This is indeed an interesting thread!!
I had never noticed the adverts before (i've jsut checked 2 other forums i use - AND THEY HAVE ADS TOO!!!!!)
I wonder if the constant bombardment of ads - especially on t'interweb - is leading to a new style of "comprehension"
for example - when radio ads come on, i "zone out" and if you asked me 30seconds later what adverts had been on, i couldn't tell you. Also, i am able to sing along a radio ad jingle, but not tell you what it is for - so i know the tune, but not the company or product.
When I scan newspapers, i automatically block out the adverts - rarely looking at them (except where i am specifically looking for a certain type of advert in a publication that may have one)
i use adblocker on my web browser which cuts out loads of ads, but i still use gmail and a few forums where ads like this appear. but i never look at them (though i did look at these ones because of the nature of the topic - and funnily enough, the GM one is useful to me!)
I wonder if people are becoming better at ignoring ads to focus on content - leading me to wonder what the future of advertising is?
Considering you get ads on supermarket FLOORS, the backs of airplane seats, in taxis (they even have videos ones) at petrol pumps etc etc etc - it seems every space, sound, sight, experience has us bombarded with information overload on adverts and we could just be starting to block them out automatically
thoughts? or is it just me not paying attention?