# Super annoying "WINNER" ad with flashy lights **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 31, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808 "2003-05-31T19:07:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/1 "2003-05-31T19:07:41Z")
There was an episode of Now and Again where the main character Michael Wiseman fell into a catatonic state caused by a series of flashing lights. I think of that whenever I come across a web page that has that super annoying “WINNER” banner ad. I did a search here about photosensitive epilepsy and found three threads. Here’s [one of them](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146169&highlight=photosensitive+epilepsy). I try to avoid web sites that I know carry that ad, but now and then I accidentally stumble across one and have to quickly avert my eyes while hitting the “back” button. I’ve never suffered an epileptic seizure, but I do find myself feeling very weird and not well if I don’t look away quickly enough from that “WINNER” flashing ad. If it was up to me I’d abolish those “WINNER” flashy ads. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Ennui](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ennui/32/3396_2.png) [@Ennui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ennui)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/2 "2003-05-31T20:03:30Z")
That was one of the adds that prodded me to learn about the “Host” file on my comp. [This site](http://www.smartin-designs.com/) gives you some basic details on how to do it, but you can block any offending add or website from ever appearing on your screen. Why anyone would buy a product or service from any company that uses such obnoxious methods to publicize themselves is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/3 "2003-06-01T02:52:22Z")
FWIW you can block annoying popups and banner ads by using Norton Internet Security. (Buy it from Symantec only, not any of the spammers.) (Duh.) There may be other products that do it too. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/4 "2003-06-01T02:57:49Z")
FWIW you can block annoying popups and banner ads by using Norton Internet Security. (Buy it from Symantec only, not any of the spammers.) (Duh.) There may be other products that do it too. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/5 "2003-06-01T14:49:39Z")
I call it an electronic eyesore. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/6 "2003-06-01T15:40:51Z")
I couldn’t pick which one of these smart-ass replies to reply with, so: A. Reference to something that actually happened: PIKACHUUUU! B. _Simpsons_ reference: You a winnah! Hah hah hah! You a winnah! Hah hah hah! (I thought of this when I read the thread title) ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/7 "2003-06-01T19:03:58Z")
**mobo85** , do kindly treat this with some level of seriousness, please? I don’t get how advertising people are permitted to run an ad which could cause seizures in a portion of persons with epilepsy (as Cecil states, they often warn patrons before using [strobe lights in a play](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_423a.html)). If a person (or their parents) realizes that they are unable to view certain flashing lights, a warning may suffice – but what do we do about people with epilepsy who are as yet undiagnosed? Are they being unwittingly exposed to possible seizure triggers via the internet, where there is no warning before the display of these ads? IANA medical professional, I have no idea how this works, but is it a severe danger that could trigger epileptic seizures for some? ---
**Author:** ![Dodeca\_Aww\_Hell\_With\_It](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dodeca\_Aww\_Hell\_With\_It](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dodeca_Aww_Hell_With_It)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/8 "2003-06-01T19:56:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lel \* > \*\ ***mobo85** , do kindly treat this with some level of seriousness, please? > > I don’t get how advertising people are permitted to run an ad which could cause seizures in a portion of persons with epilepsy – but what do we do about people with epilepsy who are as yet undiagnosed? Are they being unwittingly exposed to possible seizure triggers via the internet, where there is no warning before the display of these ads? \*\* Well, this being the United States of America, aka Proud Home Of The Absurdly Insane And Pointless Lawsuit, I have no doubt that someone will sue for something like $2.6 billion in punitive damages. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_the\_CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_the\_CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_the_CC)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/9 "2003-06-01T20:01:43Z")
Well… Mariemarie just used it, and between lurk time and registered time I’ve been here about 2 years and still don’t know what it means… So… Could someone please tell me what the hell FWIW stands for? ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/10 "2003-06-01T20:06:29Z")
FWIW = “For What It’s Worth” ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-annoying-winner-ad-with-flashy-lights/178808/11 "2003-06-02T12:42:04Z")
Yeah, the otherwise really good [realitynewsonline.com](http://realitynewsonline.com) site has that one, and it keeps sneaking by my pop-up stopper. Grrrrrr!! Die you sack of lying shit pop up-- I didn’t win fucking shit so quit bugging me! :mad: