# So, when can we hope for the ads to go away? **URL:** \ **Category:** Site Feedback\ **Created:** [June 25, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086 "2020-06-25T23:45:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/21 "2020-07-03T17:03:06Z")
It’s funny how many people feel compelled to share their browser settings. The website is serving advertisements to signed-in, paid members. Whether or not any individual is blocking them is irrelevant. Not everyone views the site from a computer where they have the option of using addons are installing another browser. So the question is whether this is intentional and whether we can expect it to change. I doubt we’ll get an answer soon given recent events. But I’m sure the non-answer poll will continue. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/22 "2020-07-03T19:51:08Z")
What he said. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/23 "2020-07-04T15:35:21Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Or use Brave browser. No ads. A data point, I use Brave on my phone and just started seeing ads on here. I just installed the Adblock browser and am trying it out here. Brave has been getting weak as of lately for ad blocking and SMDB is my test bed for a new browser. Thus far Adblock browser kinda sucks, for browsing. Slow jerky locky herky erky sea sicky sort of experience ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/24 "2020-07-04T19:28:52Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > A data point, I use Brave on my phone and just started seeing ads on here. Once in a while (like once every few days), I see an ad, but I reload the page and it’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/25 "2020-07-04T21:53:30Z")
Without out doubt, Brave has been the best of several browsers I’ve used over the years including “big brand” browsers such as opera. It’s just that I never got noticeable ads until the past few months. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/26 "2020-10-09T19:13:28Z")
Yes, I know it’s three months later, you’re very smart. Shut up. So, is there any word on when we paid-up members can expect to see ads go away? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/27 "2020-10-10T21:26:35Z")
No. The subscription system did not port over from vBulletin. Subscriptions, ads, etc. are on the list of things that need to be addressed/fixed. Beyond that, I do not have any information for you. No information about timelines, possible solutions or anything along those lines has been shared with us at the moderation level. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/28 "2020-10-11T04:21:41Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > No. > > The subscription system did not port over from vBulletin. Subscriptions, ads, etc. are on the list of things that need to be addressed/fixed. Beyond that, I do not have any information for you. No information about timelines, possible solutions or anything along those lines has been shared with us at the moderation leveI. I thank you and will await further developments (while still checking in from time to time). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/29 "2021-06-16T16:37:23Z")
I just recently noticed that I’m not seeing any ads here on the SDMB. I’m not sure how long this has been going on, but I do remember seeing them when the board first moved to Discourse. The thing is, I haven’t done anything to turn them off. I did, at one time, download an adblocker, but turned it off well before the move to Discourse. I can’t even remember what its name was and certainly haven’t turned it back on. At any rate, I see lots of ads on other sites, so it’s probably not that that blocker has activated on me. So did they finally get Discourse to stop displaying ads for Members? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2021, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/30 "2021-06-16T16:47:32Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I just recently noticed that I’m not seeing any ads here on the SDMB. I’m not sure how long this has been going on, but I do remember seeing them when the board first moved to Discourse. Same here. I was going to stay quiet about it, so as not jinx it. It’s nice. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/codinghorror/32/4242_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/31 "2021-06-18T22:22:29Z")
Question: where exactly is it that you pay for a membership to the Straight Dope? I’ve scoured [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com) for evidence of such a thing, and I can find none. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/32 "2021-06-18T22:58:53Z")
Try this thread about the history of membership and what happened to it when we transferred to Discourse: [How do you become a member of the SDMB? - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-become-a-member-of-the-sdmb/916992/31) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/33 "2021-08-12T23:28:50Z")
Speaking of ads, it’s an embarrassment to the board for banner ads to appear featuring sketchy or-flat-out bullshit health claims, like the current one where a “Dr. Holly” tells us how eating a cup of something-or-other (beets?) before bedtime will melt our belly fat like crazy. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/34 "2021-08-13T13:01:55Z")
We don’t hand-pick the ads. Like most web sites, we go through an external ad provider. I am not involved in the advertising side of things at all so I don’t know exactly what options they give us, but usually they only give options for fairly broad categories. Within those categories though, we are stuck with whatever they give us. There’s not much that we can do about it. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086/35 "2021-08-13T13:22:07Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Like most web sites, we go through an external ad provider. I am not involved in the advertising side of things at all so I don’t know exactly what options they give us, but usually they only give options for fairly broad categories. Within those categories though, we are stuck with whatever they give us. There’s not much that we can do about it. Certainly there is, the same thing sites that also rely on ad revenue but whose ads aren’t as sketchy do: go with a more reputable external ad provider. That’s not much you the mods can do, but it is something that TPTB could do. That’s a battle that’s been lost for a decade, though. There’s a reason I use Adblock. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-can-we-hope-for-the-ads-to-go-away/913086.md?page=1)