# Embedded adverts in straightdope message boards

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embedded-adverts-in-straightdope-message-boards/474610>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 26, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embedded-adverts-in-straightdope-message-boards/474610 "2008-11-26T21:01:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jamiepearce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jamiepearce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jamiepearce)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embedded-adverts-in-straightdope-message-boards/474610/1 "2008-11-26T21:01:28Z")

</div>

… ok, I see adverts for hot single girls in the UK embedded within each thread on this board.

What gives? I assume not everyone sees this?

How do they know I’m a hot single guy in the UK?!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embedded-adverts-in-straightdope-message-boards/474610/2 "2008-11-26T21:04:45Z")

</div>

I don’t see any ads on the SDMB at all. As far as I know, I am accomplishing this by paying for my Charter Membership (plus surfing with PithHelmet).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embedded-adverts-in-straightdope-message-boards/474610/3 "2008-11-26T21:07:23Z")

</div>

> [@jamiepearce](#):
>
> How do they know I’m … in the UK?!

From your IP address.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embedded-adverts-in-straightdope-message-boards/474610/4 "2008-11-26T21:07:38Z")

</div>

They can tell where you are by your IP address, and a particularly invasive website could find out a lot more by your browsing history, but as the old saying goes, “hear hoofbeats, expect horses”. So, they cater their ads to guys. I’m seeing ads for individualized treatment disorder programs, which is kinda funny, because I’m on a fairly restrictive diet.
