# Why is it that those who have websites with ads don't bother clicking anyone else's?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-those-who-have-websites-with-ads-dont-bother-clicking-anyone-elses/312771
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 16, 2005, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-those-who-have-websites-with-ads-dont-bother-clicking-anyone-elses/312771 "2005-07-16T05:12:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@PETERFI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PETERFI)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2005, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-those-who-have-websites-with-ads-dont-bother-clicking-anyone-elses/312771/1 "2005-07-16T05:12:52Z")
Now I’m not talking about big commercial websites here. We all know why we don’t click on popup’s at a big commercial site.
But what about when visiting a small site, like a personal website or a blog which is running an Amazon associate or some other ad filler where right clicking on the link might be worth as much as a dime?
I recently became aware of this when becoming part of such a program myself. A thousand impressions was worth 2 cents, a click? I still don’t know, not a single person has clicked on an ad yet. It does not help that my ads are boring. I’ll probably join another program because of that.
Now I don’t expect anyone who does not have a blog or website of their own to care at all about this - but what about those that do? Do you ever click when visiting a site you like or do you blow it off like I used to? :smack:
[The Peter Files Blog of Comedy and Satire](http://linkremoved)
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### Author:  [@sundog66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sundog66)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2005, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-those-who-have-websites-with-ads-dont-bother-clicking-anyone-elses/312771/2 "2005-07-16T06:26:28Z")
I’m not sure I understand the debate, and I certainly wouldn’t qualify it as great. You want to know why people who have websites with ads don’t click on ads on other people’s small sites?
Well, why don’t you start? Why do you think they don’t?
Also, do you even know that this is true? It seems like a blanket generalization. You cite as evidence the fact that no one has clicked on your ads. This is purely anecdotal, and besides, how do you know whether the people who visited your site do indeed have their own sites with ads?
I don’t click on ads because I’m not interested in buying anything through an online ad.
Hey…I have a good idea. Maybe you could get more clicks by linking to your site here. Oh, wait…
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### Author:  [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2005, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-those-who-have-websites-with-ads-dont-bother-clicking-anyone-elses/312771/3 "2005-07-16T08:41:38Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** Not a debate. Not really strong enough to be a Pit rant. Off to MPSIMS.
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### Author:  [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2005, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-those-who-have-websites-with-ads-dont-bother-clicking-anyone-elses/312771/4 "2005-07-16T10:47:33Z")
I don’t click on ads for the same reason as **sundog66** - I have no wish to buy something via an ad.
That and I don’t trust most click-through ads. Some are okay, but I’ve had bad experiences with ads and spyware and crap, so I’d rather buy through a trusted site than to click through on a random ad on someone’s blog. No offense, most people don’t do it on purpose, but when you’re hosting 3rd party ads there’s no way of telling what’s on the other side.
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### Author:  [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-those-who-have-websites-with-ads-dont-bother-clicking-anyone-elses/312771/5 "2005-07-16T12:33:44Z")
I own many websites. None of them have ads.
I hate ads to the point where I would suck the cost on my own site just to stop you having to even see, much less click on an ad.
You see the more ads that people click on the more pervasive they become and sooner or later all that you get is ads with no content.
I don’t click on ads on principal.
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### Author:  [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-those-who-have-websites-with-ads-dont-bother-clicking-anyone-elses/312771/6 "2005-07-16T13:49:59Z")
**The Peter Files** : Per the [Registration Agreement](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=309541), please don’t advertise your site on the SDMB:
> [@](#):
>
> Do not post spam, including but not limited to advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, solicitations, or other messages primarily intended to promote a cause, venture, organization, event (except Straight Dope-related events), website, or other entity or activity, whether or not money is involved. We allow exceptions for worthy causes (in our sole opinion) if you obtain prior permission from a moderator or administrator.
I’m closing this thread because I don’t see it as fodder for **MPSIMS** ; instead, it looks more like an attempt to draw others to your site. Please don’t do this again.