# No Google ads for subscribing members? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 28, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880 "2005-09-28T17:15:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/41 "2005-09-30T00:05:20Z")
If it happens, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/42 "2005-09-30T00:52:58Z")
Another vote for a paying member who wants to see the ads (or at least make them optional). (I assume y’all are counting, yes?) ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/43 "2005-09-30T02:02:57Z")
I’d kind of like to see it optional as well. I’d probably leave them on. They have been interesting a time or two, and smile-inducing a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/44 "2005-09-30T02:35:47Z")
I originally turned them off “on principle”, but after seeing how much vitriol was being heaped upon them, I turned them back on out of some perverted sense of rebellion. I really don’t mind them at all. I can easily ignore them if I wish, and often find them very amusing. If given the option, I will keep them. ---
**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 30, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/45 "2005-09-30T03:01:47Z")
I wouldn’t mind them if they went to the top corner. That’s where most message boards I visit have them. I have to admit I was wrong, though-now that they’re becoming relevant, they sure are amusing. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/46 "2005-09-30T03:22:33Z")
fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord I don’t mind the ads.fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/47 "2005-09-30T09:55:15Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord I don’t mind the ads.fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord fnord 🙂 _Gets the tin foil hat out_ ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/48 "2005-09-30T11:33:48Z")
I also find the ads amusing, goat’s milk, and I enjoy seeing what robot random words cheese, can do to influence the content penguin. But if paying for the skunkworks membership makes them go away lobotomy I am ok with that too, penguin. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/49 "2005-09-30T12:34:11Z")
I really don’t mind the ads and even if I am paying I wouldn’t mind the ads still being visible. In some GQ threads people have asked a question and the ads have reflected some possible solutions to the question or at least a relavent site where one could start looking for answers. As long as the ads are near the bottom as opposed to the top of the page and that they stay text ads, not flashing gaudy ads I’m OK with them. ---
**Author:** ![squeekster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@squeekster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeekster)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/50 "2005-09-30T13:35:08Z")
I don’t mind the ads either. After all, they are really nothing more than 3 or 4 links at the bottom of the page. Easily ignored. Having said that, if the powers that be decide to install _ **IntelliTXT** _ ads on this board, all hell will break loose, especially if they are not user activated. For those that don’t know what “IntelliTXT” ads are, there are certain key-words in every post that are hi-lighted and every time you run your mouse pointed over one of them a pop-up shows up. They are probably the single most annoying thing any idiot ever invented, because they block what you are trying to read. I don’t really know how much revenue is gotten from these “IntelliTXT” ads, but I seriously doubt it would make up for the amount of revenue that would be lost from people not subscribing or resubscribing. ---
**Author:** ![Shadez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shadez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadez)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/51 "2005-09-30T15:20:57Z")
I also vote for optional ads. I don’t mind them at all. Please have the ruling address both ads for paying members and the ability to make it optional. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/52 "2005-09-30T17:27:21Z")
> [@squeekster](#): > > For those that don’t know what “IntelliTXT” ads are To see it in action, go to the movie news website [chud.com](http://chud.com). Very, very annoying. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/53 "2005-09-30T17:44:46Z")
> [@Gaudere](#): > > Google doesn’t allow us to do that: " Clicks on Google ads must not result in a new browser window being launched." [AdSense Program policies - Google AdSense Help](https://www.google.com/adsense/policies) Does anyone know the reason for this? Is it a matter of tracking the source of the ad, or is it just to prevent a website from putting them in popups? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/54 "2005-09-30T18:14:55Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > I also find the ads amusing, goat’s milk, and I enjoy seeing what robot random words cheese, can do to influence the content penguin. > > But if paying for the skunkworks membership makes them go away lobotomy I am ok with that too, penguin. So rocket launcher do I, rocket launcher but I’m trying Evel Knievel’s rocket bike to be more pragmatic date with a porn star. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/55 "2005-09-30T19:46:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Does anyone know the reason for this? Is it a matter of tracking the source of the ad, or is it just to prevent a website from putting them in popups? I don’t think opening in a new window affects tracking; all the tracking info is passed in the url through a redirect, AFAICT. I’m guessing that it’s just that people are more likely to pay attention to the link you just clicked on if the site you were at goes away. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/56 "2005-09-30T19:53:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Does anyone know the reason for this? Is it a matter of tracking the source of the ad, or is it just to prevent a website from putting them in popups? I don’t think opening in a new window affects tracking; all the tracking info is passed in the url through a redirect, AFAICT. I’m guessing that it’s just that people are more likely to pay attention to the link you just clicked on if the site you were at goes away. ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/57 "2005-10-01T13:28:11Z")
These kinds of things often end up being amusing/inappropriate/both. [See this screenshot, for instance](http://www.writely.com/File.aspx?id=asp77gnchzp) The amusement factor is a net positive for me, so I vote to keep them, optional for subscribers is fine. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/58 "2005-10-01T17:50:17Z")
🆒 I’m very glad that the SDMB admins listened to the many members who suggested a “ads only for guests” option. Thank you! Speaking strictly technically, having the ads optional (for members) would indeed be possible without any program hacking – just regular tweaks in the admin control panel. For example, say we have a set of two different usergroups - 1. Guests 2. Members without ads (default) All that needs to be done is to create a third usergroup: 1. Members with ads Unlike the other two usergroups, this would be an optional usergroup, i.e. one that (paid) members could join just by going to our User CP and selecting it from a list. Finally, Jerry would just add a new conditional that turns the _ads_ off for Group #2 but _on_ for Group #3. Of course, it all depends on whether the _Reader_ bigwigs will agree to the existence of a Group #2 in the first place! That’s the real problem. I’ll keep my fingers crossed! ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/59 "2005-10-01T19:00:55Z")
If it takes ads to keep the SDMB going, I’m OK with them. Small extra price to pay and some ARE amusing. NO popups though, please. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-google-ads-for-subscribing-members/323880/60 "2005-10-02T00:15:36Z")
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