand that stuff.
As for the writing in lots of colors? That bugs me too. I can’t just read it and enjoy it, I feel like I have to decode it. I think “Why is that word in red? What does it mean? Are the blue words sad? Is green for sarcasm? Is this person trying to send me a secret message?” Totally ruins the whole thing for me.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:11 pm, Anne Glamore Says:
We all need our jobs and I can’t figure out how to turn off the sound on my work computer and I actually didn’t know it HAD sound til I stumbled on one of those blogs and it was awful because these other peeps at work don’t know what the blogosphere IS.
I’m tired if you can’t tell.
Takeaway: I agree!
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:21 pm, Ree Says:
It bothers me when I can’t find where to turn OFF the music. Also, side scrolling and yea, the font colors, too.
Thanks darlin’. /rant.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 am, Kathi D Says:
That’s why I have to leave my computer on MUTE when I am blog-surfing.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 am, Sports Mama Says:
Oh dear…. and I thought I had turned off that whole “auto-start” feature on my playlist…
Totally explains why I never see you around.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 am, Angela Says:
Oh my gosh, me too!!! There is one blog that I LOVE, but I can’t stand it because I’m usually watching DVDs on the ocmputer while catching up on the blogging and it’s freakin’ annoying when the music starts blaring.
I didn’t realize that it might bother my myspace friends (pot meet kettle, right??). I should go make sure that it’s not on auto-play.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:21 am, Papa Bradstein Says:
It’s never been a good idea. Way back in the 90’s, when we were all learning how to build HTML pages, music was already considered verboten. Back then, we had to give people the benefit of the doubt. Now, however, we can just put musical sites on our never-ever-ever-visit-again list. And were you going to discuss those sites that autoplay video?
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:29 am, Coachdad Says:
Totally agree… I blog because I enjoy writing. If someone enjoys my site, I want it to be because the like the writing. Nothing more, nothing less. Would love for you to take a look…new to this.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:30 am, Coachblogger Says:
Totally agree… I blog because I enjoy writing. If someone enjoys my site, I want it to be because the like the writing. Nothing more, nothing less. Would love for you to take a look…new to this.
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:28 am, Vic Says:
It drives me up the wall. Learned early on to keep my computer on mute at work. Scares the shit outta me when I finally read a blog at home only to realise it comes complete with music.
P.s. I think I want your job – how do I get one?!
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:06 am, Kelley Says:
I guess I have the luxury to hit the back button and never return.
But when I used to have to sit with Boo for hours on end begging him to sleep and then I would get one of those blogs… I would feel rather stabby.
Hope they listen! So we don’t have to.
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:31 am, Amy Says:
LOL…where is the font for sarcasm?? Love it! I agree about your blog pet peeves…my laptop is always on mute for that reason!
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:32 am, Amy Says:
P.S. I want your job too!
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 am, Lori Says:
A few years ago I emailed the tech guys at a company I do business with to ask them to take the music (and flash) off the front page. The guy actually replied back and said I could turn down my speakers if I didn’t want to hear it. ummm mate, web design, usability, getting people fired for on-line shopping while at work…
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:41 am, Lori Says:
Ahhh yes, autoplay video. Home alone, innocently websurfing, when suddenly someone starts talking. Loudly. I blame them for the hot coffee in my lap and I don’t come back.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:11 pm, Suebob Says:
Hint to people who are blogsurfing at work: keep your headphones plugged in at all times. You don’t have to have them on your head, but they serve as an auto-mute for stupid sites with autoplay music.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:35 pm, jonb Says:
Amen.
People who have elaborate myspace pages should not blog.
by the way, I believe Comic Sans is the typeface you were looking for.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm, M.A. Smith Says:
I am proud to say that I do none of that. And only partially because I don’t know how to do the music thing (I wouldn’t anyway, because why force my musical tastes on other people?).
January 23rd, 2009 at 3:47 pm, Sheri Says:
No yellow background.
No music.
I make an attempt to stay on track.
I try to read a lot of blogs, I have never read one that has music in it. But i’m guessing that would bug me too.
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:31 pm, Kristabella Says:
WORD! To all of it! I hate ALL those things you mention on blogs. Also, dark bqckgrounds with white type. The main screen where your post is should be white or a very, very light color.
Also, I too hate Kurt Warner. Stems from years as a 49ers employee when he was in his hey day with the Rams and he KICKED OUR ASSES REPEATEDLY!
Now I don’t mind him too much because one of my good friends works for the Cardinals and gets to go to the Super Bowl because of him.
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 pm, Blogging Mom Says:
I can totally relate. I must say that I have read blogs where I need to squint my eyes the whole time. Oh it drives me crazy!
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 pm, Anissa@hope4peyton Says:
Seriously? I have killed for less than this. It needs to stop.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:09 pm, P-Pie aka Jen Says:
I couldn’t agree more. I have gotten busted at work a time or two because of music on blogs.
January 24th, 2009 at 9:45 am, Kristi Says:
I hear ya sister!!! I just keep my sound turned off.
January 24th, 2009 at 9:46 am, Kristi Says:
OH Wait!!! It’s even worse when you are listening to your own music and then you are assualted by someone else’s music at the same time. It hurts my brain.
January 24th, 2009 at 5:27 pm, tela Says:
Because I’m such a good, not lazy, mom, I often browse the Interwebs reading blogs while my two-year-old son sits on my lap watching episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba or Blue on nickjr.com. (We don’t have cable.) I position the screens so half is the video player, half is the blog. I’m so nice.
ANYWAY, whenever I click on a blog and music comes blaring out over his “stories”, he starts screaming “PAUSE IT! PAUSE IT!” to me (in reference to annoying blog music). He hates it as much as you and I.
January 24th, 2009 at 7:23 pm, ali Says:
i hate the automatic music too. grr.
also? white type on black background. sheesh. kills my eyes.
January 24th, 2009 at 10:04 pm, Wife and Mommy Says:
I completely agree. It’s utterly ridiculous.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:52 am, UrbanVox Says:
Hey… I want your job too!
and yup… me be not a big fan of musical blogs either… I am already too ADD…
January 25th, 2009 at 9:29 am, kath Says:
I agree with everyone and that doesn’t happen very often!
January 25th, 2009 at 11:10 am, Shannanb aka Mommy Bits Says:
AMEN! I would add that I don’t like contact forms or people that bury their contact information. Makes it hard for me to contact you. What if I have something witty to share?
January 25th, 2009 at 8:07 pm, Steph Says:
I must agree with you on the music thing, it bugs me too
January 25th, 2009 at 11:21 pm, mo-wo Says:
Imagine the sweatshop of the new economy when you have to read 1500 tweets!!
January 26th, 2009 at 12:59 am, Sunday Linky Love Says:
[...] has a blog pet peeve. Music. I couldn’t agree [...]
January 27th, 2009 at 5:28 pm, Nap Warden Says:
Amen.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:00 pm, BOSSY Says:
Lord, how did you even manage to compile such a succinct list. Nearly everything in the Universe gets on Bossy’s nerves!