Am I the only one........

Garden Carpet · #1 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 06:22 PM

... who objects to the adverts that appear beneath the lattest posts column. Why should we have adverts for american games for shooting deer. Or american garden centers for that matter. I know the site must raise funds... but some of the links are in poor taste given the nature of this site. What do you think?
jaki

Paul mabbott · #2 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 06:50 PM

Or the ones on 'insects ...' forum that tell you how to kill ants, ladybirds etc ... as you say, mainly USAmerican .... but I've never clicked onto one ... I'll admit that the pro-hunting ones are particularly repulsive ....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

... who objects to the adverts that appear beneath the lattest posts column. Why should we have adverts for american games for shooting deer. Or american garden centers for that matter. I know the site must raise funds... but some of the links are in poor taste given the nature of this site. What do you think?
jaki

Boddie · #3 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 06:56 PM

Unfortunately the adverts are picked by Google who reference them with the subject matter. This is the way the site is funded and one of its only sources of income. I have spoken today to the those that need to know and they will be taking it up with Google as to how best not have such adverts in the future.

matt_xyz · #4 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

... who objects to the adverts that appear beneath the lattest posts column. Why should we have adverts for american games for shooting deer.

I PM'd Stu about that one earlier and he's now made sure that it won't reappear. The Google Ads simply pick adverts according to keywords so we have little control over them. I think Stu has to individually list the ones we want to block so whenever you see one that is distasteful just let one of the mods know and we'll inform Stu.

Matt

StuartDH · #5 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 07:08 PM

The system is completely automated and google displays adverts that are closely related to the content of the webpages. Obviously, it's getting it wrong on occasions, but if you send me over the links I can add them to a blocked list

Susie · #6 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 07:16 PM

On the other hand you could think of it as being rather ironic that these companies are paying money (albeit a tiny percentage of the fees) to be on a site when none of us are going to click on their links. Teehee!

Garden Carpet · #7 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 07:25 PM

Thank you Stu, Matt and boddie.... nice to know that it is not going to appear again. There is also one for live insects as food.. next time that comes up i will send it over
jaki

matt_xyz · #8 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 07:43 PM

I notice the deer shooting game advert is still appearing. There must be a lag between adding the URL and it being blocked.

Matt

StuartDH · #9 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 07:59 PM

yep, although it should be no more than 4 hours according to Google. They could be runnning the ad under more than one url, in which case I'll need to add each url to the list. I haven't seen the ad yet, is there a particular thread that it's in?

matt_xyz · #10 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuartDH

yep, although it should be no more than 4 hours according to Google. They could be runnning the ad under more than one url, in which case I'll need to add each url to the list. I haven't seen the ad yet, is there a particular thread that it's in?

I've only noticed it on the main forum front page, it was there a few minutes ago, but the adds seem to keep changing.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums

Matt

natterjack · #11 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 10:58 PM

There are adverts on the site are there?

I use Index of /.... - link removed with the http://ad... - link removed & https://ad... - link removed extensions, so I wouldn't know.

Yeah, yeah I know that without advertising, the free sites wouldn't be free and all that. But the fact is that I am never going to buy anything (or play anything) as a result of an advert on the web (deer shooting games or whatever). Or an advert anywhere else for that matter. Whatever it is, I am not the target audience. If I buy anything new, it's through independent reviews and/or recommendations from someone whose opinions I trust.

nightshade · #12 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 07:17 AM

The one that makes me smile are nests for birds nest soups!

carlj · #13 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 07:21 AM

Actually the method of selection reminded me of last nights Have I Got News... Guest publication was something to do with smelting, something Slag magazine. Jeremy Bowen said he was so interested in the make up of road surfaces he'd googled slag and hardcore....

Problem with the linking data, is the interpretation...

mrs fish · #14 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

Thank you Stu, Matt and boddie.... nice to know that it is not going to appear again. There is also one for live insects as food.. next time that comes up I will send it over
jaki

Lots of people buy live mealworms for feeding the birds.

PeetieM · #15 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 08:25 AM

I'm with Suzie on this one and revel in the irony.
Incidentally I think that the underlying technology of this site is exceptional and one of the best of its type, it's intuitive and clear with lots of nice useful touches. So much better than lots of others that I've used.

Pete

PeetieM · #16 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 08:29 AM

Sorry - Susie (Should have checked the spelling)

Pete

Susie · #17 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 08:41 AM

No worries, PeetieM.

Anyone for a live locust?

PeetieM · #18 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 08:50 AM

Hehe, I have to say I've eaten a Grasshopper in Mexico.
Just the one though.

mrs fish · #19 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 11:12 AM

My old tarantula was fed locusts ( rip mary)
Alot of reptiles and insects are kept on live insects.

I am not bothered about the advertising, I have noticed where there is a thread with some debating you often get "how to relax" ad

StuartDH · #20 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natterjack

There are adverts on the site are there?

I use Index of /.... - link removed with the http://ad... - link removed & https://ad... - link removed extensions, so I wouldn't know.

Yeah, yeah I know that without advertising, the free sites wouldn't be free and all that. But the fact is that I am never going to buy anything (or play anything) as a result of an advert on the web (deer shooting games or whatever). Or an advert anywhere else for that matter. Whatever it is, I am not the target audience. If I buy anything new, it's through independent reviews and/or recommendations from someone whose opinions I trust.

Thanks for your help in trying to kill off one of the charity's biggest income generators.

As much as we may not want adverts, they are absolutely necessary. Everything that goes into developng the charity costs money and the adverts provide over 90% of our total income.

I've always said that if we can get an alternative stream of income to directly replace the thousands that the adverts bring in, then we'll be happy to get rid of them. Until then, I'm afraid that they're here to stay.

Stuart