# Ads with spontaneous sound on the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 3, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513 "2010-01-03T15:57:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/1 "2010-01-03T15:57:55Z")
Today it seemed like I got a new behaviour when cruising the SDMB: “Congratulations you have won” in a shrill and irritating voice from my speakers. I assume this is related to an ad which appears near the top of threads for free-loaders like me. Is this a new thing? Is there a policy around it? If it continues, I’ll be a former poster, although I can’t imagine the SDMB would miss me. It’s too invasive for my tastes and since I come and go with many other tabs open, too annoying to turn mute on and off. It’s kind of like being poked in the eye when you forget to protect your face for a moment… ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/2 "2010-01-03T17:46:01Z")
Firefox. AdBlockPlus. Flashblock. Three simple steps and you will never know ads even exist, let alone hear them. And considering the site is serving ads loaded with malware it’s simple common sense. Surfing the SDMB with IE is like fucking a street hooker without a condom. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/3 "2010-01-03T23:23:35Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Firefox. AdBlockPlus. Flashblock. Three simple steps and you will never know ads even exist, let alone hear them. And considering the site is serving ads loaded with malware it’s simple common sense. Surfing the SDMB with IE is like fucking a street hooker without a condom. Thanks. I may try that. I use Chrome for the most part. Ads don’t bother me unless they are intrusive and pop-up blocking can be unhelpful for items besides ads. I’m wondering specifically if there is a policy against ads which have spontaneous sound–that is, suddenly blare out voice or music without being selected, like some websites do. It’s possible I simply made a mistake but it seemed to me it was totally spontaneous and happened only because I selected a thread title. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/4 "2010-01-04T06:17:27Z")
I think it’s safe to say that the ads being served to this site are not ones from companies that are looking for high-end customers and paying rates to match. No, these are the bottom of the barrel garbage ads from companies that pay rock bottom rates to get them slopped by the barrel load on low traffic, low value sites. Wear three or four virtual jimmy hats, or you’ll be getting intimate with virus scrubbers and longing for the days when the worst that happened was the ads made noise. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/5 "2010-01-04T10:32:33Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > Thanks. I may try that. I use Chrome for the most part. Ads don’t bother me unless they are intrusive and pop-up blocking can be unhelpful for items besides ads. Chrome has an ad blocker extension, I use it and don’t see any ads on the SDMB. I’m wondering specifically if there is a policy against ads which have spontaneous sound–that is, suddenly blare out voice or music without being selected, like some websites do. It’s possible I simply made a mistake but it seemed to me it was totally spontaneous and happened only because I selected a thread title. [/QUOTE] There should be as it basically makes the SDMB not safe for work, and I believe that is something the admins have avoided in the past (e.g., no surprise links.) ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/6 "2010-01-04T13:54:03Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Firefox. AdBlockPlus. Flashblock. Three simple steps and you will never know ads even exist, let alone hear them. And considering the site is serving ads loaded with malware it’s simple common sense. Surfing the SDMB with IE is like fucking a street hooker without a condom. No kidding. I totally got the Clap over in The BBQ Pit. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/7 "2010-01-04T14:57:12Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > No kidding. I totally got the Clap over in The BBQ Pit. :eek: I warned you about the gleet, didn’t I? ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/8 "2010-01-04T15:11:07Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > I warned you about the gleet, didn’t I? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/9 "2010-01-04T16:56:26Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Firefox. AdBlockPlus. Flashblock. Three simple steps and you will never know ads even exist, let alone hear them. And considering the site is serving ads loaded with malware it’s simple common sense. Surfing the SDMB with IE is like fucking a street hooker without a condom. Why does everyone keep saying this? You can get a version of Adblock for IE as well as Firefox. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/10 "2010-01-04T17:49:19Z")
I just want to add that I think the spontaneous noise ads are bullshit as well. It won’t stop me from posting here. But, I will surf with full adblock on. I post here for free - most ads don’t bother me. And, if it helps keep SDMB up and running that’s great. But, if this keeps up, they will lose all advertising potential from me. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/11 "2010-01-04T18:25:16Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > Why does everyone keep saying this? You can get a version of Adblock for IE as well as Firefox. Because you’d still be using IE, and let’s just say it has some… vulnerabilities. Yes, you’d be wearing a condom, but some joker has been using it for a darts target. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/12 "2010-01-04T18:56:08Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Because you’d still be using IE, and let’s just say it has some… vulnerabilities. Yes, you’d be wearing a condom, but some joker has been using it for a darts target. I use IE7, with IE7Pro 3rd party add-on, no virus protection except the one that comes with Vista (and I usually turn it off), and never had any problems. I must have good karma or something. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/13 "2010-01-04T19:02:55Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Because you’d still be using IE, and let’s just say it has some… vulnerabilities. Yes, you’d be wearing a condom, but some joker has been using it for a darts target. Long as he’s done with it afore I put it on. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/14 "2010-01-04T20:09:53Z")
Or, you could all become members. No ads. Very cheap. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/15 "2010-01-04T20:27:04Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Or, you could all become members. No ads. Very cheap. That just masks the symptoms, not cure the disease. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/16 "2010-01-04T21:01:52Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > I think it’s safe to say that the ads being served to this site are not ones from companies that are looking for high-end customers and paying rates to match. No, these are the bottom of the barrel garbage ads from companies that pay rock bottom rates to get them slopped by the barrel load on low traffic, low value sites. Wear three or four virtual jimmy hats, or you’ll be getting intimate with virus scrubbers and longing for the days when the worst that happened was the ads made noise. You say that like you don’t want to learn the two SECRET INGREDIENTS for WHITE TEETH that a MOM NEAR YOU discovered which DENTISTS DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT!!! ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/17 "2010-01-04T21:48:12Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > Today it seemed like I got a new behaviour when cruising the SDMB: “Congratulations you have won” in a shrill and irritating voice from my speakers. I assume this is related to an ad which appears near the top of threads for free-loaders like me. > > Is this a new thing? Is there a policy around it? If it continues, I’ll be a former poster, although I can’t imagine the SDMB would miss me. It’s too invasive for my tastes and since I come and go with many other tabs open, too annoying to turn mute on and off. It’s kind of like being poked in the eye when you forget to protect your face for a moment… Thanks for reporting this. Ed is currently on vacation, and admins/mods don’t have any control over the ads. I will ask Ed to look into this when he returns later this week. - **xash** Administrator ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/18 "2010-01-04T21:50:46Z")
It might help if we could see what this actual ad is – a lot of different ads run around here and if we can’t pinpoint exactly what the ad is we can’t tell what’s going on. A name would be useful – a screenshot or some of the copy would be helpful – something to help us pin down the actual source. We would greatly appreciate whatever you tell us. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/19 "2010-01-06T03:00:41Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > It might help if we could see what this actual ad is – a lot of different ads run around here and if we can’t pinpoint exactly what the ad is we can’t tell what’s going on. > > A name would be useful – a screenshot or some of the copy would be helpful – something to help us pin down the actual source. > > We would greatly appreciate whatever you tell us. It only happened twice on the day I posted. If it happens again I’ll get a screenshot. I was wondering whether or not there was a policy but if it hardly ever happens, no problem. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513/20 "2010-01-06T04:34:59Z")
Oh, it’s happened before. > **[Talking ad](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=523146)** > > I’ve run into a couple of talking ads saying “Congratulations, you’ve just been selected for a free iPhone.” WTF? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads-with-spontaneous-sound-on-the-sdmb/523513.md?page=2)