# So, am I allowed to tell people how to circumvent the ads? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 24, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237 "2005-09-24T18:16:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/21 "2005-09-26T14:35:19Z")
You are all speaking Greek to me, but I will try to ask my question. I have AOL and Windows (XP? I think). Can I go to this adblock thingy (which is how I think, sorry) and just sign up or download it or whatever? “open files”–does that include not yet looked at email (I have no clue about this kind of stuff–but I can run a code blue, so watch the smart remarks! 🙂 ). Help (not sure if this is the right place to be asking for help). Please? ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/22 "2005-09-26T14:48:04Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > You are all speaking Greek to me, but I will try to ask my question. > > I have AOL and Windows (XP? I think). Can I go to this adblock thingy (which is how I think, sorry) and just sign up or download it or whatever? “open files”–does that include not yet looked at email (I have no clue about this kind of stuff–but I can run a code blue, so watch the smart remarks! 🙂 ). > > Help (not sure if this is the right place to be asking for help). > > Please? I’m barely ahead of you, but I downloaded Adblock based on the link provided earlier in the thread. (you might need to restart after downloading Adblock, not sure). Then you get a little “Adblock” icon in the lower right hand of your screen, right next to the “lock/unlock” icon. Left click on it and you’ll see a list of items that can be blocked. Scroll down until your cursor is on [http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/shows\_ads.js](http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/shows_ads.js) and click OK. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/23 "2005-09-26T14:50:47Z")
A few days ago a poster suggested how to avoid the Google ads. The next day he was found dead in the BACKSEAT of his car after a single vehicle accident on a perfectly straight road. No-one came forward to admit driving the vehicle which, by the way, was found with the engine revving flatout but the accelerator cable had been severed. The rescue team’s geiger counters measured 134 jiggybots which is 3 times the legal limit. So watch out. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/24 "2005-09-26T16:19:06Z")
Thank you, **fessie** --I will try to work on it later. Problem is–4 people use this computer, two of them male. I have no idea what tweakings they may have done (I know my son uses Firefox, for example). I would hate to mess up their stuff, all for ads that I am ignoring. Asking them to do it is not an option. My husband still hasn’t fixed this one bit of the puter that I asked him to one year ago… :rolleyes: But thanks for the help–I’ll try it tomorrow when I have more time. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/25 "2005-09-26T17:04:50Z")
Hafta say thanks for the Hosts file, yo. I left the computer alone for a few hours while I went back to bed, came back online before work and the ads were gone. Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Theologue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@Theologue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theologue)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/26 "2005-09-26T17:09:56Z")
This has been very helpful. I don’t have a problem with the Google ads (or any text ads). What I don’t like are those stealth graphic/flash ads. I have a very slow internet connection and usually surf with the graphics off. I don’t like it when ads eat up my measly bandwidth. Changing the host file has blocked just about everything. I don’t live in the U.S., so I can’t do much with the ads anyway. I wish the ‘Dope well in its efforts at revenue generation. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/27 "2005-09-26T17:25:06Z")
Are y’all talking about the one line of links at the very bottom of each page? You’re talking about making changes to your hosts file to prevent that line of links from showing up? If whether or not a line of links you don’t have to read or click on shows up on your screen is the biggest problem you have to deal with today, you are living a blessed life. Be grateful for that. The first time I noticed the ads, my response was “Huh. Ads.” Actually, that’s my response every time. I haven’t clicked on any, nor shall I. I have effectively dealt with the ads. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/28 "2005-09-27T13:00:32Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > A few days ago a poster suggested how to avoid the Google ads. The next day he was found dead in the BACKSEAT of his car after a single vehicle accident on a perfectly straight road. No-one came forward to admit driving the vehicle which, by the way, was found with the engine revving flatout but the accelerator cable had been severed. > > The rescue team’s geiger counters measured 134 jiggybots which is 3 times the legal limit. > > So watch out. You forgot to mention his missing kidney. You are obviously a plant from the opposition. WE ARE ON 2U!!!1!!1!1!eleven ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/29 "2005-09-27T13:34:12Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > A few days ago a poster suggested how to avoid the Google ads. The next day he was found dead in the BACKSEAT of his car after a single vehicle accident on a perfectly straight road. No-one came forward to admit driving the vehicle which, by the way, was found with the engine revving flatout but the accelerator cable had been severed. > > The rescue team’s geiger counters measured 134 jiggybots which is 3 times the legal limit. > > So watch out. I just love how many of your posts seem suit your screen name so well. You may not have the cleverest monicker in the Dope, but I would say you have one of the more appropriate! ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/30 "2005-09-27T15:37:56Z")
> [@Catalyst](#): > > [This is where I got the hosts file I’m using now](http://www.everythingisnt.com/hosts.html). You can either open up your hosts file (it’s in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc) and copy and paste the file from his page, or you can use his installer, which will do it for you. Either way, you won’t see many ads on any page afterwards. Even though the ads really don’t bother me, I installed that hosts file out of curiosity. After installation I couldn’t access the Dope. I got a message saying “Page cannot be displayed”. I uninstalled it and now everything’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![billfritter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@billfritter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfritter)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/31 "2005-09-27T17:10:34Z")
I never saw the ads until you started talking about the host file. I’ve had a host file so many years I’ve forgotten about it. I also use a thing for other annoying ads called [NoFlash!](http://www.bbshare.com/noflash/). Free and works to block those Flash ads that swim over Yahoo pages. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/32 "2005-09-27T19:32:04Z")
> [@](#): > > I never saw the ads until you started talking about the host file. Well, that would be because we only started talking about the host file because the ads just appeared. You didn’t see them before because they weren’t there. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/33 "2005-09-28T04:27:43Z")
> [@Catalyst](#): > > [This is where I got the hosts file I’m using now](http://www.everythingisnt.com/hosts.html). You can either open up your hosts file (it’s in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc) and copy and paste the file from his page, or you can use his installer, which will do it for you. Either way, you won’t see many ads on any page afterwards. Thanks, **Catalyst**. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/34 "2005-09-28T07:29:31Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > Thanks, **Catalyst**. No problem. One thing I’ve noticed that anyone using the hosts file should be aware of is that on some sites, when the ads are blocked, you’ll get a “page cannot be displayed” message in the spot where the ad would’ve gone, which can be almost as annoying as the ads themselves. One way around this is to replace the “cannot be displayed” message with something less obtrusive, such as a light grey background with no text. That way, you should just see a grey block where ads would’ve gone. Doing this requires using a 3rd-party program to edit a .DLL file, but I’ll post instructions if asked. **Honey** : Was it only the SDMB that you couldn’t access, or were other sites not loading as well? The only thing I can think of is maybe a browser issue; which browser do you use? ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/35 "2005-09-28T12:16:39Z")
> [@Catalyst](#): > > No problem. > > One thing I’ve noticed that anyone using the hosts file should be aware of is that on some sites, when the ads are blocked, you’ll get a “page cannot be displayed” message in the spot where the ad would’ve gone, which can be almost as annoying as the ads themselves. One way around this is to replace the “cannot be displayed” message with something less obtrusive, such as a light grey background with no text. That way, you should just see a grey block where ads would’ve gone. Doing this requires using a 3rd-party program to edit a .DLL file, but I’ll post instructions if asked. > > **Honey** : Was it only the SDMB that you couldn’t access, or were other sites not loading as well? The only thing I can think of is maybe a browser issue; which browser do you use? I’m using IE 6. I had problems with several sites. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/36 "2005-09-28T13:58:55Z")
I’m using IE 6 too, but I haven’t had any problems since editing my hosts file. I have noticed on some sites (game sites especially) that I have to click the back button more than once to return to the main page. It beats having to close stray pop-unders and flash ads though. ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/37 "2005-09-28T19:54:27Z")
Man, I am getting so much enjoyment reading the posts then seeing what ads show up. It’s pretty funny most of the time. No way I’m going to block them. When I can see ads about Karl Rove next to the second coming of Jesus, my day is complete. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/38 "2005-09-29T14:58:38Z")
I went to [www.mozilla.com](http://www.mozilla.com) and got an ad blocker whose first line of code reads: /\*Block Ads v.2004-06-12 by Neil Jenkins (Roughly speaking, I’d say this has about 250 lines of code). On my computer, I opened up a file called _userContent-example.css_ and added all that code to the end of the existing code. I saved the new file as: _userContent.css_ It seems for this to take effect, I had to restart my computer. Basically, now I can view an ad-free the SDMB, (along with a great many other sites). This is pretty good. Did I do some extra work for what others are saying only takes 1 line of code? Well, whatever the case, I am now ad-free and the world is a better place for it. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/39 "2005-09-29T15:33:13Z")
> [@Dijon Warlock](#): > > You forgot to mention his missing kidney. You are obviously a plant from the opposition. > > WE ARE ON 2U!!!1!!1!1!eleven [Let’s not piss Google off](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/40076)… ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237/40 "2005-09-29T16:33:46Z")
Well, now I’m on a school computer and I’m getting big block ads for **Gulf Hurricane Relief**. Huh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-allowed-to-tell-people-how-to-circumvent-the-ads/323237.md?page=1)