Can I just say something that really bugs me? And the reason that it bothers me so much, I think, is because most people probably have no clue about it.

People who use TypePad have the ability to add little "What I'm Reading" or "What I'm Listening To" lists on their blogs, little nicely formatted lists with pictures of books or CD's that link to the item's page on Amazon. But they're also already nicely formatted with Six Apart's account number, so if anyone clicks on the item and buys it at Amazon, Six Apart gets the commission.

Maybe everyone does know that, and just doesn't care, but it bothers me because it smacks of taking advantage.

I've been following the big discussion over at Wish Jar Journal about advertising on blogs. Frankly, I'd love to find a way to make some income off my sites--my only weblog-related revenue is the approximately $50/year I make from Amazon.com links--but I've never felt comfortable with ads.

For me, it's always been less of a moral dilemma and more of a design-related one, so I'm not speaking from any moral high ground.

I don't begrudge anyone making money off their work, or off a hobby, I just decided at some point that it wasn't for me. I stick to my little Amazon links and make a few cents, and those few cents, being found money, delight me. I buy a book or two each quarter with my tiny revenue, and that makes me happy.

But finding a way to sneak my Amazon.com account number into someone else's site would make me feel like one of those cartoon villains with the handlebar mustache, dry-washing my hands and chuckling evilly ....

Anyway, I just noticed that TypePad thing again today and it irked me. Even though it doesn't affect me personally, I don't like it.