# Let's pit the google ads... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137 "2005-09-23T22:19:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/81 "2005-09-24T01:22:54Z")
Back in the early-mid 80’s, the first ad I saw after paying to get in the movies was for Puma shoes. I’ve never bought a pair of Puma shoes, and I still never will. Count me among those who say that putting ads on a site I’ve paid for the privilege of participating in sucks ulcerated travelling circus cock. This is one of those circumstances where the smart thing to do is also the right thing to do. If an ad is posted in the woods, and nobody is around to read it, does it make a click? ---
**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:** [September 24, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/82 "2005-09-24T01:24:55Z")
> [@Sierra Indigo](#): > > I’d be unobtrusive if it were down the bottom where the copyright shit is. Hell, even between the “reply now” button and the “quick reply” box, IMHO. But as it is now, it tacks itself onto the end of the thread and tries to look like another post, and just gets in the way. The smaller text ads are not so bad, but the “HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF FUND” bold-text-massive-bullshit is a pain in the ass. I don’t care much about ads either way, I just don’t like the placement of these ones, and I wish TPTB had set up a poll of some kind or something to find out the preferences of the users, before just globbing them in there and going “Right, here they are”. > > (Also, context-sensitive my ass. I’ve seen 2 hurricane Katrina ads, and the rest are for mailing lists and other spam-tools) Exactly. Put it somewhere on the top right under the logo, or under the options toolbar, off to the side. But NOT right at the end of the posts-it looks like another post. I honestly don’t mind ads on other sites, because they’re usually placed somewhere out of the way. NOT right there staring at me. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/83 "2005-09-24T01:28:32Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Justifiable warning. How much monkeywrenching is okay with you? Advocating sabotage is not cool. **Excalibre** ’s suggestion would jeopardize the Reader’s partnership with the least offensive source of ad revenue on the internet. If advertising on the SDMB is a done deal, this is an invitation for more annoying ads. I’ll have to differ with you about whether or not that warning was justified. And, personally, I have no problem with monkeywrenching. We’re already participating in the least offensive source of revenue: we’re paying for access. I pay less per year on other sites and the ads disappear. The Reader’s “revenue plan” for the SDMB is bullshit. > [@Larry Mudd](#): > > . . .calm the fuck down. When someone pisses down my neck, I don’t call it rain. YMMV. But you know what? I will shut up - if the fucking Reader opens their books and shows me where my yearly cash is going and why they need to dangle their Googles on the bottom of the page. ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/84 "2005-09-24T01:31:44Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > That being said:[Go here.](http://www.everythingisnt.com/hosts.html) > > This is a ready-made “hosts” file that effectively blocks most advertising. (For Windows users only.) This works at the OS level. Replace the hosts file (there’s an easy installer proggy if you need it) and _any_ browser’s requests to ad servers will get a big fat nothing in return. The current version of the list blocks Google text ads out of the box. Enjoy! Thank you thank you thank you! I hate dealing with Firefox, for purely aesthetic reasons. There was no way in hell I was going to switch just so I could read the SDMB without fucking obnoxious ads. And to whoever made this decision, a hearty FUCK YOU! ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/85 "2005-09-24T01:33:10Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Well, when my membership runs out, I guess I’ll spend time other places. Amazing that so many websites manage for free when the SDMB is apparently a money-losing pit, despite charging more than similar websites. These ads are bullshit. I’m not ready to jump on the “fuck this, I’m leaving” bus just yet, but if these ads remain a permanent feature of the site, they will weigh very negatively in my future decision of whether or not to renew. The spam-related content of these ads is the icing on my cake of anger. In the meantime, I’ll just remain pissed off and appropriate part of **brianjedi** ’s signature. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/86 "2005-09-24T01:36:53Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > Ladies and gentlemen, after running a previous message through the “ **furt** -to-English” dictionary, we have I swear to Og I do use preview once in awhile. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/87 "2005-09-24T01:38:02Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > This is a ready-made “hosts” file that effectively blocks most advertising. (For Windows users only.) This works at the OS level. Replace the hosts file (there’s an easy installer proggy if you need it) and _any_ browser’s requests to ad servers will get a big fat nothing in return. The current version of the list blocks Google text ads out of the box. Enjoy! FWIW, hosts files are certainly NOT just for Windows…why I hear tell that they work fine on the Mac platform even. [Link](http://www.macwrite.com/criticalmass/%20mac-os-x-hosts-panther.php) (it says Panther…but works fine for Tiger). ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/88 "2005-09-24T01:38:39Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > USB thumbdrive, Portable Firefox. No muss, no fuss. Heh. You don’t know my IT people. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/89 "2005-09-24T01:40:24Z")
Meh. I find that not turning my outrage meter up to 11 at the drop of a hat keeps it from wearing out too quickly. No, I save my true outrage for true outrages, like when someone has an incorrect understanding of grammar. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/90 "2005-09-24T01:42:36Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > Unobtrusive? For me, it’s about as unobtrusive as a blow to the fucking head. As someone who has been hit in the head, I have to disagree with you. Getting struck there is fairly hard to ignore. These ads, slightly easier to ignore. Count me in with the “Big Fucking Deal” crowd. Odds are I won’t click on any of the ads. Odds are that in a day or two I won’t even notice that the ads are there. If it helps keep the board up and running and the hamsters fed, I’m for it. Ya’ll really really really really really really really really really really really need to relax. You get stressed way to easily. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/91 "2005-09-24T01:43:49Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > You get stressed way to easily. GAH! THAT’S “TOO” EASILY!!! WHAT THE FUCK’S WRONG WITH YOU?! AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHH! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/92 "2005-09-24T01:44:47Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > GAH! THAT’S “TOO” EASILY!!! WHAT THE FUCK’S WRONG WITH YOU?! AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHH! > > Daniel Glad too help. Your welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/93 "2005-09-24T01:46:31Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > GAH! THAT’S “TOO” EASILY!!! WHAT THE FUCK’S WRONG WITH YOU?! AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHH! > > Daniel It’s an evolving language, dude. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/94 "2005-09-24T01:54:08Z")
Why would I want to buy a mailing list? Of the 3,200 members here, how many of us are in the market for a mailing list? Of all the stupid things to clutter up my screen. And how is it that the other messageboards I frequent don’t charge me anything? WTF makes this place sooooo much more expensive to run? Fuck waiting until the next re-up. We need an official protest boycott day. How about next Wednesday? Nobody log on. None, zip, zilch, nada. In? ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/95 "2005-09-24T01:54:55Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > Why would I want to buy a mailing list? Of the 3,200 members here, how many of us are in the market for a mailing list? Of all the stupid things to clutter up my screen. And how is it that the other messageboards I frequent don’t charge me anything? WTF makes this place sooooo much more expensive to run? > > Fuck waiting until the next re-up. We need an official protest boycott day. How about next Wednesday? Nobody log on. None, zip, zilch, nada. > > In? We could all not buy gas that day too! That’d show 'em! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/96 "2005-09-24T02:00:06Z")
I seem to recall a very similar round of wailing and gnashing of teeth and rending of garments when the place went to pay. I’m sure the admins don’t _want_ to do this. Maybe I’m just a trusting sort, but I doubt they would have taken this next step without a very good reason. If not because they’re good people, then because I bet they’d rather not have to deal with you people freaking the holy fuck out, entertaining as it is. Like they didn’t know it’d elicit this kind of response after the whole pay to post thing. It sucks, but it’s not like I came here in the first place _because_ it was ad free. ---
**Author:** ![Alien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/57b2e6/32.png) [@Alien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alien)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/97 "2005-09-24T02:04:07Z")
I should come clean. I have an itchy suspicion that the Google ads are [my doing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6524340&postcount=150). So pit me. I’ve never been pitted before. I feel left out and cold … (If confirmative, what do I get? Royalties? A date with **Lynn**? See the hamsters? I’m eagerly awaiting. 😃 ) When that is said, a couple of things people might be wondering about: 1. How do Google present ads? Google sends a spider who reads the content of SDMB pages. Unfortunately, since Google rely heavily on anchor text (incoming links) to rank/match pages we will probably see a lot of odd ads due to the nature of the board (particularly for fresh threads). Note, if you see an ad along the lines of “HELP KATRINA HURRICANE RELIEF” this is a _public add_. Meaning that Google was unable to match the content of the page with an add, so instead they’ve displayed a public ad. _Nobody_ makes money on public ads, not Google, not the SDMB. 2. Will the board run slower with Google ads? No. The ads are fetched (via javascript) from a Google server, which most certainly is faster than the SDMB server. 3. ‘- I have never clicked on a Google Ad in my life and I’m cannot imagine anybody would do that’ Wrong. The Adsense program is one of the most lucrative ad programs on the net. It’s actually so lucrative that there are thousands of people making a living just by building web pages to place Google ads on! 4. How do the SDMB make money on this? AFAIK, this is a pay per click program only. 5. ‘- Hmm, maybe I should make a habit out of clicking on Google ads to help out the SDMB?’ Please don’t! Google are well known to terminate websites who they suspect are generating false clicks. Be good little minions now. That’s all. Except, I really can’t understand what all the whining is about. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/98 "2005-09-24T02:06:44Z")
Oh, puhleeze. First it’s Google ads for mailing lists. Then, when they wake up & realize nobody’s ever going to buy a mailing list, it’ll be Our Finest Chocolates. Wrapping paper. Popcorn. Before you know it, half the threads will be Dopers trying to sell stuff to other Dopers, in order to meet their quotas. And will they send you the little troll doll prize for being “top seller in the quarter”? Hell no. It’ll just be one excuse after another, “Oh, Cecil was supposed to drop that off at the post office.” We already paid our dues. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/99 "2005-09-24T02:07:25Z")
> [@BayleDomon](#): > > I seem to recall a very similar round of wailing and gnashing of teeth and rending of garments when the place went to pay. And it was completely unjustified. Two years later, there’s just as many active members as ever. Oh, wait … ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137/100 "2005-09-24T02:10:23Z")
When you pay for membership at a website, the general idea is that you’re paying for the content to be presented **advertising free**. We were told, countless times, that we needed to pay for subscriptions because the advertising angle wouldn’t work. So now that we’re all paying, all of a sudden, advertising does work and we have to put up with that too. Look, I pay my Internet bill (kind of like paying my cable bill) and then I pay for the SD (pretty similar to paying for HBO). I don’t expect ads on the premium, pay for the content directly channels. If that’s going to be the way of it, I’m sure I can find other things to fill my time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-the-google-ads/323137.md?page=6)