In this post, I compiled a list of the 10 most annoying things I experience on the web. There are more annoyances out there, but since these 10 annoyances popped up in my mind first, then they probably are the most annoying things on the web for me.

10. Web Development misconceptions

People Who think that:

• Whoever “knows” HTML can write decent markup.
• JavaScript isn’t worth learning since many scripts’ websites are available online.
• FrontPage is the best choice (or even an option) for designing web sites.
• PHP is a language for amateur programmers.
• CSS-based layouts are just a fad.
• “Graphic Designers” are the ones responsible for “Web Design” since both names share the “design” part, even though Web Design involves coding.

And a few other things I don’t recall right now.

9. “Hackers”

How many of the people online who claim that they’re “hackers” are real hackers? I’d say around 20% or less. Many of those so-called “hackers” actually know nothing but how to use tools and exploits found by the real hackers, and they even brag about it. Not only that, but they also keep picking those supposed-to-be-scary nick names like “black death”, “cyber claw”, “viper”…etc and expect to be respected. Pathetic, I say.

8. Web 2.0

Whatever this buzzword means, I personally dislike it, and now find it pretty annoying after being excessively used (and misused) on the web. I don’t find the idea of associating version numbers with the ‘web’ appealing at all. They could’ve came up with a more descriptive term like “interactive websites” or “interactive web applications” for example.

I hope this is the last “version” we’ll see before they come up with a more convenient buzzword for newer web technologies in the future.

7. Misleading Search Results

How many times have you tried to search for something online and got misleading search results? For example, if you search for ‘free online games’, you might get back results with ’special discount on free online games’, ‘looking for free online games? We have it all!’ or maybe even ‘meet your free online games today’. Once you click on any of these links, you’re taken to a totally unrelated web site, which are most of the time…./p>

6. Affiliate websites

Whenever I stumble upon one of thoses Affiliate Website, All I see is ignorance and greed. These kinds of websites pretend that they cover everything about something, or sometimes everything about everything, with hundreds if not thousands of links leading to the websites they’re affiliated with.

Affiliate websites also have some sort of naming convention when it comes to their domain names (either that or their owners don’t want to spend some time thinking of a one): basically a few words separated by hyphens like “get-cool-shoes-now.com”, “discount-on-insruance.com”, “we-have-the-cheapest-books.com” and the list goes on.

As annoying and as canned as they seem, some people still have them as their biggest source of income, which really surprises me.

5. Flash Ads

Ads aren’t annoying if placed and used properly, but then we have those Flash ads that move around the screen, flicker, auto-play a movie or block a portion (or sometimes ALL) of your view port just to get your attention, and good luck finding that little hidden ‘X’ or ‘close’ button to close it (if any). A click in the wrong place would send you to the ad’s website.

4. Pyramid schemes

Do I really need to explain this one? Even though it started ages ago, it still fools so many people. Why would I believe that, by doing nothing, I’d make a plenty of cash online or get a free laptop when I refer 17 people (or so) to a sign up with a specific site?

That isn’t annoying by itself. What’s annoying is the number of spammers who desperately try to spread their links any way possible, repeating all of the crap they’ve read on the website they’re trying to make money from.

3. Flash-based Websites

There’s nothing worse than having to wait for a flash site to load when I just want to get some quick info from it. What makes it worse is that flash-based web sites usually require every single section to load separately.

If you insist on making a flash-based web site, then the least you can do is provide an HTML version of your site. I personally value the content more than the fancy layout, and I’m sure so many people out there feel the same way.

2. Horribly-structured Web Sites

If you don’t already know what this means, then just go to any university’s web site and you’ll probably get a clear idea of what I’m talking about. You’d go there looking for something, and eventually find yourself in the middle of no where. You don’t know where you are or where the information you need lies. You might even end up following the same links over and over until you leave the site with frustration.

1. Our country’s site filter

Yes, our country’s main ISP forces us to use a proxy server so it can block access to inappropriate websites. I actually don’t mind the concept itself, but when the people behind this proxy keep blocking common websites such as flickr, imageshack and many file upload websites, that’s when it gets really annoying.

Picture this: an image upload website launches, it’s unblocked by default. One day, someone uploads a porn picture and sends the link to his/her friends. Once our ISP finds out, the WHOLE site is blocked. They even blocked Wikipedia once because some articles had some nudity.