I guess just about everyone has one or more 'Pet Peeves'. I have quite a few of them, but this is the one I have almost every time I surf the 'Net.
Register! I have to register to view the content. What I want to know, is why? I can understand why some sites may need to have registered users, such as forums, so that added content can be removed if it is objectionable or inflammatory in nature and the user who posted it removed or prevented from posting again. (Like a good moderated Yahoo Group!)
But why do I have to register to view the content? These sites want my email address, but claim they won't sell or use the address to send email (spam) unless I request such cyber missives. Then why do they need it? Just because they can ask for it? A lot of the media type websites ask for me to register to view their content, this is especially irritating! Most of the content on media sites I can find for free on another site by using Google,unless it is locally produced. They don't charge me to register, at least most don't, but in order to view it, I have to login with my user name and password. (If there is a charge, I go elsewhere because someone, somewhere will have the information for free.)
They will say if asked, they want to know what users are looking for so they can provide more content of a similar nature. Well, duh! That can be checked by looking at web statistics, which tell webmasters which pages are being visted the most (or least). I can't believe they don't have access to web statistics.
Since I don't really trust these sites to never sell or otherwise reveal my personal information, I use a throw-away email address and input a false name and physical address. This way I can test these sites to see if they are really telling the truth about keeping my information private. I am quite confident that I am not the only one to do this, in fact I am pretty sure most savvy users do the same.
I get a LOT of email, from friends, group lists, newsletters, etc. (I get a lot of SPAM too, but I don't open that). A lot of the emails contain links to web pages that the sender thinks I will like. Some of those sites I do like, they may contain pictures, interesting facts or one of my favorites, a funny joke. What really irritates me though, is being bombarded with loud music and no way to turn it off without muting the sound on my computer!
Needless to say, I don't go back to those sites! If they would give the option to hear the music, that would be ok, but don't just assume I want to hear everything the site maker thinks I should!