In the category of “you can’t EVER please some people,” this week’s winner is: Sunbelt. A Sunbelt blog post this week highlights the lengths some folks will go to keep themselves detached from consumer reality.

From the Sunbelt blog:

We regret the error

In this week’s Sunbelt tech tips, we recommended a number of utilities to help clean up old files.  These recommendations came from users who provided them to us. 

Unfortunately, we have come to find that one of the utilities, Duplicate File Killer, has a partnership with 180Solutions (makers of Zango Search Assistant).   Obviously, we cannot recommend a product which advertises itself as a file cleaner, but is in cahoots with an adware company.

For now, we have removed all links referencing any duplicate file cleaners from that post — just to be safe.  

To spotlight the “logic,” let’s translate the post into an analogous context:          

We regret the error

In this week’s television tips, we recommended a number of really interesting new programs.  These recommendations came from viewers who provided them to us. 

Unfortunately, we have come to find that one of the programs we recommended is broadcast on ABC, not HBO, as we previously had been informed.  ABC shows eight minutes of advertisements during each 30-minute programming slot.  Obviously, we cannot recommend a program which portrays itself as compelling television, but is in cahoots with advertisers.

For now, we have removed all links referencing any network programming from that post – just to be safe.   

Let’s dig a little deeper. Sunbelt apparently asked its users to recommend utilities that effectively help clean up old files. It got a recommendation for Duplicate File Killer and happily passed that along to its blog audience until it learned that DFK is “broadcast on ABC, not HBO.” In other words, Duplicate File Killer is a valuable, useful utility, and it is available FREE (in exchange for seeing targeted ads), but it’s the FREE part that is troubling (to Sunbelt). 

One of the comments to Sunbelt’s post suggests that “Zango is just everywhere.” Well, we’re not quite there yet, but we’re trying. By enabling the content economy, we’re fulfilling millions of consumers’ growing demand for FREE, sought-after online videos, games, music, tools and UTILITIES. It’s valuable content of all sorts in exchange for advertising. And, while the scanning apps might not get it, our users do – as do TV viewers who continue to enjoy ad-supported network television programming.

You don’t like ads? Premium TV channels are available, for a price. You don’t mind free? Welcome, friend, to the content economy.