Browse enough tech-related web site and you're bound to find something on Microsoft's smart tags. The best article describing them I've found is at A List Apart (link via The Flangy News). Please read this if you don't already have an understanding of smart tags. It's a bit lengthy and technical, but I think it's necessary for anyone who wants to understand what Microsoft is trying to pull off here.
Smart tags are a feature of Windows XP, Office XP, and IE 6 (currently still in beta). They're a feature
that I'm adamantly opposing. Using smart tags, every web site an IE 6 user visits becomes an ad for Microsoft. This personal site isn't designed to be an ad for Microsoft. Thus, I will most likely block IE 6 users in some way. Some other users have already come up with such solutions: Microsoft Free Fridays and complete denial of entry to IE 6 (links via A List Apart).
Microsoft has turned every web site viewed in IE 6 into a money making machine for themselves. As much as I can help it, Microsoft will not be making money from the content of this web site. I am currently investigating ways to block smart tags from this site. I apologize if that alienates anyone that likes reading my content. However, I think an MS boycott is in order.
Granted, it seems a bit egotistical to think that my readers will go out of their way (as I assume that they're using the market-dominating IE--as soon as IE 6 is released, it will be everywhere too) to read my content. Well, I'd rather be accused of having a huge ego than allow MS to profit from my site; that's how appalled I am.
It's not even just an issue about Microsoft profiting from my content. Smart tags are distracting and confusing. ZDNet has a great article describing smart tags and illustrating the above point (link via AllMyFaqs). More information about smart tags, including a supposed way disabling smart tags via HTML code is available (link via comp.infosystems.www.authoring.html).
