Is everybody now seeing banner ads (below the SD banner) or is it just me?
If so, is this a “oopsie” or a permanent thing? And how come no announcement from TPTB?
The announcement you linked to is about Banner ads for non-members – I remember that, but now we members are seeing banner ads as well?
This isn’t a pitting in disguise – at least not yet – right now I’m trying to understand what has changed and why.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9219680&postcount=4
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jdavis
Banner ads have now been added for all users across the board. I’ve edited my original stickied post of 09/19/07 since it no longer applies.
Jerry
Just saw this note by Jerry. Don’t know why it’s happening like this. I’ll try to find out more information.
**TubaDiva **linked to the specific post - last one in the thread I linked to.
Sorry, I wasn’t accusing you of posting in the wrong forum, I was trying to be witty with a list of three. (And predicting that someone will start howling in the Pit soon.) Nevermind, it’s probably the cold medicine talking.
I see I actually simulposted with Jerry, which is why I didn’t see the edit when I checked his thread before posting – apologies to WhyNot, you were right about the announcement :o
I have to admit they are annoying. Do we really need to pay for the privilege of posting and see these ads? If the ads are to be a permanent feature, I agree this is a pit-worthy change in the policy of the Boards.
Jerry is currently chasing down an infrastructure problem and turning on the ads for everyone makes it easier to do so, it’s easier to find the bug when the situation is the same for all.
If you choose to take offense over it that’s unfortunate but that’s always your option.
So when the problem is fixed they will be turned off?
My WAG is that advertisers were complaining they weren’t realizing the site’s full reach potential, given that only non-members and non-logged-in folks were seeing ads.
I have no further information to give on any of this. I don’t know what will happen next and I don’t know when.
If this is a temporary debugging measure, I have few problems with that – at least as long as they won’t be here for long.
But that was not the impression I got from Jerry’s post.
Could you (**Tuba **or other staff) please clarify further? I think you’ll find many of us see this as a Big Deal.
ETA: Simulpost with TubaDiva. Request stands, however.
Where are the ads? Am I the only human being on earth lucky enough not to see them? I don’t even have any ad-blocking software running.
Can someone give me a screenshot?
As I said in the Pit thread, I think that if we have to have these banners permanently, we should also be allowed to have avatars.
I didn’t know about this until seeing the Pit thread - I’m using IE6 and do not see any banner ads, except on the SD main page (which has always been the case). I’m not running any special adblocker that I’m aware of, unless my employer has done so.
Seconded. jdavis, could we get clarification on whether this is temporary or permanent? I for one would much appreciate it.
BTW, I just noticed this. I was trying to start and maintain a polite and non-inflammatory discussion here; I thought I was succeeding. Was this really necessary?
DiosaBellissima gave one in the PIT thread. Here it is.
Since I’m actually sitting within “The Pale” at the moment can I say that this move is beyond it 
<John McEnroe, in high dugdeon>You can’t be serious!<JM, ihd>
I’m in the same boat as Skammer, running the same version of IE. :shrug:
However, I post plenty on other boards that do have such banner ads. Really, you get used to it in five minutes and then you pretty much quit seeing them. Can’t really see getting too worked up about it.
I do wonder why it wasn’t done in 2004, though. The changes in revenue have been slow and incremental … as if the ultimate goal has been to make this site a (small) revenue generator for the Reader without running off all of the pre-2004 members. Can’t fault 'em for that, I don’t suppose.