Is scrolling text a keyhole?

I'm often frustrated by slow scrolling text displays that take forever 
to get to the information I care about.

Sometimes there is no choice - as when a long message must be placed on 
a short electronic message board.  However I often find that scrolling 
test is used simply for effect.  Or lots of unnecessary, useless 
information is presented in the limited space.  Or the rate of scrolling 
is extremely slow.

Mercifully, I don't meet that many web pages where this is done any 
more, but they are still out there.

Tom