Nettle: One User's Experience

Just Say No

For years now (at least it seems that way), the Washington Post's website has had a registration form that you had to fill out if you wanted to read their articles. The form was annoying but relatively harmless: it did not ask for name, only year of birth, zipcode, and gender. And it provided examples of each ("1965", "20817"). So every time I encountered this form, I dutifully told the Post that I was born in 1965 and live in the 20817 zip code. Just like, I'm sure, most other Post readers.

I guess the Post finally realized it's simply too coincidental that so many people live in the 20817 zip code and were born in 1965. So now they've upped the ante.

Want to read a Post story? Fine. But first, these words:

REGISTER NOW. IT'S FREE AND IT'S REQUIRED.

Sorry, ain't gonna "submit" to your new registration. It's just not worth it.