Sometimes I think annoyance is a design element when it comes to computers. For all the wonderful things that work well, consistently, and for which I’m pleased, up pops a tiny irritating pimple of discontent. Recently, that pimple is Adobe Flash.

In case you don’t know, Flash is a program that runs on web pages. In fact, some web pages are completely controlled by Flash. Yet, most of the time, Flash exists as either an ad or in some small box on the web page.

Flash is a plug-in; you have to add it to your web browser’s box o’ goodies. And it requires updating. In fact, a new version of Flash just became available. I think it’s version 10.1 or something. I don’t know nor do I care because Flash vexes me to no end.

The problem I have with Flash is that it’s really, really slowing down my Internet activities.

For example, I go to the Internet Movie Database. I enjoy movie trivia. A long time ago, back when information was gleaned from the pages of books, I bought Ephraim Katz’ The Film Encyclopedia. I read almost all of it, and I still have that thick black tome. So, trust me, I really enjoy reading about film.

Imagine how perturbed I am when I show up to the IMdB web site and, splat, there is an annoying Flash advertisement for some dopey new Hollywood blockbuster. The ad often pops up or overlaps what I really want to read, so I have to hunt down the teensy Close button (if it exists), or just sit it out and be bothered by the ad, vowing to never see that film.

Worse, I’ll go visit a web page and be unable to read because I can’t scroll because a Flash ad is consuming geologic time to load. In fact, any time I see the “I’m busy” mouse pointer in my web browser, I just blame Flash for the delay.

Sometimes Flash commits the most deadly of Internet sins: It starts automatically playing music or some annoying announcement. That really ticks me off. It angers me so much, that I usually just close the web page or quit the browser. (Pay heed to that, marketing geniuses who promote Flash.)

I’m sure you’re saying right now, “Dan. You’re a smart puppy. Why not just disable Flash? I mean, duh!”

Yep, I’ve done that. I disabled Flash. Turned it off. Removed it from the computer. But the problem with that solution is that too many sites use Flash for legitimate reasons, sites that I must use and cannot use without Flash.

So I’m stuck. I’m screwed. I’m annoying. I’ve basically had it up to here with Flash. But like a pesky relative over the holidays it’s something I cannot get rid of.