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41 messages

New Ads (on Mudcat)

17 Feb 10 - 02:51 PM (#2842201)
Subject: New Ads
From: John MacKenzie

New ads make my screen flicker, and my cursor disappears to be replaced by a capital 'I' symbols, for a few seconds.
Never mind, as soon as I get used to this new addition, I expect the fucking pop-ups will have arrived.


17 Feb 10 - 03:58 PM (#2842262)
Subject: RE: New Ads
From: frogprince

Uh-huh; I was thinking that our DSL was bogged down, and then noticed that it seemed to be tied to those ads.


17 Feb 10 - 04:01 PM (#2842267)
Subject: RE: New Ads
From: Smedley

Yes, my 'big arrow' cursor goes epileptic for a few seconds while the ads load.

But if it helps the Mudcat pay its way I guess we will learn to live with it. It's not as if the ads are for nuclear weapons or Sarah Palin or anything like that.


17 Feb 10 - 04:19 PM (#2842283)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: katlaughing

What's with the new ads showing up at the top of each thread? I don't like that at all; it makes Mudcat look really commercial.

Thanks,

kat


17 Feb 10 - 04:31 PM (#2842295)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: gnu

Well, I doubt it will change The Café at all. After all, Max is still in charge.

If it changes and I don't like it, I will leave.

I have donated a fair bit of coin to The Café over the past ten years and I don't begrudge one penny. As of late, I haven't had much coin. Seems not a lot of other peeps had much either... over the past ten years... hence the ads.

Your mileage may vary.

I have faith in Max. Even tho my faith don't matter squat. He owns it and he can do what he likes. Personally, I like what he does. Not every little thing, but, overall, I think he has done well.


17 Feb 10 - 04:32 PM (#2842296)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Lizzie Cornish 1

"Yes, my 'big arrow' cursor goes epileptic for a few seconds while the ads load."

Mine too, hops all over the place, to the point where I can't look at it. Migraine inducing for some folks I'd think...


17 Feb 10 - 04:36 PM (#2842302)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: SINSULL

I was taken aback at first. But some of the ads are hilarious in the context of the thread they appear over. Maybe we need to document this for posterity.


17 Feb 10 - 05:25 PM (#2842346)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: artbrooks

Well, I must confess that, while I had heard that Mudcat has ads, my ad blocker kills them all before I ever get to see them. Am I missing much?


17 Feb 10 - 05:31 PM (#2842355)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: catspaw49

They're only on the BS threads I think.

Spaw


17 Feb 10 - 05:48 PM (#2842371)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Artful Codger

What I notice (using an ad blocker) is that pages sometimes never seem to finish loading; fortunately, I don't get the ads. The Amazon "suggestions" (which do pass my ad filter) are bad enough--more stuff like that and the silly networking popup that pops up when it's not wanted (and often doesn't have sense to go away), and I'm outie. I can't recall a time when I've ever followed a banner ad, but the modern ethic apparently is "It's okay to bother millions to reel in a handful of suckers."

There is a legal ramification, as well. The presence of ads means Mudcat has become a full-on commercial site, jeopardizing its "educational" status. It's only a matter of time before all the pirated, copyrighted lyrics here become fodder for a hefty lawsuit.


17 Feb 10 - 05:49 PM (#2842374)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Yep. just on BS threads. If they help pay the bills, fine.


17 Feb 10 - 06:27 PM (#2842410)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: catspaw49

"There is a legal ramification, as well. The presence of ads means Mudcat has become a full-on commercial site, jeopardizing its "educational" status."

How? The ads are only on the BS portion of the forum.

Spaw


17 Feb 10 - 07:06 PM (#2842445)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: katlaughing

I guess if it's only in the BS and they help pay the bills.


17 Feb 10 - 08:11 PM (#2842502)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: michaelr

Not just in BS - I just got an Amazon ad on the Snows thread. Doesn't bother me much but could be a slippery slope.


17 Feb 10 - 08:45 PM (#2842520)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Bill D

Like artbrooks, I don't see the ads in my 'usual' browser(s). I use the Proxomitron.....I did notice them in a new browser I was testing.


17 Feb 10 - 10:42 PM (#2842594)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: katlaughing

I guess I'll have to do that, too, BillD. I just took another look and I really do not like them. Way too commercial to see them right above the posting box and at the head of a thread.

Now, who said what in this thread to garner an ad below for "Hot Singles Have Arrived- Hot and Sexy Gay Men Here. Sign up! Find Gay Dating, Friendship or More!"

'pose they are talking about the "new" armed forces?:-)


17 Feb 10 - 10:59 PM (#2842606)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: GUEST,999

I expect computers to do strange things.


17 Feb 10 - 11:10 PM (#2842613)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Melissa

I kept seeing an ad about writing a Folger's jingle ($25,000) and thought it would be a hoot if Mudcat was strongly represented in the judging..hoped this thread was a display of 'slightly off' efforts for the competition.

Max appears to be a pretty bright guy. I doubt there's much danger in having gadgety ads on the site even if they are ugly and distracting while they're new to us.


18 Feb 10 - 07:02 AM (#2842867)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Beer

Was going to pass on this thread until I opened "Arsenal Were Robbed" by MtheGM this morning. Then at the top I have an invite to meet some young chick that had a fine looking cleavage. Nah!! I'm to old for that. Probably would kill me. Then I go to read what MtheGm has to say and here is another advertisement in the area where the member typed he.his message.
I'm sorry, but this I did find annoying. In fact I didn't bother reading the whole message because of this. Sorry MtheGm.

Beer (adrien)


18 Feb 10 - 07:03 AM (#2842870)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Beer

Meant to say "there at the top".
also "her/his message"


18 Feb 10 - 07:08 AM (#2842875)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: John MacKenzie

If you click on the little logo 'Privacy Info' you can read Amazon's words of wisdom about these pop-ups.
For those who can't be bothered to do that, I shall quickly summarise the contents.
Basically it says, if you don't like it, you can fucking well lump it!


18 Feb 10 - 07:11 AM (#2842878)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Beer

Hahahaha! thanks for the morning laugh John.
ad.


19 Feb 10 - 05:29 AM (#2843956)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: John MacKenzie

I am seriously thinking of joining Susan [ WYSIWYG ], in giving up the BS threads, but not just for Lent.
This flickering and slowed down loading really is a pain in the arse!


19 Feb 10 - 12:12 PM (#2844246)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: JohnInKansas

I've got a fairly good connection, so the majority of the ads don't seem to affect me enough to grumble about.

The one I do find very annoying is the "Share" button added to the box at the bottom of the thread, just above the Reply box, since that one pops up a little menu if you just accidentally pass across it on your way to the Reply box.

If it would close when you move off it, as it's supposed to do, it wouldn't be much of a problem; but in some cases it doesn't go away, and obscures what you're trying to enter into a reply.

Someone may have worked this, as the location seems to have changed (or maybe it just wanders around) and on this thread it closes when I move off it. I've been deliberately avoiding getting close to it (which I don't like being forced to do) so I haven't observed very recent behavior to see if it has changed.

Some other sites have so many of these "popover" things that it can be almost impossible to read anything, so I guess the one here isn't too bad.

John


19 Feb 10 - 12:21 PM (#2844255)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: SINSULL

Mudcat continues to be a free service we all take advantage of. Max I suspect dislikes this as much as some of us do but money requirements are a fact of life.

How much are each of you willing to pay for membership? Maybe we can get rid of the pop ups.


19 Feb 10 - 12:26 PM (#2844258)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: katlaughing

I will probably download Proxomitron, but I still do not like them being there. There is so much commercialism all over the internet, on the radio, tv, print media...sometimes we don't even notice it, there is so much, BUT because of the history of Mudcat, they stick out like a sore thumb and I find them offensive.


19 Feb 10 - 12:29 PM (#2844260)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Bill D

Because I use The Proxomitron, the 'share' button is only a text, and does nothing. (I do have to remember which browser I'm in)

Right now, I have only Firefox set to be 'open' to all the ads, cookies, javascripts, pop-ups...etc... which seem to be require to access YouTube and see various download sites. If I am in Opera, and I want to view a YouTube video, I just open Firefox.

(It is possible, with lots of tweaking, to set site preferences individually and control cookies & javascripts, but it takes a lot of effort...which the ad people no doubt know.)

"...if you don't like it, you can fucking well lump it!
So THEY say!


19 Feb 10 - 01:20 PM (#2844309)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: John MacKenzie

Done my share of fund raising, and donating to Mudcat, Mary.
Can't afford $1000 a time though.


19 Feb 10 - 05:23 PM (#2844515)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Bill D

I have been forced to constrain another browser's free access to show ads in Mudcat, as I was finding 15-20 second delays as Ama**n.com loaded up to 100 links at the side and/or bottom. I don't know their algorithm, but it went from 1-2 links from Google to huge banks of them from Ama**n. I was concerned I had a browser problem until I scrolled down and saw blue-clicky stuff loading.

I see why, Max... sort of... but this is overkill.


20 Feb 10 - 10:18 AM (#2845017)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: ranger1

To be honest, they really don't bother me at all. Compared to other sites I belong to, they're pretty unobtrusive. In terms of what I get FOR FREE from this site, I can put up with them just fine.


20 Feb 10 - 10:22 AM (#2845019)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban

Ad Block Plus in Firefox. Never seen an add on Mudcat ever.


20 Feb 10 - 10:58 AM (#2845043)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: VirginiaTam

I first noticed the adverts in the most recent Curmudgeon update thread. Because cancer is in the title of thread, the adverts were about coping with cancer books from Amazon and some Airline advertising travelling for medical treatment.

This I did find a bit off putting and inappropriate.


20 Feb 10 - 11:28 AM (#2845058)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: katlaughing

Thank you, Peter! Took just a few seconds and now no ads. Appreciate it!


20 Feb 10 - 11:32 AM (#2845062)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Max

I agree with all of you.

Looming layoffs at work have made me ponder.

BS threads only.

Working on non-members only too.

70% of our hits are hit-and-run. Trying to figure out how to monetize them without pissing you off.

I haven't been in a BS thread since the 90s.
Never, EVER, popups. Ever.

Be patient.

Trust me.


20 Feb 10 - 11:37 AM (#2845068)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Jeri

I usually just keep the TV on when commercials are on because they really aren't a big deal. Some are actually interesting. OTOH, there is one company that has ads that I find so fucking annoying that I'll mute the TV or turn the thing off completely.

Not only will I never do business with that company (yes, I remember their name, but it's not a good thing), but I miss ads that follow theirs.

I got to that point with ads here. I don't mind some, and I still get the Google ads at the bottom, but the flashy 'A-word' ones are toast (on this computer, at least), and pages load a lot faster.


20 Feb 10 - 11:37 AM (#2845069)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: katlaughing

Yikes! I'll sit on my hands, now, Max, except to say I spoke too soon. Firefox is still allowing the ads. *Sigh*

Take care and best of luck with job etc.

AND, Thanks!!


20 Feb 10 - 11:45 AM (#2845073)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban

Yikes! I'll sit on my hands, now, Max, except to say I spoke too soon. Firefox is still allowing the ads. *Sigh*


Try right clicking the adds and add them to blocked list in Ad block plus.

I have the following blocked :

http://mudcat.org/shopImages/*

I also have google adds and various other add sites blocked and rarely see any adds in any site at all. I don't know how these latter apply to Mudcat.


20 Feb 10 - 11:45 AM (#2845074)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: John MacKenzie

Well I seem to have got rid of mine with that Ad Block. Mudcat hasn't loaded as fast as this for me in ages. I hope it continues


20 Feb 10 - 11:48 AM (#2845078)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban

You can also (in Firefox) go to view and click Adblock plus blockable items so you can see what items on a page can be blocked and select from the list those you don't want to see in future.


20 Feb 10 - 11:49 AM (#2845081)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: VirginiaTam

I am back in to say, I don't mind the ads except where it seemed inappropriate.

I am all for, MadMax making money on this venture. He has certainly earned it.


20 Feb 10 - 12:28 PM (#2845122)
Subject: RE: New Ads (on Mudcat)
From: Jeri

All blocked now.
You can subscribe to a list that blocks known ads, but you can disable blocks for sites whose ads you want to see.