# Ease up on the ads, please? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 25, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ease-up-on-the-ads-please/750176 "2016-03-25T23:28:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ease-up-on-the-ads-please/750176/81 "2016-04-08T22:41:46Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > You guys are very, very concerned about obtrusive ads and viruses. \*\*Guin \*\*had an entire computer destroyed by a virus from here. Re-read my post – I said it WASN’T from here. And yes, I did have my computer destroyed by malware. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ease-up-on-the-ads-please/750176/82 "2016-04-09T00:04:35Z")
I don’t mind ads per se. Simple print ads sparsely placed on the screen can easily be overlooked. What I don’t like is obtrusive ads, like popups or popunders, or self-starting video/audio ads, which we do get from time to time even though we aren’t supposed to. Or malware infested ads which we have gotten, and apparently there’s nothing the board can do to prevent. And I totally have the right to complain about the ads even though I don’t buy a membership. It’s not just me - I use an adblocker. But I wonder what viewers discovering the site from some other link or a google search will think, and I feel it sends the wrong message. I know if I came across a page like that, I wouldn’t feel like hanging around. > [@Princhester](#): > > Frankly I think it’s just an exercise in victim blaming. Wait, the board is a victim because it chooses to display popunder ads? The board is a victim because it chooses to use skeevy ad providers? The board is a victim because it uses viglink, which changes links, and even though it’s against the rules for members to change _quotes_, apparently it’s acceptable for an ad provider to change member’s _actual posts_? Methinks you have a weird definition of “victim”. > [@](#): > > By kidding yourself the operator of this website is morally inferior because sometimes a virus slips through, you can convince yourself it’s moral to take all you can and give nothing. I don’t think it’s immoral to participate in a board without paying when the board does not require payment to participate. The board tried it - I didn’t participate when it was pay to post. I don’t think it’s immoral to use an ad blocker to avoid obtrusive and malware infested ads, or any ads. I don’t think I’m stealing to read and post on a message board without paying for it. I don’t subscribe to newspapers but I will read their articles when they’re not locked behind a “subscribe here” banner. There’s plenty of content on the web offered up for free. This board is one of them. I do think a website is morally inferior when they elect bad ad practices. They’re free to try to monetize how they see fit, I’m free to participate how I see fit, including not paying and using an adblocker. Welcome to the 21st century. > [@Princhester](#): > > Uh, so you’re saying that $0/yr is worth more than $15/yr? Do you want to think about that some more? I have no idea what this is supposed to mean. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ease-up-on-the-ads-please/750176/83 "2016-04-12T02:35:37Z")
I paid my dues, I’m using FireFox, and I’m **still** getting that thing where the Dope freezes up while I’m typing. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ease-up-on-the-ads-please/750176/84 "2016-04-12T02:56:12Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I paid my dues, I’m using FireFox, and I’m **still** getting that thing where the Dope freezes up while I’m typing. Yeah, which is what I thought would happen. There’s never a good justification for ads ruining a browsing or visiting experience – ever. If SD thinks that there is ever such a justification, I suggest that they like step into the 21st century. If you want people to tolerate a 5 or 15 second advertisement, then there’s no problem. You can also charge a fee for special content that only ‘members’ can get. But coercing people into paying to avoid annoying ad content? Dude…get real. Ain’t happening. Not the only game in town. Sorry. I like posting on this site. But I certainly don’t feel I have to. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ease-up-on-the-ads-please/750176/85 "2016-04-13T22:55:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I paid my dues, I’m using FireFox, and I’m **still** getting that thing where the Dope freezes up while I’m typing. But, I have no problem at all when I use Explorer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ease-up-on-the-ads-please/750176.md?page=4)