|
AOL: computerless subscribers
|
Posted By:
skeptic
Nov 17, 2004
|
This site has a disclaimer that it is mainly a spoof site.
The article URL is:
http://www.watleyreview.com/2004/111604-3.html
It quotes people from AOL and Wired magazine to the effect that 40% of AOL subscribers don't own a computer. They quote a guy from Kentucky as saying "I thought it was a souvenir".
I don't know how they thought this statistic was remotely plausible...
|
Comments
The Curator
in San Diego
Member
|
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 | 01:06 AM
To be honest, I'm amazed that AOL has managed to survive as long as it has. There was a time in the mid 90s when it was the easiest way to get internet access, but that ceased being the case long ago. I assume that nowadays people subscribe to it mainly for the chat rooms. |
Maegan
|
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 | 09:05 AM
My husband has dealings with AOL thru a contract company...it's a game to them to screw with people on tech-help calls. Prank callers? They call them back. They get people to sign up for the stupidest things...
Luckily he's changing jobs soon & won't have to deal with them anymore! |
Terry Austin
|
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 | 11:16 AM
I have a movie industry friend who uses AOL. His reason? Because AOL has dial-up numbers in Guatamala (and every other country he's ever been in, and it's been quite a few). |
Paul
|
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 | 04:47 PM
That's NINE MILLION people. More than half the citizens in Holland!
What are these people thinking! "They sent me a shiny mirror, maybe I should give them some money."
Wow...either these people are really thick or AOL has one hell of a marketing campaign. |
Paul
|
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 | 05:53 PM
Nah, it's a hoax. Couldn't find any other site with this news. |
Maegan
|
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 | 11:37 AM
I know that a lot of people can't use the internet without an interface program. AOL has this. Instead of opening up a window and being on the internet, you have your mail, search engines, help tools, chat media right in front of you. You never have to navigate something on your own. This is a helpful tool for a lot of people. The only problem is that AOL tends to trash your computer in the process. Once I got beyond needing to the interface between me and the web...I got my parents to sign us up with this unheard of company (Even now, I think they've merged w/ another no-name company) so that I could at least dial-up. Once DSL came on the scene though...that changed it all & I basically was the driving force behind my parents moving forward in internet technology.
My little sister still uses AIM to talk to her friends. It does seem to be an easy way to chat...but again, trashing your computer is the downside. I never trusted messaging programs...always figured that no matter what, there would be a way to go back and find the conversation. |
Cliff
|
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 | 01:04 PM
Yeah, it's a hoax, but the fact that it's believable tells you all you need to know about AOL.
They're in the business of keeping people ignorant. Which, is sadly what people want. They don't want to know, they just want it to work. So, I can't say as I blame them too much. |
|
Note: This thread is located in the Old Forum of the Museum of Hoaxes.
|
