What’s up with the ads in threads?

[bass12]

Just today I noticed that ads are now popping up in the middle of threads (between posts). Is anyone else seeing this? There have long been ads at the tops and bottoms of TB threads but the in-the-middle ads are new to me. And no, I don’t want to expand my business to Nigeria. Annoying and invasive in a way that the other ad locations aren’t.

 

[LBS-bass]

You want to use this forum and also not get ads, pay the minimal member amount, and I mean minimal.

I did that until they actively removed member perks. Which ticked me off. So now I don't.

It costs very little to actually host a website like this. Your costs involve hosting and software. The more traffic you receive, the higher your hosting costs, but much of the cost people complain about are salaries for people who are doing work behind the scenes. I do volunteer admin work on another site and we solicit funds yearly to cover costs for an all-volunteer staffed site. It's four figures.

A lot of forums are run by volunteers, so salary cost is a non-factor. There are sometimes costs associated with bringing in experts to troubleshoot problems, etc., and those are temporary costs.

But let's not forget that content is what brings people to a site to begin with. We are the content. We're already contributing something of value, without which the site would have no reason to exist.

Yes, you can certainly choose to contribute more, and many do. I have, in the past. But no one should feel obligated.

 

[bpc]

If TB can’t make at least a little money, it won’t stick around and we won’t have nice things to look at and chat about anymore - suffering a few ads is well worth the cost of admission, imo.

This argument is used a lot but it falls apart because of the way internet advertising works. If the ads were hosted on TBs servers then they would be vetted by TB and be almost impossible to block, and TB would be responsible for any harm they did. As it is they are served from some unnaccountable server farm that TB has a third party contract with, probably through another third party. This is a vector for both obtrusive tracking and profiling and malicious software infections. This is what makes ads unnacceptable to me. If the ads were static contextual ads that were all bass related I wouldn't even try to block them. Instead I'm exposed to the most cynical and greedy idiocy that humans have yet developed, i.e. online trargeted advertising. I'll never let them through. If TB or any other site is unhappy with that then they can either take responsibility for their advertising the way a print publication used to or make their site subscription only. Then the market would decide.

 

[staurosjohn]

anyone else getting ads all over the new posts front page and the various forums?

I (still) have the banner at top & something on the side… haven’t changed in the 12yrs I’ve been ‘here’… I rarely notice them… they’ve kinda blended into the background

Edit: Just noticed you’re not a ‘supporting member’… I’m sure that’s different…

 

[5StringBlues]

I don't mind the ads. But I have been getting as for T-shirts that say derogatory things about a certain political party, as well as the ads for guns. If neither is allowed on talk ways why should I get ads for them??

 

[JuanB]

The Brave browser seems to block ads well.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

You want to use this forum and also not get ads, pay the minimal member amount, and I mean minimal.

I’m fully paid but the last few days I have seen ads showing up in the middle of pages, rather than just at the bottom and top. Annoying. I always get an email when it’s time to renew, but I did go check and make sure that I’m still active, and I am. Also rebooted my phone, thinking that some setting might’ve changed. I’ll probably have to use an ad blocker, I guess. Just more apps to slow down my phone.

 

[Ewo]

Maybe I'm odd about this, but ads on TV, in newspapers, and in magazines don't bother me. Same here, on TB.

 

[NKBassman]

All I see is a non-supporting member complaining about ads on a free site.

 

[Gorn]

When there's an ad and I don't wanna see it, I look at something else. This has served well over the years.

 

[fourstringdrums]

All I see is a non-supporting member complaining about ads on a free site.

Have they grandfathered some people in with being able to post classifieds but not having to pay? I haven't been charged or given a renewal notice in like 15 years. I can post classifieds but still see ads.

 

[Katoosie]

When there's an ad and I don't wanna see it, I look at something else. This has served well over the years.

Gorn has it right.
Also, use an adblock and if you wanna support TB, throw some money their way.

 

[john_g]

I did that until they actively removed member perks. Which ticked me off. So now I don't.

It costs very little to actually host a website like this. Your costs involve hosting and software. The more traffic you receive, the higher your hosting costs, but much of the cost people complain about are salaries for people who are doing work behind the scenes. I do volunteer admin work on another site and we solicit funds yearly to cover costs for an all-volunteer staffed site. It's four figures.

A lot of forums are run by volunteers, so salary cost is a non-factor. There are sometimes costs associated with bringing in experts to troubleshoot problems, etc., and those are temporary costs.

But let's not forget that content is what brings people to a site to begin with. We are the content. We're already contributing something of value, without which the site would have no reason to exist.

Yes, you can certainly choose to contribute more, and many do. I have, in the past. But no one should feel obligated.

This +1000. I am a graphic designer that primarily designs and develops websites. The main costs for this site is likely the hosting (one that can accommodate the traffic this site gets) and any costs associated with modifying (im guessing) an existing forum application to tailor it to TB's needs...plus any updates/fixing of issues. We provide the content. I assume the mods are volunteers. I havent seen an ad in years thanks to ublock.

 

[TerribleTim68]

No more ads than there's been, not really bothering me.
There's other sites I visit that you literally can't do anything for like 5 minutes while all the ads load and you slowly close them all. So comparatively speaking, I'm okay with it here.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

The ads give me entertainment.

Most are for huge industrial equipment, oddly, never bass or bass accessories.
They do not know their audience.

The new format does not let me post them though.

 

[5StringBlues]

And for this, I am thankful

The ads give me entertainment.

Most are for huge industrial equipment, oddly, never bass or bass accessories.
They do not know their audience.

The new format does not let me post them though.

 

[superheavyfunk]

It’s interesting hearing about the different type of ads that everyone is receiving. I only get ads for gear but that’s probably because I’m never looking for guns or industrial equipment or anything. Today, it’s just the ad for the Bite Guitars contest

 

[5StringBlues]

I never look for anything related to guns at all. That is the mystifying part

It’s interesting hearing about the different type of ads that everyone is receiving. I only get ads for gear but that’s probably because I’m never looking for guns or industrial equipment or anything. Today, it’s just the ad for the Bite Guitars contest

 

[LBS-bass]

I never look for anything related to guns at all. That is the mystifying part

It knows where you live, though.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

I only get ads for gear but that’s probably because I’m never looking for guns or industrial equipment or anything.

I do not search the equipment, yet...

If you need to fill a hallway with a few hundred lockers, like a school?
I got the place.

 

[5StringBlues]

I'm the rootingest tootingist shootingist VARMIT north south east west of the Pecos

It knows where you live, though.