Honestly it’s times like these in threads like this where an average doper can feel a little closer to the administration. Where we can know they are doing their job wisely and to the best of there ability. And to know we are all human beings and people get pissed off on occasion! I think Tuba is doing splendidly, it can be tough in the grinde.
I’d like to add my compliments to TubaDiva for the OP.
While one may have questions (legitimate or not) about why no direct complaints about the place until something affected her, her posting shows she is just as stressed by things that go on here as the members are.
Further, by having done so, mod efforts to answer questions to which they seemingly are not given full information in order to answer, now seem to me a bit more believable.
Thanks for this, Tuba.
I’ve voiced complaints about **TD ** before, but on this issue, I’m applauding you, Jenny, for being as open and straight forward as you are in this thread.
My complaint has been that you see this board as too much of your baby, and you are thus inclined to take criticism way too personal. But this here is nothing short of selling ad space on your baby’s diapers and I’m happy you’re against it.
That said. I understand the brou-ha-ha, but since I’ve got some software installed which disables these ads, I’m not seeing them, i.e. I’ve got no personal complaints.
However, if advertising is the way to go, it seems to me, from reading the pit thread and hearing the general uproar, that the ads are not only fugly and loud. They’re stupid.
I spend a lot of time on the intarweeb and I’ve noticed that I get ads not only directed to my country (Sweden) but to my small city (Malmo, pop 300k) from international sites.
What I’m saying is - an ad from Joe Rizza Ford [a dealer you can trust] an Illinois outfit, it’s obnoxious as hell. However, if I’m in CS taking about the latest Harry Potter and get and ad saying that it’s just been released in Swedish (it has) and is available from my local chain of bookstores, it might still be annoying, but it wouldn’t be obnoxious. There’s no way in hell I’m flying to Chicago to buy a Ford truck.
Oh, and the sound must go.
I don’t have a dog in this fight, either. I have Adblock running quite smoothly and have zero ads. But I sympathize with those who can’t block the ads, whether they’re on a work computer, or won’t block them out of principle (hey, it’s your machine, I respect that). But if there is a large exodus of members due to this, or fewer members subscribing, I’m going to join the exodus and probably not renew, if the placing of ads on here means a lessening of these boards’ quality.
I personally don’t care too much about the ads. It’s easy to scroll right down so I don’t see them. The sound ones are annoying as hell, though.
At any rate, I appreciate TubaDiva starting this thread, and if she lets us know if an email campaign to Ed or whoever is called for, I’ll certainly send an email, letting him know that I believe this is going to drive away paying members and discourage new membership. Oh, and also that the sound ads are annoying as hell. 
I can tell you this: An email campaign to Ed Z. would be a very bad idea.
Ed is painfully aware of the number and sheer size of the threads that have popped up. He knows you’re not happy.
But at the same time, he’s trying to balance the wants of the masses with the edicts of Corporate.
As of right now, give the guy a little space. Let’s see what we can get done without mail-bombing anyone.
Thanks TubaDiva for this.
I’m still not seeing ads. I should only whisper that though, in case I get targeted by TPTB.
Yeah, me too. My sound is always turned off because the kids are always running around in the kitchen (where my laptop lives). I move down past the ad, and it might as well not even be there.
Big deal.
And Rico? Nice post, my friend. Thanks.
Is there anyone at Corporate who is willing to step up and acknowledge that they are the ones who have instigated these changes. I, as a paying customer, would like to express my opinions to those in charge.
Absolutely. Thanks man.
Exactly. “Fuck Corporate” is the way I am feeling at the moment. YMMV. Subject to change without notice. Thank you, Jenny, in any case.
Seems to me that ads are hardly something to get upset about. I simply ignore them. I’ve yet to have a sound ad, though maybe that’s just luck.
Do any of you really pay attention to the ads that show up on other web sites? Unlike the great, unwashed masses, I tend to think we’re unlikely to pay much attention to silly ads.
Now pop ups, rollovers that blow up, and ads with sound, if THAT starts being a trend, then I’ll be unhappy.
Random thought.
The Reader uses the SDMB to seed a non-profit organization whose social mission is to fight ignorance. We go back to no ads, no subscription fee, and those of us who have any skills/experiences that can help support a site of this size do so pro bono. Any contributions anyone chooses to make to the non-profit are then used to fund operations.
The Reader gets a nice chunk of good PR.
Count me among the folks who think this isn’t a big deal. I haven’t blocked the ads, I barely notice them. Thanks again for the all the hard work by the mods and admins. I’d prefer not to have the banner ads, but in the grand scheme of things it ranks right below my annoyance at reality TV.
And I don’t have a TV.
I hang out at the somethingawful forums–and it’s nothing BUT banner ads. Top and bottom, sidebars too. You get used to it, and you put up with it if you want to hang out there bad enough. It’s a tradeoff.
I’m here for the duration, me. It neither surprises nor infuriates me that some faceless corporate Power That Is wants to generate some revenue from its website. [shrug] C’est la vie, in the 21st century, in the capitalistic West. I’m just thankful that it’s not 1984 and we don’t have Zotti’s face on posters all over the walls, watching us… 
And I too wish to point out that the “99% are furious” comes from a statistically biased sampling–the sampling group there is not “Dopers”, but rather “Dopers who are posting to a Pit thread”.
So it’s not true to say “99% of the membership is furious.” It’s that 99% of the members who are posting to the Pit thread are furious.
I think you have answered your own question.
I can’t believe I’m the first one to point this out;
Come the revolution, the marketing department of the Chicago Reader will be the first ones up against the wall*.
*And in true case of poetic justice, the wall will be plastered with layer upon layer of obnoxiously garish advertisements.
Jenny–TubaDiva,
You an’ the other mods have helped me out when I was deployed overseas. I know you guys work for ‘the man’–hell, all you officially get is a dag 'gum coffee mug!
We’re all pissed off, but it’s because of corporate decisions that apparently took Jerry by surprise. I’d ask for a good-faith one-hour access to the Mods’ forum, but I doubt that would turn up any evidence on this crappy surprise.
Tuba, personally, I’ve got the mods’ back: but then again talk is cheap–I’m a Charter Member who was guaranteed a life membership at $7.95 a year. We’ll see how that turns out 10 years from now, but for the time being, life goes on. My financial cost to this board is negligible if the Chi-Reader upholds its deal to me.
Bottom line: We were all surprised, untold, and weren’t expecting this. The Chicago Reader through Ed and Jerry need to know. You and the other mods are our conduit to tell them. I personally am sorry that you may feel bad about being the bearer of bad news, but hey, that admin/mod power comes with a price tag. You may remember my situation, and know what I mean. . .
Please, let 'em know we ain’t pleased, and that while we don’t demand an explanation, we sure as heck would appreciate one. . .
Much obliged,
Trip
Somethingawful is a one-time $10 charge to join, and a $5 one-time charge to get rid of the ads… so it’s cheaper than the SDMB and has no ads and you only pay once.