Whahuh?

[captain_slinky]

So we're discussing this new service at work, the 800-FREE411. If you haven't heard about it, it's really cool; free 411 service for your cell phone, all you have to do is listen to a 10-second commercial before you get your results. Considering that cellular providers charge anywhere from 75-cents to $2.50 for a 411 call, this is pretty friggin' huge news!

But one of my co-werkers doesn't like the idea.

All I can think is "Huh?"

How can you NOT like that! It's FREE! It's screwing over the cellular providers (aka "The Man")! And all I gotta do is listen to "Drink Coke" before I get my number! That's just insane! It's as if they're saying "Hey, drink Coke! Adn here, have $2.50!"

But he's all against advertisements. The conversation went further to include the fact that he would even be willing to pay *extra* for movies if they didn't put the trailers at the beginning. And as my retort, I stated that I would be MORE than happy to sit through an extra ten seconds of commercials at the beginning if they gave me the movie for free.

But maybe that's me?

Can you think of other reasons why a reasonably sane person would rather PAY for 411 service? Is there something infinitely vile and evil about advertising that would make you say "No thank you, I don't want your $2.50"?

This is the first time I have ever encountered a person like this.

Comments

[spazzychic.livejournal.com]

I'll go somewhere in the middle and say this: I don't care about ads I see or hear, but I'd rather pay more and skip as many ads as possible for Sophia. She is scary commercial... "I saw this on TV! Let's buy it!"

O.o

[zannah.livejournal.com]

Couldn't you call the companies with the advertisements "the man" as well?

I, personally, prefer to pay the $1 that my provider charges me for 411 calls. I don't call 411 very often (on *average* maybe once or twice a month). When I make the call, generally I don't want to wait longer than I have to for the information I want. A couple dollars isn't that big of a deal for me for the convenience.

I did a quick informal poll at the gathering I was at this evening cause I was curious if maybe I was just totally abnormal... but about 2/3rds of the people would rather pay the money over listening to the advert, though again, many of them don't use 411 very often. It sparked an interesting conversation about advertising though. :)

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am a tightwad, eventhough I've backslid in the last few years - the last time we moved I threw away my 3-year collection of aluminum pot pie tins.

I'd listen to a commercial for 60 seconds, as long as it doesn't count against my anytime minutes. I'd want the commercials to be entertaining though. Picky me.

Of course, I have the internet & before that a REALLY BIG stack of phonebooks & haven't used 411 since I lived at my parents house on Kauai, over 10 years ago. Maybe more, because I remember finding out in high school that it cost my parents money every time I used it & from that point just... didn't... use it.

But i've come to terms with the fact that i'm frikkin WEIRD, so its okay.