AI funny peculiar or funny haha

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Make this story more funny ,

‘Easy come, easy go A million pounds in ad revenue at AOL Turning off the homepage take over ad. Back in 2000 portals offered users the simplest way to access the web. AOL was mailing out CD’s to the public and they were subscribing to AOL to get access to the internet. AOL was for most people in the UK an ISP. But it also had its own browser and content. AOL had a large content team, creating a range channels and made money out of serving adverts along with the story. Sadly no-one really looked at the content as when you launched AOL, the customer was served with a full screen banner ad, obscuring the homepage. They then used the AOL browser or another browser to surf the internet. I argued that we should stop serving the front page take over add and then the users would see the homepage, engage in the content and the lost revenue on the full screen take over would be replaced by the revenue from users actually exposing the AOL channels content. The loss of revenue from not serving the front page full screen take over would be made up for by the revenue from the adverts served with the content. I wasn’t aware of the revenue the company got from the full screen take over ads on the front page. But some one from sales appeared at my desk and told me the ads were staying as we didn’t want to loose hundreds of thousands if not a million in ad revenue. An early important lesson in the mechanics of design decisions. Making a million pound homepage The flip side was that when we redesigned the homepage CMS we built it around the serving of adverts. Nowadays this would seem trivial. But the homepage had fixed sized slots for adverts. So when the inventory had sold out in a particular ad slot Aol had to run internal promo’s. The solution was a homage grid that allowed for skyscraper ads and 360 ads and other formats to be interchangeable. AOL’s homepage content modules adapted to fit around the ad format. We didn’t have to run internal adverts. Our then head of UK content proclaimed that we’d created the million pound homepage. I learnt that in a volume game a lot of small changes adds up very quickly.’

Chat GPT has a go

ChatGPT said:

Sure! Here’s your story rewritten with a funnier, more playful tone—still keeping the essence of your original tale, just with a bit more spice and sass:

Easy Come, Easy Go: The Accidental Million-Pound Oopsie

Back in the heady days of the early 2000s—when the internet made weird dial-up noises and websites took five minutes to load—AOL was riding high. Their marketing strategy? Mail out literal mountains of CDs to the unsuspecting British public. If you had a coffee table in the UK in 2000, chances are it had an AOL CD under it.

People thought AOL was the internet. It wasn’t just an ISP—it had its own browser, content, and an overwhelming sense of self-importance. AOL’s homepage was lovingly crafted by a team of content creators who poured their souls into beautifully boring articles about horoscopes, celebrity gossip, and the top 10 ways to clean your keyboard.

And no one saw any of it.

Why? Because when users opened AOL, they were smacked in the face with a glorious, full-screen, soul-crushing banner ad. It completely covered the homepage like an overenthusiastic magician’s cape—ta-da! No content for you!

Being a noble and well-meaning employee (and possibly a bit sleep-deprived), I had the brilliant idea:
“Hey, what if… hear me out… we don’t slap our users in the face with a giant ad as soon as they log in?”

Wild stuff, I know.

My logic? If people could actually see the homepage, they might, you know, use it. Click around. Engage with our painstakingly curated content. And we could make money off the normal ads sprinkled between cat videos and astrology.

What I didn’t know was that the giant homepage takeover ad made about a million pounds a year.

Yeah. A cool million. Just from blocking people’s view.

Moments after I floated my “small tweak” idea, someone from sales materialized at my desk like an ad-funded ghost and said (in a tone that suggested they hadn’t slept since Y2K),
“We’re not turning that off. That’s a million quid. Are you mad?”

Lesson learned: sometimes, UX gets a polite backseat when there’s a big fat money cannon on the roof.

The Million Pound Homepage: But Make It Flexible

Still, not all hope was lost. Later, when we redesigned the homepage CMS, we made it smart. Revolutionary. Sexy. Okay, maybe just “less bad.”

Back then, you couldn’t just slot in ads willy-nilly. Each ad slot was a specific size, and when we ran out of advertisers? We had to fill the space with tragic, awkward internal promos. “Check out AOL Pets!” (No one did.)

So we built a new layout—a sort of Tetris grid of dreams. Ads could now transform like Optimus Prime: from skyscraper to leaderboard, from 360 ad to “please buy this.” And the content danced nimbly around them like a trained gymnast avoiding eye contact with a sponsor.

Suddenly, we weren’t just filling space—we were making money. All the little design tweaks added up. Our head of UK content dramatically declared we’d created… drumroll…
“The Million Pound Homepage.”

No biggie.

Moral of the story? In a volume business, even small changes can pile up into giant piles of cash. Also: always ask how much an ad is worth before you try to delete it.

Let me know if you want an even more exaggerated or snarky version!

Chat GPT + Wodehouse:

You said:

I think it could be shorter and more PG wodehouuse

ChatGPT said:

Absolutely! Let’s go for a cheekier, more concise version with a P.G. Wodehouse flair—light, witty, and a touch of British sarcasm:

Easy Come, Easy Go: The Million-Pound Mishap

Ah, the year 2000. AOL, the internet’s gatekeeper, was mailing out CDs like confetti at a New Year’s bash, and the British public was none the wiser. The AOL homepage was a grand affair—if you didn’t mind being greeted by a full-screen ad that blocked your view like a sullen butler at a dinner party.

Naturally, I thought, “What if we just… let people see the homepage? Engage with our content, perhaps?” Simple, really. After all, surely we could make actual money from adverts within the content itself, rather than from an intrusive billboard on the front lawn.

I presented my bright idea to the powers that be, only to be met with a horror-stricken look from Sales.
“Lose a million pounds in ad revenue? You must be joking,” they said, clutching their pearls in disbelief.

Lesson learned: in the grand scheme of design, money always trumps user experience.

The Million-Pound Homepage: A Stroke of Genius (Sort Of)

Fast forward to the homepage redesign. The solution? A grid layout that let ads change shape more often than a chameleon at a party. No more awkward internal promos or “AOL Pets” banners—just a seamless flow of billboard-worthy ads slotting perfectly into place.

It worked. Content danced around the ads with the grace of a debutante at her first ball, and our head of UK content, with all the gravity of a man who had just discovered the secret to eternal youth, declared:
“We’ve created the Million-Pound Homepage!”

Who knew a few small tweaks could lead to such grandeur?

What do you think? Hopefully, it’s a bit lighter, with that Wodehousian charm!

Chat GPT + Jerome K Jerome:

You said:

Yes its sharper maybe try jerome K Jerome

ChatGPT said:

Ah, I see the direction now—more droll, with that dry, self-deprecating humour that Jerome K. Jerome nails so effortlessly. Here’s a slightly more refined, yet still witty version in that style:

Easy Come, Easy Go: A Million Pounds and a Pity

It was the year 2000, a time when AOL, in its infinite wisdom, believed the best way to introduce the world to the internet was by mailing out CDs as though they were the new edition of The Times. People eagerly opened them, expecting to receive a window to the world, only to find themselves face-to-face with a full-screen ad. A curious approach, but who was I to argue?

Now, one might have thought that a homepage, which is, after all, supposed to be seen, might be more useful without the ad constantly obscuring it. It seemed a reasonable notion: if people could actually see our content, they might, just might, look at it. And then, surely, the money would roll in from ads within the content, replacing the lost revenue from the “takeover.”

I mentioned this to a few people, but it wasn’t long before one from Sales appeared, eyes wide with horror.
“Stop the ads? My dear fellow, do you have any idea how much that brings in?”
“Well… no.”
“A cool million, that’s what!” he replied, clutching his wallet as though it were a small child.

And there we had it. An important lesson: never underestimate the power of a full-screen ad to blind you to reality.

The Million-Pound Homepage: A Minor Masterpiece

Fast-forward to the redesign. We had a challenge: make a homepage that wouldn’t leave us scrambling for internal promos when ads ran out. The solution? A cunning grid that allowed ads to shapeshift with the elegance of a contortionist at a circus. Suddenly, there was no more awkward “Check out AOL Pets!” plastered where a decent ad should be.

The result? A homepage that could handle more ads than a bustling London street on Boxing Day. Our head of UK content, with the sort of solemnity reserved for a man who’d just witnessed the birth of a cash cow, declared triumphantly:
“We’ve created the Million-Pound Homepage!”

And there we had it. Small changes, it seems, can make for very large sums.

How does that feel? A little more of that Jerome K. Jerome “well, isn’t this all rather amusing” tone?

Chat GPT + Oscar Wilde:

You said:

Try to make it as short as possible and by Oscar Wilde

ChatGPT said:

Ah, now we’re talking! An Oscar Wilde version—sharp, witty, and with just the right hint of sardonic elegance. Here’s your story, as brief as possible, Wilde-style:

Easy Come, Easy Go: The Million-Pound Paradox

In 2000, AOL decided that the internet, much like a dinner party, was best introduced with an unwelcome guest—the full-screen ad. This, naturally, obscured the homepage, making the content all but invisible.

I, in my youthful naivety, suggested we might just let people see the homepage, and thus engage with our content. In return, we could make money from those rather clever ads placed within the articles.

“Lose a million pounds in ad revenue?” came the reply, delivered with all the horror of a man discovering he’s been wearing his dinner jacket to the wrong party. “Absolutely not!”

And so, a million pounds remained steadfastly wedged between the user and the homepage.

The Million-Pound Homepage: A Study in Commerce

Fast forward to the redesign. We crafted a layout so flexible that ads could shapeshift, avoiding the dreaded internal promos like a gentleman avoids unpleasant conversation.

“Behold,” said our head of UK content, his eyes gleaming with the knowledge of a thousand transactions, “the Million-Pound Homepage!”

A small, yet pecuniarily significant victory. It turns out, in business, a little flexibility goes a long way—provided you’re not too proud to embrace a good ad.

How’s that? Wildean enough to amuse with a touch of biting wit?

Chat GPT + WS Gilbert

You said:

can you do it in the style of the song a modern major general by gilbert and sullivan?

ChatGPT said:

Ah, now that’s a delightful challenge! A song in the style of Gilbert and Sullivan—sharp, rhythmic, and full of wit. Here’s your story, sung to the merry tune of “I am the very model of a modern Major-General”:

The Tale of the Million-Pound Ad

(Verse 1)
I am the man who saw the folly of the AOL front page,
With ads that blocked the content, like a very pointless cage!
I thought we’d simply let them see the homepage without that great blockade,
And surely we would make some cash from ads in articles displayed!

(Chorus)
But oh, the salesmen cried out, “Do not dare to touch that plan!
A million pounds are wrapped within that ad—a sum no man can!”

(Verse 2)
I thought, “How clever, how sublime, to place ads where they belong!”
But little did I know, they’d think my plan was far too wrong!
They told me with much passion, “That ad brings in a lovely sum!
The homepage will stay hidden—until the revenue’s become!”

(Chorus)
And so, the homepage ad did stay, despite my clever plea,
For one must never alter ads when such a fortune there you see!

(Verse 3)
But later on, we made a plan, a grid so full of grace,
Where ads could shift and change about—no awkward empty space!
We fitted them with style and ease, and never had to stall,
Our page was rich with adverts, and a million pounds did fall!

(Chorus)
And so we built a homepage grand, with shifting ads to show,
And proudly did our head declare, “Behold, our revenue grows!”

(Outro)
Now I know the truth at last, in design, it’s plain to see—
That small tweaks lead to massive gains, and money flows quite free!

There you go! A Gilbert and Sullivan-style rendition of your story—fast-paced, full of clever rhymes, and just the right amount of light satire. Does it fit the bill?

Chat GPT + Ronnie Corbett

You said:

Finally try the style of Ronnie Corberts monologues in the two Ronnies with their good humour and slightly chatty tone

ChatGPT said:

Ah, the classic Ronnie Corbett—perfect! A bit of cheeky charm, a dash of self-deprecation, and a lovely sense of being in on the joke. Here we go, in the style of Ronnie’s famous monologues from The Two Ronnies:

Easy Come, Easy Go: The Million-Pound Debacle
(Imagine Ronnie Corbett perched on a chair, leaning forward with a twinkle in his eye and a slight smile.)

You know, back in the year 2000—I remember it well, I had more hair then and less of it now—AOL was sending out CDs like they were going out of fashion. And let me tell you, it was all over the place. You’d open your front door and there’d be a CD—“Free Internet!” it said, “Free! All you need is a phone line.” I thought, “Blimey, that’s a bargain!” But you’d soon find out—what they didn’t tell you was that once you signed up, you were greeted by this massive full-screen ad every time you opened AOL. It was like opening your front door and someone sticking a billboard in your face. Very… welcoming.

Now, I had this bright idea one day, quite proud of myself, I said, “Well, I’ve been thinking… What if we just, you know, don’t block the homepage with the ad? Maybe the users might actually see the content we’ve spent all this time and effort creating?” Simple, really.

But before I could even finish my little speech, in walked someone from Sales—you know the type, the sort of person who looks like they’ve just sold you a bridge and is waiting for your cheque to clear. “Stop the ads? You’re mad,” he says. “That ad makes us a million pounds a year!”

A million pounds! And here was me thinking it was all about the content. You live and learn, don’t you? A million pounds—well, that’s not the sort of thing you just casually walk away from, is it? If I’d known how much that ad made, I might’ve suggested a different plan, perhaps, involving slightly less “welcome” and slightly more “profit.”

The Million-Pound Homepage: A Cheeky Fix
(Ronnie leans forward, smiling, as if revealing a long-lost secret.)

So, fast-forward a bit, and we’re redesigning the homepage—trying to avoid the same old clunky adverts that filled space like I fill a Sunday roast. We came up with this fancy grid system where the ads could, you know, shift around, like the tiles on one of those silly sliding puzzles. Now, we didn’t have to put in “AOL Pets” every time the ads ran out. No! We had a proper solution.

And I remember our head of UK content, who, by this point, had the air of someone who’d just discovered how to turn air into cash, standing there with this smug grin, saying, “Well, look at that. We’ve made the Million-Pound Homepage!”

And I thought, “Well, that’s brilliant. I’ve been here thinking it’s all about the content, and turns out it’s just about where you stick the right ad.”

(Pauses, giving a knowing look to the audience.)

So, the moral of the story? Never underestimate the power of an ad, especially when it’s worth a million quid. And don’t go suggesting any changes unless you’re prepared to have someone from Sales looking at you like you’ve just sold their grandmother’s prized stamp collection!

How’s that? A little cheeky, a bit conversational, and just the right touch of Ronnie’s charming, self-deprecating humor!

Chat GPT oh well

I suppose its impressive in its own way. I’m surprised by ‘it’ being OK with the Ronnie Corbett reference.

When asked to create a victorian style illustration, it sort of manages to create a likeness of the people, I’m not sure I have ever seen a Jerome K Jerome picture where he has a beard, and the technology didn’t really get to grips with the engraving style. But it managed it in a couple of minutes. This would have taken me few days.