You can either subscribe to the site to have the ads removed or disable Javascript. I have an iPad 1 that became screaming fast with zero crashes once I subscribed to remove the ads. Disabling Javascript was similar but I don’t know how feasible that is for you.
Wasn’t this foretold in Revelation, AKA the Apocalypse of John? Seven Red Bulls, or seven ad popups, or…something.
This should probably be the new tagline.
Disabling JavaScript definitely works, except that a bunch of other websites don’t work as normal. This situation is ridiculous, it’s actually not possible to type posts as the lag of the keyboard is beyond bearable.
Note: “Either subscribe or …” is bad advice if we are trying to get people to become interested in this site.
First time visitors to a site are very unlikely to shell out $ right away.
The appearance and usability of a site to newcomers is vital for a site to survive. Newcomers become regular visitors. Right now this site is driving them off.
(What I did to make this site livable was to write my own userside script that yanks out the crap. This is includes the space killing stuff at the top and bottom of the pages. I’m not going to recommend that to others, esp. first time visitors.)
I’m not that swift at Internet ads. I’d this why after a few clicks on the site with my phone I get these hijack ads that take me to another page I can’t close telling me I won a Walmart gift card? It makes my phone vibrate. The only way I can get the browser to respond out of the ad is to take the battery out of my phone and restart it.
Also, when I tried to fumble through to the subscriptions part of the user control panel to see about paying (been on the board since 2005, lurked since 2000 I think) that Walmart vibrator ad came up. I was sketched out about putting the PayPal thing on after that. I’m willing to pay, but is there a way I could do it without clicking on that stuff?
I’m browsing on Google Chrome, and went into my JavaScript settings, and continued to allow JavaScript to run…but I hit the “manage exceptions” button, then added the Straight Dope as an exception. I set it to “block,” and don’t see the docking ad, or any of the other ads on the page. JavaScript still works on other sites, just not this one now.
I hate to do that, as I realize that the ads generate needed revenue for the site, but the docking ad just went too far. I don’t think that ads should ever make a website difficult to navigate, and these definitely did, especially with smaller screens.
Oh, there is one downside, though. I can’t click on the “spoilers” box anymore, unless I enable JavaScript again.
I do hope that the Powers That Be reconsider and get ride of the docking ads, though.
IIRC, other than spoiler boxes, the formatting functions while you’re composing a post don’t all work without JS. Not a problem if you code it all manually, though.
I’m finding that many of the sites I visit most often work perfectly well or at least adequately with Javascript turned off. So I find that I’ve got it off much of the time on the tablet, and that makes this site not only very zippily responsive but mercifully ad-free.
I’m disappointed that of all the options being considered by TPTB to address the docking problem, the most obvious and simple one – stop the stupid docking ads – isn’t one of them. I think most of us would be fine with ads if the most obnoxious and intrusive ones were stopped, which to most of us I think would be the docking and the audiovisual ones. Speaking for myself, it’s the ads as such that are the problem, it’s the blatant interference with the usability of the site.
Aarrgh – I meant to say, “it’s NOT ads as such that are the problem, it’s the blatant interference with the usability of the site.”
I just thought of something that I’d like to bounce off those of you who know a lot more about SEO than I do. Is it possible/likely that SDMB has been penalized by Google in its search results for having scummy ads?
I know they’ve been doing that more and more, and this site has been flagged on some “naughty lists” before. Is it possible that the site’s recent ill-conceived efforts to increase ad revenue are more of the same thing that caused it to decline in the first place? (I admit, I’m sort of assuming a decline, but I think that’s the current default/unchallenged assumption.)
Yeah so AdBlock is no longer blocking these dicking ads on iOS Safari. I have no trouble on a PC but this site is such crap on a mobile device.
I haven’t read this whole thread, but I would like to say the docking ads are quite objectionable.
In a similar topic: while trying to log in I had a pop up add that that kept reappearing every time I closed it, and when it did it would make itself the main window, removing my cursor from where I was trying to type my username and password.
The teeming dozens have spoken. Mobile is big & here to stay. We’re losing longtime posters, you’re losing members (& their revenue). Presumably first timers aren’t staying around either. At the very least, I suggest turning this crap off until you figure out mobile. Any chance of that happening? I get revenue, I really do, but you need to think about how much revenue you’ll (not) get off of so many fewer eyeballs.
Just to say, I’m still reeling from the shock of the US election, and normally the Dope is where I turn for community and analysis. I tried to read a couple of threads, but this new style of ad is so annoying that I spent no more than a couple of minutes here. It’s like my community has all started midnight jogging in clown suits or something, and while I miss them, it’s just not worth it to join them.
I’m still checking in, but the habit is more annoyance than pleasure.
I’m really going to miss this place, but I guess it’s time to go.
Hey, whatever, guys. As long as the powers that be don’t have to get real jobs.
…for now…
This new ad is irritating and problematic on my Kindle Fire.
so that’s what you call this, docking ads. wow, what an incredibly good choice if you want to drive away posters.
ads were never a problem for me before, I guess because I am on a chromebook - never had to have any kind of ad block even.
but this is awful - I have to close the stupid ad every time I open a thread or go to the next page and it frequently is already making noise which interferes with whatever I am listening to, radio show or youtube or whatever. if the default is to have the ad’s noise off it isn’t always working.
at least now I know not to even try getting on the board with my phone.
I don’t know if this would help anyone but ---- I just noticed that if I bookmark a thread and enter and sign in through that rather than the main I don’t get any ads.