I saw the following in one of my Backup Exec failure logs (directory names changed slightly to protect the client’s name, and me):
Directory F:\ITWEB\Flash Stuff\Welcome Page Animations was not found, or could not be accessed.
None of the files or subdirectories contained within will be backed up.
Hmm. Flash animations.I’m torn. My duty to the client who is paying me, of course, is to fix the problem so the file is backed up.
But they’re blinky, annoying Flash animations. Flash, of course, is the third worst thing to ever happen to the Internet, behind popups and spam. OK, it’s the fourth worst thing. I’ll put it behind spam. But I’ll even put it ahead of Microsoft Internet Exploiter.
So an opportunity to snuff out some blinky Flash animations that have been foisted on the world is a great temptation.
Or am I the only one who feels this way about Flash?
Incidentally, I turn off animated GIFs too–I find a Web without animated GIFs and Flash is a much more pleasant place. I don’t know if that makes me boring and extremist or what.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He has written professionally about computers since 1991, so he was writing about retro computers when they were still new. He has been working in IT professionally since 1994 and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He holds Security+ and CISSP certifications. Today he blogs five times a week, mostly about retro computers and retro gaming covering the time period from 1975 to 2000.
I can’t comment on the moral dilemma – I have no authority, and the Bible is silent (although Flash could probably be related to pride).
I can comment on the setup I use – FireFox, along with the AdBlock and FlashBlock extensions. They make the world a more friendly place – fewer sharp edges and irritations. They work on Linux and Windows, are free, and the world would be a poorer place without them.
Kinda like this site. Dave, thanks for sharing your dilemma. Let us know your final choice.
Render unto Caesar.
I think Flash can be a valuable tool, exactly like a knife, hammer, gunpowder, or many others. When used inappropriately, it’s entirely unnecessary and annoying. Re: your moral dilemna, I’d insure the files get backed up, and submit a gentle suggestion to someone who might be able to tone down any possibly excessive use of Flash files.
It’s sad, really. It reminds me of co-workers who first discovered the ANSI characteristics of the VT100 CRT, and insisted on using blinking, bold, and double-wide, double-high characters for way too many things.