If You're Blocking Ads While On ATS, You Get A Big Ugly Message

originally posted by: ParanormalGuy
Most people who block ads would never click them anyway. Clicking ads if for the average-joe who is not smart enough to know about ad blockers...

completely agree.

I have never ever clicked on an add...whatever they're selling...I'm not buying. Period. Therefore. Ad-block is a must for me.

Now, my mother on the other hand...is more then likely to click on a "you're 1 millionth site visiter, click here to claim prize".

These vermin are indeed counting on a Internet unsavy average user.

I didn't mean to offend ATS staff and owners by having an add blocker running. How dare I!

I got an add blocker a while back that successfully blocks annoying youtube commercials. Apparently it blocked adds on ATS as well without me realising it. Youtube will probably soon do this as well. I understand that someone pays for that advertisig whether I buy anything or not so its all good. I still believe there is a conspiracy behind it though. LOL!

I find your lack of faith to click on ads.. disturbing....Blocking Ads is a path to the Dark Side.

Pledge yourself to the teachings of Google AdSense and FuLfiL your Destiny ... Only then will the Pop-Up be strong with you.

originally posted by: SkepticOverlord
a reply to: PeterMcFlyI just think ad-blocking in general is unethical and overly-paranoid.

It is by no means unethical to decide for yourself which content is blocked on your own personal computer and which content is not. But it IS unethical to probe my personal system (browser) to try to figure out if I do or do not have an ad-blocker installed. ATS owners now actively probe my system - without my consent - to see how it is configured! That might be seen as a breach of, say, the Computer Misuse Act, at least section 1 (Unauthorised Access to Computer Material) and perhaps even sections 2 and sections 3. ATS is now actively engaging a computer function without my consent to obtain access to computer material, which is forbidden under British Law.

I strongly urge ATS owners to stop this unethical and probably unlawful practice immediately.

Would it be too paranoid of me to suggest that Adblock is a product of the Elites, with the express purpose of squashing competition from small publishers?

My post count is quite low... more of a lurker by nature, and I have to agree with others that the ads that get served up to me are not annoying or intrusive in the least.

Thanks for all you do, SO.

originally posted by: SkepticOverlord
a reply to: PeterMcFly

I just think ad-blocking in general is unethical and overly-paranoid.

I've never blocked ads. I've never had problems.

Of course, I have intimate direct knowledge of how the ad technology works, and it's nothing like the FUD the ad-blocking companies feed you.

Although I feel your plight in gaining some kind of revenue from your ads, to say people are being paranoid about seeing ad's or certain ad's is not a problem, well it is. Being that of psychology student and now network security specialist, I know how ad's can certainly sway a persons decision, thought or future process choice in life. Why do you think it is so important for those ad companies to get their top quota in making sure the ad's they really want people to see, are seen. Subconcious delivery, is a big market.

Now, I think personally you need to look into making a buck elsewhere. Offering certain level of community access, different levels of membership, something along those lines.

If You're Blocking Ads While On ATS, You Get A Big Ugly Message

That's not true, it takes 10 seconds and a search engine to find a solution. But if I reveal this solution here, this post would probably be deleted. Which means I cannot deny ignorance on a site which slogan is "Deny Ignorance".

And I would need a whole thread to demonstrate how advertisements are unethical from a biological, sociological, psychological and philosophical standpoint.

I just allowed ads on ATS, I have not seen many ads at all in years since FireFox Adblock, stopped watching TV and download TV shows AD free.
Has anyone ever clicked an add and spent money?

Not me, I just came to read some articles not buy a new car, an Xbox, change my ISP, get pet insurance, buy a ferry ticket, book a hotel room and date a Filipino woman.

originally posted by: gosseyn

If You're Blocking Ads While On ATS, You Get A Big Ugly Message

That's not true, it takes 10 seconds and a search engine to find a solution. But if I reveal this solution here, this post would probably be deleted. Which means I cannot deny ignorance on a site which slogan is "Deny Ignorance".

And I would need a whole thread to demonstrate how advertisements are unethical from a biological, sociological, psychological and philosophical standpoint.

It's a good litmus test of the integrity of this site, so by all means, go ahead. I can fully appreciate that overly insensitive posts, posts that violate manners and decorum and off-topic posts are being deleted, but posts that criticize the behaviour of Site Owners - nah, they wouldn't, it would be unethical and against the main motto of this forum. So, maybe you should start that thread. After all, "Deny ignorance" can't be interpreted any other way, can it?

Logged in on mobile I started seeing a blank space where the ads should be again not to long ago. If that was the update, I noticed the empty spaces.

Honestly haven't been on as often as I used to. So it's not bothering me to tell you, your adblock blocker isn't working!

Eta: I've pondered this and came to the conclusion that its due to add being blocked on my DEVICE not through the browser.

I can't stand ads on mobile, some take over the whole screen and auto redirect to buy somthing or start playing audio, some have froze my phone and you can't even read the page you wanted.

I have seen some sneaky tricks from mobile ads, not on ATS, they are small but with a clear tap field on the whole page, if that makes any sence, so when you tap anywhere on the screen even to scroll far away from the ad it still takes you to another site to buy somthing.

Running a Chrome Incognito browser window at the moment... no ad-blocks applied.

Gonna see how it works.

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

When I log in on my touch screen, just the act of scrolling if I'm not careful results in me clicking them all the time. I kept hoping that at least you would get paid more for that! I wouldn't know how to install an ad-blocker but the touch screen is a pain for accidentally touching the ads.

In general I don't mind them as they don't seem to effect the loading time of pages on either of my devices. I just avoid using my touchscreen when I come here more often than not.

a reply to: comfortablynumb

I get that one. There's the Ellen one once in a while too. They're quite irritating.

It's really scary just how much these ad providers track you, though. I registered with two Uni-type things to do applications and receive updates from, and when I came home, I was getting Uni/TAFE/Certification directed advertisements here on ATS. Because I registered with these sites (on a different network earlier on in the day.)

I'd be interested to know how this topic intersects with the PayPal contributions.

Can anyone speak on that topic?

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

Perhaps I misunderstand, but If 80% of the site's bandwidth is eaten up by non-members, why cripple features that only members can use (i.e. posting, uploading pics, etc.)? This would seem to be applying the remedy to the least of the problem. Revenue from advertising comes from anyone who visits the site, not just those who post on it. In fact, it is the very content ATS members post which draws non-members to the site to begin with. Without it there would be no ATS. So it would seem to follow that crippling features of posting members would reduce content and subsequently reduce viewership from non-members who come to see that same content. What am I missing, because that doesn't hunt.

Honest question / assessment.

BTW...I don't run ad-blockers, and frankly I think ATS is one of the LEAST offensive sites when it comes to advertising. There are major news websites I now refuse to visit because they insist on running embedded streaming advertisements under the guise news content which cannot be paused, nor can they be easily found (bottom / random locations on page). Personally, I have MAJOR fundamental issues with the penetration advertising gets in general...virtually everywhere you look. I understand its purpose on a website such as ATS, but there is a threshold beyond which I will block an entire website (my own form of 'black listing') because of advertising. Advertisers, marketing developers and the like would do well to make note of the fact there are many more like me. And, contrary to what advertisers may believe, the Internet is not a blank canvas just waiting for them to figure out a way to fill every square nanometer of with product endorsements!

originally posted by: introvert
I'd be interested to know how this topic intersects with the PayPal contributions.

Worthy question.

The first time I saw the message asking me to make an exception to the site, I did.

All the sites I frequent on a weekly or daily basis that ask me to disable adblock I do.

I just needed to get the reminder, as I really never pay attention to it.

While I understand what the owner of this site is saying, I have to admit, the change in ads is what has brought me back here.

I have never used ad blocker or other such software, I just stopped visiting sites that had overly intrusive and obnoxious advertising. ATS was one of those sites, the ads were out of control. I could not even get to the link I wanted because the site would jump around with half page ads popping up where my mouse was, it was a pretty awful experience. So I stopped coming here all together. It has only been in the last few months that I started checking back in and have noticed the ads are WAY WAY improved.

I can type in a t s into google, click the link and actually see your web site now, before it was just a jumble of obnoxious ads. Movie style ads that would reload and start blaring my speakers if I left my browser on your page. So while I know its hurting you guys and other sites like you, I applaud ad blocker for making the internet use-able again, I do not want a world where I walk by a vending machine and it starts playing music and yelling at me to buy something, which is what the internet had largely become.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

That point you made about the 80% non-members made me think.

This following bit isn't just directed at you

Perhaps ATS could allow non-members to post anonymously like they could a few years ago? But only so long as they weren't using an ad-blocker.

It would encourage participation, perhaps getting them moving about more on the site, thus seeing more ads.

It might also encourage them to join. I made several anonymous posts before I felt confident to register and post as a member.