I find it hard to read a book with someone yammering at me in the background. (It's not just a screen, it's a speaker too.)

I've seen volume/mute buttons on some of those.
That's good to know! Thanks for the heads-up. I'll look next time I'm there.

The local independent station probably won't install this kind of pump. But there's usually a line at it during the day. I'll need to switch my gas-buying to the evening.

It annoys me that I can't get a minutes of nothingness.

Per-zacktly.

I sent e-mail to Shell...

I don't hate stationary ads, although when they appear in new places (like the *floor* of the grocery store) I am bemused.

What I hate are noisy, moving ads in places where I am trying to concentrate on something else. It's hard for me not to be distracted by them.

I am annoyed by the ads at movie theaters for the reason you state, but it doesn't bother me as much, because they aren't distracting me from something else I want to do. Also, movie theaters are elective for me right now, but gas stations aren't.

Yeppers on the web browser stuff. NoScript rules.

It's true that filling the car doesn't require concentration, but I just have a general objection to noisy, moving ads unless they're on a screen I'm deliberately sitting in front of.

it's not about concentration for me, it's about the bloody noise pollution. i'd like less of it, please. less of moving, flickering ad stuff too; i can tune out still pictures, but not movement (which is why the a*holes do it, of course). there is quite enough for my visual cortex to do without ads tiring it out, thanks.

i'd stop buying gas from my station if they installed this sort of crap. fortunately they're a small backwoods independent, and are unlikely to do it. heck, we can't even pay with a card at the pump yet. :)

google text ads rule, if one must have ads (i am often willing to pay so i don't have to see any).