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Tech: What have Google ads done?

07 Oct 15 - 11:01 AM (#3742267)
Subject: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: Jack Campin

So far this hasn't affected Mudcat, but in recent weeks I have been seeing a new phenomenon on many sites that host Google ads. I have an ad blocker in place. The result is that the site doesn't display at all - until I hit the back button, maybe more than once. This is an example:

http://newsdaily.com/2015/10/two-missing-as-floodwaters-persist-in-south-carolina/

While the page is blank, the status line says the browser is waiting for a Google ad host.

Any easier fixes than back-button-punching?

Meanwhile Mudcat has developed a problem where the link maker page doesn't appear until you hit the link to it twice. The first page you get just stays blank, the second one works as normal.


07 Oct 15 - 11:11 AM (#3742271)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: GUEST,#

Jack, I'm in Canada and the link you just posted comes up with no problem. I also use AdBlock. I don't know if that's of any help.


07 Oct 15 - 11:44 AM (#3742274)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: Bill D

I also see the site ok....

I use an old program ... Proxomitron.... to control ads in my 'ancient' (as in 6-7 year old) version of Opera, and I have no problem with anything except when Javascript is required. I then turn Proxo off if I want to see it.

If a site refuses to allow Opera (as Flickr does) I use PaleMoon browser with adblock. Palemoon, a nice fork of Firefox, may end up being my main browser eventually, but I still like the Opera interface.


07 Oct 15 - 11:45 AM (#3742275)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: JHW

Technology is committed to making things worse. I just use the AdBlock in my head.


07 Oct 15 - 01:11 PM (#3742301)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: GUEST

What we need is a decent micropayment system so that people pay for the content that they access rather than publishers having to rely on advertising.

No doubt the old hippies here want it both ways but a web site costs money and somebody has to pay.


07 Oct 15 - 01:26 PM (#3742305)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: Jack Campin

If it actually worked that would be fine by me. Chances are, though, that it would soon end up incompatible with any browsing technology I can afford or would get plundered by people salami-slicing with accesses to faked content (like those Taboola links only more so).

Sometimes I wouldn't have problem with having a site display ads if that was how they supported themselves. Mudcat itself is an example. The problem is that if I don't block the ads, Mudcat slows to a crawl, far below the limit of usability. The code is long overdue a thorough de-bloat, with advertising-centred scripts allocated only a tolerable amount of CPU and bandwidth. (A long time ago I tried taking the Mudcat start page and rewriting it as static scriptless HTML to generate something that would look the same and link to the same things; it loaded in a tiny fraction of the time, and the difference would be much greater now).


07 Oct 15 - 07:35 PM (#3742364)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: Sandra in Sydney

I have adblocker so don't see the ads here so I give Max money each year, & I also realised yesterday I hadn't seen any ads in gmail for some time.

I used to get such innocent pleasure wondering why google had chosen the ads as they certainly didn't relate to content of emails or browsing history. It's not because my Personal Help Desk set me up some years back so that I need to turn javascript on every time I come to a page that asks it & I was seeing ads after that.

sandra


07 Oct 15 - 09:41 PM (#3742375)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

I like ADS....and will frequently click ... to add some klein geld into Max's wallet.

There are LOTS of ways you can have fun with them.

1. Set up different prophiles with different cookies.
2. Click on ads....and watch...which ones follow you.
3. View SOURCE and experiment with single digit changes. (cripes my most recent "Bonanza" was the billing statement for a southern USA hotel.)
4. Yahoo is much more easy...their stuff is a decade old.
5. Find a solid, free proxy.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

The "net" is a fabulous playground...and "there is gold in them there hills."


08 Oct 15 - 02:27 AM (#3742386)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: Backwoodsman

Do you people actually have lives?


08 Oct 15 - 03:01 AM (#3742389)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: BobL

What have Google ads done? For me at least, nothing.


08 Oct 15 - 01:25 PM (#3742484)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: Mr Red

how micro is a midropayment?
There comes a point in "micro" where the cost of administering the micropayment system costs an appreciable amount of the payment. Too low the actual returns are minimal, too high and the take-up is too low to sustain the system.

There are AdBlockers that will (for a price) block ads more effectively. Except where the advertiser has outbid you!


08 Oct 15 - 01:35 PM (#3742487)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: GUEST

Oh dear god, Mr Red...

There are free, and entirely effective options out there.

And Jack, try Windows. Much more options than shitty Macs


08 Oct 15 - 03:49 PM (#3742510)
Subject: RE: Tech: What have Google ads done?
From: Richard Mellish

I use NoScript as an add-on to Firefox and I am often horrified by the number of different domains that appear in the list as possibly needing to be allowed (temporarily of permanently) before a page will load properly. They usually include two or three that are something to do with Google, presumably helping it to monitor what we're looking at, and doubleclick.net.