December 18, 2001

6:21 PM

Your tax dollars at work?Apparently the FAA is paying $50 a click to make sure that Americans are well informed passengers. What ever happened to Public Service Announcements? Anyone want to buy a $200 screwdriver?
posted by shoepal (11 comments total)

If this is true, I urge everyone to not click the link. The next highest paying is 80 cents so 50 dollars seems maybe like a clerical error. Nevertheless it's your tax dollars so you'd only do yourself a disservice to click it...
posted by geoff. at 6:34 PM on December 18, 2001

Hmmm...I think they regard the FAA link as a sort of PSA and are not charging at all. I'm basing this on the note that says in bold "Overture is placing public service links at the top of the listings at NO cost to the charities" and "Public Service Listing" including in the description of the FAA link.
posted by sexymofo at 6:54 PM on December 18, 2001

I clicked it 437 times! Finally, I actually have some control over where my tax dollars are going.
posted by dcgartn at 6:55 PM on December 18, 2001

so maybe that was the easiest way within their CMS system to get it to float to the top. notice the descending cost...
nothing to see here people, hey you, get off that grassy knoll.
posted by machaus at 6:57 PM on December 18, 2001

Ah! Good think'n Machaus. I bet you're right. It's an inside hack.

I hereby withdraw my post. (perhaps the man behind the curtain will work his magic)
posted by shoepal at 7:04 PM on December 18, 2001

yeah, it says the same thing for 'new york times' - i think they can just work out some deal that leaves them at #1 but they don't get charged for it... or at least not that much.
posted by ggggarret at 7:24 PM on December 18, 2001

There is also a note at the top of the page:

"Special Note: Overture is placing public service links at the top of the listings at NO cost to the charities."
posted by mtstover at 7:30 PM on December 18, 2001

And the note next to the faa. "Special Service Announcement" They're not paying anything. This just keeps it at the top of the list.
posted by jeblis at 7:36 PM on December 18, 2001

A similar Anthrax-related Overture listing
posted by SilentSalamander at 9:46 PM on December 18, 2001

as of 7:24pm PST they've delisted the $50 price tag and replaced the 'Cost to advertiser:' tag entirely. sorting is now a little screwy:

Anthrax query:
36.DoD Anthrax Information
Presents the threat of anthrax spores used as an agent in germ warfare. Explains the disease and methods of prevention and cure.
www.anthrax.osd.mil

Air Travel query:
www.faa.gov doesn't even show up anymore.
posted by donkeysuck at 7:27 PM on December 19, 2001

um, replaced = removed
posted by donkeysuck at 7:30 PM on December 19, 2001