Those pop-ups are just bait. They’re counting on you to misclick so they can cash in on that sweet ad revenue from scammy ads. The actual content is an afterthought.

Remember when the internet was pages full of just plain text and maybe one or two images? No tracking, no pop-ups, just good ol' information. Guess I'm just showing my age here but man I miss those simpler times.

This is actually a classic case of user-hostile design practices, often pushed by marketing teams with no regard for user experience. I've read multitudes of literature on web design, and these tactics are frowned upon by any credible designer. Utter rubbish, both ethically and artistically.

Yeah, those pop-ups are the worst. Did you ever accidentally click on one and get taken to some sketchy site? Happens to me all the time. I'm just trying to read, not go on an adventure through the bowels of the internet.

Okay, but like, these sites need to make money somehow, right? Doesn't make it any less irritating, but hey, if you're not paying for it with money, you're paying with your time and patience. Capitalism, baby.

Pro tip: use a browser that can block those pesky pop-ups. There are extensions out there specifically for dealing with this nonsense. No more playing whack-a-mole to read an article. Also check out Reader Mode, most modern browsers have this feature, and it’s a lifesaver!

uGh, this is why I can barely stand to read articles online anymore. I miss the old days when you didn't have to give up your firstborn child just to access some content. Thanks but no thanks.

It's like an IQ test where every wrong answer is another ad shoved in your face. I swear you need an adblocker just to maintain sanity these days.