Why did I just get redirected to an online gambling site?

“By this time tomorrow, it'll be like browsing a whole new CHUD.”

Yep, that’s the truth. I open up the CHUD front page, I automatically get redirected to www.pacificpoker.com. Not a pop up. Not a flash ad. It takes me away from CHUD and onto the gambling site. That’s totally cool. It means Nick, Russ, Planet-Devin etc get their money. Because before when we had the problem with...

“YOU’RE STEALING FROM US.”

...it was the issue of people using pop up blockers to annihilate flash ads. To solve the problem? Redirect them. Problem solved.

It doesn’t happen every single time. But it does happen. And I’m not clicking on anything to direct me. As Nick has already screamed in his head/started typing; ‘It’s only a few seconds of inconvenience that allows for the site to keep running and for us to get paid!’

I can’t stop you from thinking that way. But I’d rather pop ups or flash ads so long as they have a ‘x’ to close the thing- “THAT'S STEALING-”

(As I’m writing this I’ve received the following message through MSN: “Oli says: Why does chud link me to pacific poker with no way of getting to chud.”)

This post isn’t to start shit with the site admin, even though I can see the logic forming already. (Nick- 'you criticized our income methods on our site, which we let you write on, thus you are stealin- hang on...you were trying to start some shit.') Rather I’d like to highlight one of the good things that happened on CHUD recently.

Mr Beaks went back to AICN, where he is welcome to report that the Wolverine panel makes him feel “I’m twelve again!” Beaks, I don’t doubt that for a second, most people on that site still feel that way. That’s why I like CHUD. The people are more level headed, they aren’t so attached to properties that they go on illiterate rants. There isn’t some guy who posts “DAMN YOU MICHAEL BAY” in every single talkback.  I can kind of gauge people’s age by their comments on CHUD. Not on AICN. They appear to be the thoughts of children, but there’s always the chance that the person posting their anguish are twenty, even thirty.

People who don’t remember that Transformers was a line of toys. The show only existed to sell toys. If Optimus Prime’s flames were introduced by a toy company, deal with it, because that’s they’re the only reason you had x amount of hours of television to watch as a kid.

AICN writers are generally incapable of coming up with constructive criticism. When CHUD did the tag team of Crystal Skull I genuinely learnt more about what was wrong with that film. That’s why I read here.

A quote like Beak’s belongs on AICN because that’s what they do best; refrain from growing up. And inaccurate reporting. They’ve now adopted the word ‘Geekasm.’ Wow. It means you’re equating something in a film with getting blown/whacked off/boned/anal. The feeling is not the same. It’s a feeling of giddiness and you should use that word instead.

And whine. They whine and whine and then some more. But we all know this. That’s why I go to CHUD. To avoid whining. No unjustified whining on CHUD.

No whining at all...

And then Devin goes and blogs about how you should stop going to see a movie you like. Devin tells you how you should spend your time and money. Devin wishes to inform you that your choice is strangling independent film industry. Yep, you have half a point here. Almost a full point.

Here’s what I do understand; you are sick of hearing about The Dark Knight. As a film site writer I can see how you’ve been swamped by everything TDK for a long time now. You like the film but you don’t think the response is justified. Totally valid.

Here’s what I don’t understand; why pretend you’re the wise man on the mountain and tell people to stop seeing a movie they like. I for one agree that over-watching a film is not a good thing. I learnt my lesson by over-doing Fight Club. But as for people over-exposing themselves to TDK, let them find out for themselves. It's not as if they're supporting a shitty film. And if they think that watching it 100 times doesn’t detract from the experience, let them find their own way over to AICN, the place where there is no such thing as too much. Until you’re Harry and food intake and lack of exercise threatens you with diabetes and you go for surgery, because diabetes can cause blindness, which would mean no movie watching. THAT’S when you take action. Fuck, Knowles is an atrocious poster boy for his kind.

When you argue that TDK ticket money would be better off spent on the indies, well they’re not showing everywhere. Certainly aren’t where I am. What if they genuinely look unappealing to them? To go see indies and prestige pics just to have seen them can lump you in with the type of people who live to cite films and directors that people have never heard of. (Hi Adam!)

What if you shouldn’t be telling people what to do with their money? Especially when you’re telling us what we should be doing to give you yours.

Here’s my biggest beef with Devin’s piece. I really, really don’t understand the mentality behind ‘Make sure you click on the two to three Dark Knight ads on our site, but don’t go see the movie again.’

Why? Because we’ll be childish if we see it again? Because we’ll be stealing? Because the adult thing to do is to see a film in moderation, whilst clicking on links for THE DARK KNIGHT RINGTONES?

Or is it because the adult thing to do is to lecture your readership on not just how they use your site, but also their spare time?

Nope. No it isn’t. Devin, you’re wrong. You’re trying to achieve too much. Just write well and think it through.

What would make more sense would be actively pursuing companies like HDnet and 2929 for advertising. If they don’t want to place ads here, ask again, or attempt to find something similar. Because it is these people who are trying to bring smaller films to everyone when TDK is taking over cinemas. They are trying to forge a new release model. They are the future of indie films. It would make more sense than making my CHUD experience start with having to get away from online gambling sites.*

*These break up the continuity of you’re writing, as well as the reading experience. You know this.