# We’ll soon start running Google text ads on the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119 "2005-09-23T20:32:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/61 "2005-09-23T23:24:32Z")
> [@Ed Zotti](#): > > If these things were any less intrusive they’d be subliminal. ::Crickets Chirping:: [I have an unaccountable urge to get up and get a can of beer.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_187.html) ::Crickets Chirping:: ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/62 "2005-09-23T23:24:57Z")
Only the Say Cheese thread in “Comments about Staff Reports” seems to have any relivent ads. Also this of course means we are deffinately being scanned by Google (not that I doubted that would happen sooner or later). ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/63 "2005-09-23T23:26:28Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Only the Say Cheese thread in “Comments about Staff Reports” seems to have any relivent ads. Also this of course means we are deffinately being scanned by Google (not that I doubted that would happen sooner or later). The “girls bikes designed for girls wearing dresses” and “camel spiders” threads do also. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/64 "2005-09-23T23:28:58Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > The “girls bikes designed for girls wearing dresses” and “camel spiders” threads do also. Just noticed, my bad. I put a testing message in there to see if that forum is the only one being currently scanned, or if it was scanned some time before and is now being ignored by google like the rest of the board is currently ignored. ---
**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 23, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/65 "2005-09-23T23:29:09Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > Still, it sucks. Google ads were around when the boards went subscription-only, so I can’t help but wonder why they didn’t choose ads first, _then_ subscription if the ads weren’t lucrative enough. It’s not even that the subscription is all that expensive; it’s the principle of the thing. We were told that “ads didn’t work.” :dubious: > [@catsix](#): > > Yeah, agreeing with me is almost as distasteful as felching the corpse of Lenin, eh? Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. 😉 ---
**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:** [September 23, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/66 "2005-09-23T23:29:36Z")
It’s already been said several times, and with more eloquence than I can muster, but… _fuck off with the google ads!!!_ Seriously. You Chicago Reader types should fight your own ignorance about how a _paying_ clientel will react to having advertising shoved in our face. If adblocker doesn’t work for me, I will not be renewing my subscription. I know the powers that be have calculated what an acceptable loss of subscribers will be… but I hope they have serious underestimated. Man, and I thought you guys were cool. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/67 "2005-09-23T23:34:12Z")
Maybe is we all started having titsasspussysexblowjobcumshotpregnantlactohermaphrodite as our signature, google could find some relavance. :rolleyes: I don’t see how they can be all anal about copyright infringement, etc, when they turn around and weasel felch us like this. Bunch of fucking asshole fuckwads. Yeah, I’m talking to YOU! ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/68 "2005-09-23T23:35:46Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > I don’t see how they can be all anal about copyright infringement, etc, when they turn around and weasel felch us like this. Bunch of fucking asshole fuckwads. Yeah, I’m talking to YOU! Well…one thing gets them sued (i.e. they lose money) and one thing gets them revenue (i.e. they (ostensibly) make money). Any questions? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/69 "2005-09-23T23:37:05Z")
I’m ad blocking. Fuck your ads. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/70 "2005-09-23T23:37:24Z")
I don’t mind the ads so much. They’re text, not graphics. They sit still and don’t move around or vibrate or what-have-you. And I know you don’t control the content – google does. But damn, do only complete and utter scum of the earth advertise on these things? Right now I’m looking at _four_ f_ **ing links to g** _\*amn mailing list sellers. JFC on a PS, what’s next? Porn ads? Sex slaves? Hit men? ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/71 "2005-09-23T23:38:38Z")
Well, at least they’re unobtrusive. Honestly, I could never let my subscription here lapse, as I’m insanely addicted to the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/72 "2005-09-23T23:44:27Z")
I have also edited my hosts file so that [googlesyndication.com](http://googlesyndication.com) resolves to localhost. I sincerely hope that this means not only am not _seeing_ the ads, my computer’s not silently downloading them either. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/73 "2005-09-23T23:44:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Most folks pay for cable TV, and the shows still have ads. Not a good analogy; the “seeing ads on HBO” that someone else mentioned is more appropriate. The monthly bill I pay for cable only pays for the distribution mechanism. If I pay extra to subscribe to a service like HBO, then I don’t have to watch ads there. Unless it wasn’t covered in Ed’s FAQ, the new Google ads on the SDMB aren’t going to be paying for my ISP. ---
**Author:** ![Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phedre_no_Delaunay)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/74 "2005-09-23T23:49:24Z")
How do you get this adblocking software? I feel very cheated to pay for something with no ads and then have ads. If the ads had been presented as a way to avoid having to go with subscriptions it wouldn’t have bothered me, but I really resent being forced to view ads after having paid for a subscription. I won’t be paying for a subscription again, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/75 "2005-09-23T23:51:37Z")
> [@Phèdre nó Delaunay](#): > > How do you get this adblocking software? I feel very cheated to pay for something with no ads and then have ads. If the ads had been presented as a way to avoid having to go with subscriptions it wouldn’t have bothered me, but I really resent being forced to view ads after having paid for a subscription. I won’t be paying for a subscription again, that’s for sure. If you’re using Mozilla Firefox, just use the links in my sig. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/76 "2005-09-23T23:52:04Z")
They don’t offend me too much _YET_. But, uh, c’mon – either put them to the right side of the window like normal, or put them BELOW the “Post Reply” and “Quick Reply” boxes. Where they’re currently at confuses one into believing their part of the content of the site. I have to check my AdWords agreement, but I think I’m prohibited from “confusing the user” like this does. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/77 "2005-09-23T23:52:26Z")
> [@Phèdre nó Delaunay](#): > > How do you get this adblocking software? Links in sig. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/78 "2005-09-23T23:53:31Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > They’re text-only, they’re as unobtrusive as is possible, and they’re sponsored by Google, a company I’m behind 100%. It’s just about the best possible way the SDMB could’ve added advertising. Agreed. > [@](#): > > Still, it sucks. I’m leaning toward agreeing with this as well. Maybe. Because I don’t know the Reader’s finances. If the extra revenue being generated is going to pay for champagne and caviar and strippers for Ed and the mods—or, worse, someone at The Chicago Reader who’s totally unconnected with the Dope—then yeah, it sucks _donkeys_. But if, even with the paying subsciptions, the Board is still barely paying its way, with nothing left over for things like fixing/updating the servers when they need it, then this strikes me as not a bad solution, the lesser of evils. And those of you who are complaining about having ads in something you’ve paid for: When was the last time you bought a newspaper or magazine? (It’d make a little more sense to complain about having to pay for something that you’re contributing to the content of…) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/79 "2005-09-24T00:07:32Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > Don’t we these things base themselves on searching after terms used? We discuss some pretty strange things here. Next thing you know, we are going to see ads for personal lubricant, calamari recipes, photography equipment, and engineering tools. [Homer] Mmmmm… personally lubricated calamari… mmmmm… could you hand me that set of tools? Thanks. _(Sounds of tools and squishy noises, accented with grunts)_ OK, I’m ready now! Who brought the camera???[/Homer] (Any change in the GoogleAds yet???) ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/80 "2005-09-24T00:18:42Z")
I don’t mind the ads; I don’t take the time to look at them. I do agree, though, that they’re ugly the way they’re placed. But I don’t care, I don’t come here for the esthetics. On the other hand, I’m not convinced this is a sound move by the administration. They must have known that by putting Google ads, they would offend a substantial part of their membership. Those people will presumably stay until the next subscription period, so there probably won’t be much change until then, but if they then don’t resubscribe, this board will make less money due to having less subscribers and less people to look at the ads. We’ll have to see, but I’m not convinced. On the other hand, less subscribers means less activity means a faster board means less complaints about wanting new servers. Maybe that was the plan… :dubious: 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119.md?page=5)