# Was there a change made to the ad behavior in the last few weeks? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 15, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586 "2008-07-15T18:08:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/1 "2008-07-15T18:08:36Z")
I browse the boards primarily with my phone (partly due to lack of privacy at the office and partly due to the convenience factor), but in the last few weeks I’ve had some real problems loading SDMB pages. Page loads take too long, hang, freeze the phone and cause error messages. I don’t have the problem with any other web site, and on the rare occassions I visit the SDMB from my laptop, page loads are fine. It could have started as long as a month ago, I suppose. I guess if there has been some recent change this can be attibuted to, my follow-up question would be “is there any way I can undo it?”. It’s really making it hard to read the dope. Thanks, Winston ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/2 "2008-07-15T18:20:15Z")
They freeze the PHONE? As in your telephone? I’ve never heard of that happening. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/3 "2008-07-15T18:28:52Z")
[QUOTE=Freudian Slit] They freeze the PHONE? As in your telephone? I’ve never heard of that happening. [/QUOTE] Yeah, they sure do. It’s my own fault, though - instead of patiently waiting for the page to lead, sometimes I try going to the home screen so I can check my email and whatnot. Lately this is almost sure to crash the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/4 "2008-07-15T18:32:51Z")
Unfortunately, as devices have become more complex, simple devices are crashing all too often. My DVR locks up at least monthly (I’ve had the damned thing replaced FOUR times!), and I’ve experienced the occasional crash/lockup on my cell phone, MP3 player, television set, printer, and even my camera. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/5 "2008-07-15T19:31:04Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Unfortunately, as devices have become more complex, simple devices are crashing all too often. My DVR locks up at least monthly (I’ve had the damned thing replaced FOUR times!), and I’ve experienced the occasional crash/lockup on my cell phone, MP3 player, television set, printer, and even my camera. [/QUOTE] So, are you telling me you think it’s my phone, and not the “interstitial ads” (or other/etc./google)? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/6 "2008-07-15T19:41:52Z")
[QUOTE=Winston Smith] So, are you telling me you think it’s my phone, and not the “interstitial ads” (or other/etc./google)? [/QUOTE] No, I’m not. Obviously something confused the phone, but I have no idea what. I’m unaware of any changes in the ad serving, but I’m the new mod on the block and it may have happened before I signed on. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/7 "2008-07-16T14:11:09Z")
No change that I am aware of – except, as has been pointed out, the ads are getting more technically complex. The more of that kind of action you see, the more likely your computer will crash, especially if it’s got any kind of age on it. My computer is several years old and I experience what you’re talking about from time to time. I find usually a total cold reboot brings things back to betterment. I’m also good about keeping my hard drive cleaned off as much as possible and I routinely defrag (I recommend Diskeeper, it’s a great program). All that helps when it don’t act right. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/8 "2008-07-16T14:19:06Z")
What phone do you have, and what browser and version are you using? ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/9 "2008-07-16T15:24:41Z")
[QUOTE=SkipMagic] What phone do you have, and what browser and version are you using? [/QUOTE] Samsung Blackjack (i607) with Windows Mobile 6 and IE Mobile 6. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-change-made-to-the-ad-behavior-in-the-last-few-weeks/456586/10 "2008-07-16T15:32:24Z")
[QUOTE=TubaDiva] No change that I am aware of – except, as has been pointed out, the ads are getting more technically complex. The more of that kind of action you see, the more likely your computer will crash, especially if it’s got any kind of age on it. My computer is several years old and I experience what you’re talking about from time to time. I find usually a total cold reboot brings things back to betterment. I’m also good about keeping my hard drive cleaned off as much as possible and I routinely defrag (I recommend Diskeeper, it’s a great program). All that helps when it don’t act right. [/QUOTE] Heh. I’ve had my phone for about a year, but the phone model has been around for 19 months. That’s ancient in terms of electronics gizmos and gadgets.