Thoughts on the level of ad-targeting.

So when I click to look at the story on the new surgeon general (odd how many postings are done immediately and some are taking forever), the list of ads along the sidebar is as follows:

1) Colon Cleansers
2) lose 47 lbs
3) anti-aging creams
4) whiter teeth
5) lose 48 lbs

Would anyone think these are related beyond the abstract discussion of "health or health care"? A typical person interested in who the surgeon general is (or at least is likely to be) is probably not a person who is likely to purchase scam-like health products, diets, etc, even though they may very likely care more about their personal health or health care. In other words, they're are probably not the typical American person for whom such ads are likely to carry some effect.

I sympathize that advertising on the web isn't quite a full-fledged developed concept with immediate and likely buyers. Ad targeting as it were in ways that TV or radio could only dream of. But it's funny when it gets it wrong.