Topic: Annoying Ads (Read 12683 times)

Masterpiece · « **on:** 04 Sep 2013, 10:10 »

So I have an ad on the website that keeps blaring a live keynote of a phone reveal.

It's hella annoying.

Is it intentional?

pwhodges · « **Reply #1 on:** 04 Sep 2013, 10:40 »

The ads on the site are not chosen by Jeph, but can be vetoed by him. Send him an email about it at the address on the contact page; make the subject clear - he gets a lot of mail.

mtmerrick · « **Reply #2 on:** 04 Sep 2013, 14:14 »

you know some of us purposefully watched that keynote.

anyways, i'm surprised something like that slipped through. though i really wouldn't know, because i don't see ads.

Kugai · « **Reply #3 on:** 04 Sep 2013, 15:00 »

Neither do I. Though with me having Firefox, I have Ad-block and Ad-block Plus for that installed.

Carl-E · « **Reply #4 on:** 05 Sep 2013, 06:45 »

The ads are part of Jeph's (and other comic writer's) income. For others, it may be their only income.

I use "private viewing" so I don't get targeted (and hence repetitive) ads.

mtmerrick · « **Reply #5 on:** 05 Sep 2013, 07:25 »

Last time I turned off targeted ads (I wasn't adblocking at the time for some reason) I got blasted with a very loud, full-screen pop-up for tampax

If I'm going to see ads, I WANT them to be personalized.

Sidhekin · « **Reply #6 on:** 05 Sep 2013, 07:34 »

I turn off AdBlock for most sites I frequent, notably comickers'.

I still block pop-ups, audio, and most scripts. I'm no masochist.

FuryoftheStars · « **Reply #7 on:** 05 Sep 2013, 07:40 »

*shrug* I don't even notice most Ads.

Zebediah · « **Reply #8 on:** 05 Sep 2013, 08:16 »

Same here. I've trained myself to ignore them. The ads that do catch my eye are usually the ones that are so off-target that they're hilarious.

For example, a few months back Facebook's ad targeting algorithm decided I was in the market for a used forklift. Dozens of ads for "discount used forklifts" before that went away.

Rghfrgl · « **Reply #9 on:** 05 Sep 2013, 13:21 »

I turned off adblock awhile ago for comics I really liked. It didn't take long though before I ran into a embedded auto play video commercial for some soap and I turned it right back off for qc. Once any audio plays the line's been crossed.

jwhouk · « **Reply #10 on:** 05 Sep 2013, 18:45 »

Mine is for some transmission power boost generator - something I only get when I access QC on my iPod Touch. :/

techkid · « **Reply #11 on:** 07 Sep 2013, 04:02 »

I've been seeing more and more pop-up ads on QC. I know that ads contribute to (probably the majority of) Jeph's income, but can he not say no to that particular intrusion?

All I can say is thank goodness for pop-up blockers. And that pop-up ads open in a new tab (easier to monitor (read: close) them that way...)

pwhodges · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 Sep 2013, 04:04 »

He can request that specific ads don't come any more; but he doesn't get the choice in advance, is the way I understand it. He has certainly got ads blocked for political or PC reasons in the past. Apart from blockers, all you can do is let him know your feelings by emailing him.

jwhouk · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 Sep 2013, 05:30 »

Some pop-up ads might be on your end, mind you. Might want to do a virus/malware scan.

Carl-E · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 Sep 2013, 05:56 »

True, I've never had one here. And my blocker alerts me, so I'd know.

FuryoftheStars · « **Reply #15 on:** 07 Sep 2013, 08:46 »

Yeah, I'm going to chime in with the others here. I've never had a pop-up ad on this site. It's very possible you've gotten something on your system.

If you need a recommendation, I'd suggest Malwarebytes. It's free, simple and easy to use, and is very good.

~~mustang6172~~ · « **Reply #16 on:** 07 Sep 2013, 18:18 »

Quote from: FuryoftheStars on 07 Sep 2013, 08:46

Yeah, I'm going to chime in with the others here. I've never had a pop-up ad on this site. It's very possible you've gotten something on your system.

^This.

And I don't feel like going into the details right now, but someday Adblock will be the downfall of western civilization.

techkid · « **Reply #17 on:** 08 Sep 2013, 04:22 »

I have scans done on a schedule (Malwarebytes, SUPERAntiSpyware and Spybot), but I have some other tools at my disposal to double-check...

I'll do that on my next day off.

Mlle Germain · « **Reply #18 on:** 09 Sep 2013, 14:32 »

I don't have an ad blocker, but I do have a pop-up blocker, which tells me when it blocks something, though. I've never had pop-ups (or my blocker blocking any pop-up) or anything with sound on QC.
Usually, the ads on QC are the most amusing and interesting I see on all the websites I visit, so I really don't mind them much. They are not the standard stuff I get on other sites, like Zalando (standard online fashion store) and online pizza delivery places. I much prefer seeing ads for other webcomics (though often very absurd), witty t-shirts and similar things - that's what I mostly get on QC.

Carl-E · « **Reply #19 on:** 09 Sep 2013, 19:54 »

My favorite was the knife holder.

Want.

techkid · « **Reply #20 on:** 10 Sep 2013, 06:40 »

I've seen them at tobacconists and gift shops. They are awesome!

lepetitfromage · « **Reply #21 on:** 16 Sep 2013, 10:59 »

I use a popup blocker, but not an ad blocker. The ads here never really bother me- in fact, I've clicked on a few that I've really enjoyed, the most notable being Shana Logic. I've never noticed any ads with audio, but I generally don't have my speakers on unless I'm poking around on YouTube or listening to music.

I've seen the knifey dude advertised on here too- looove it.

The thing that bugs the crap out of me? When I go to click to "forum" link from the QC main page and instead I get the flattr thing to pop up. Then it covers the forum link and I have to go stick my cursor somewhere else to make it go away and then precariously work my way back to the forum link. Or y'know....I could just bookmark the forum but that would make sense.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #22 on:** 28 Sep 2013, 21:59 »

Other than some law school related stuff, I don't think I have any bookmarks. I just hit type "f" in the URL bar and the forum comes up, though.

Quote from: mustang6172 on 07 Sep 2013, 18:18

And I don't feel like going into the details right now, but someday Adblock will be the downfall of western civilization.

Feel like going into details yet?

Storel · « **Reply #23 on:** 29 Sep 2013, 14:52 »

Some parts of western civilization could use a bit of downfall...

Carl-E · « **Reply #24 on:** 29 Sep 2013, 21:10 »

I think it only really hurts capitalism.

Which is admirable, until you realize it's not replacing it with anything.

Kinda like shoplifting.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #25 on:** 29 Sep 2013, 22:05 »

More like window shopping than shoplifting.

Carl-E · « **Reply #26 on:** 29 Sep 2013, 22:22 »

But you're actually consuming the product that the advertisers have paid for without getting the producer credit for having the ad views.

Consuming without paying = shoplifting

not consuming = window shopping

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #27 on:** 29 Sep 2013, 23:22 »

English is weird. "Annoying ads" could refer to someone doing annoying things to the ads until the ads get fed up and go away.

Masterpiece · « **Reply #28 on:** 30 Sep 2013, 01:44 »

I have the ads on by principle (which is why I opened this thread in the first place), and so far the only advert that annoyed me was one that had sounds in it. I'm not opposed to ads otherwise (especially if it helps Jeph pay the bills!)

Storel · « **Reply #29 on:** 30 Sep 2013, 12:09 »

Quote from: Carl-E on 29 Sep 2013, 22:22

But you're actually consuming the product that the advertisers have paid for without getting the producer credit for having the ad views.

Consuming without paying = shoplifting

not consuming = window shopping

You may not have meant it that way, but this could be taken to mean that people who record TV shows and watch them later while skipping the commercials are shoplifting. I don't buy that at all. It's my privilege to decide what I want to watch, and if I choose to skip the commercials that's just too damn bad for the advertisers. People have been doing this since home VCRs first came out in the '70s, but somehow Western civilization has not yet collapsed.

I admit that it's more of a gray area with website ads, because with TV commercials the advertisers have no way to see how many people actually watch the ads; they just pay the networks a flat fee depending on the show's ratings. With website ads, though, they can actually track how many times the ad is displayed and pay the website owner per view. In that case, then, yes, an ad-blocker does somewhat reduce a site's income from advertising. I do have mixed feelings about that, but I really hate advertising, and if a site has a donation button I will donate small sums now and then in lieu of viewing the ads. If they don't have a donation button... maybe they should get one?

miados · « **Reply #30 on:** 30 Sep 2013, 18:16 »

I just keep the sound off unless I am doing something that requires sound personally.

ChaoSera · « **Reply #31 on:** 01 Oct 2013, 14:18 »

Quote from: Masterpiece on 30 Sep 2013, 01:44

I have the ads on by principle (which is why I opened this thread in the first place), and so far the only advert that annoyed me was one that had sounds in it. I'm not opposed to ads otherwise (especially if it helps Jeph pay the bills!)

Same here. Over the years I've developed the ability to ignore any and all ads on websites, unless they are extremely flashy or use sounds. I might glance at then every now and then but they don't disturb me at all. Although ads that are powered by Google AdSense are still creepy. Even though I know exactly how it works, it's still strange to browse amazon and then days later go on some website and have ads for products you looked at.

Carl-E · « **Reply #32 on:** 01 Oct 2013, 16:15 »

Quote from: Storel on 30 Sep 2013, 12:09

You may not have meant it that way, but this could be taken to mean that people who record TV shows and watch them later while skipping the commercials are shoplifting. I don't buy that at all.

Neither do I. Even before VCR's, people got up to piss, or get a drink or snack, or even changed to one of the other channels when ads came on. That's the nature of the medium. Those advertisers paid for the privilege of being on the air with a show, rather than being paid-per-view.

Quote

I admit that it's more of a gray area with website ads, because with TV commercials the advertisers have no way to see how many people actually watch the ads; they just pay the networks a flat fee depending on the show's ratings. With website ads, though, they can actually track how many times the ad is displayed and pay the website owner per view. In that case, then, yes, an ad-blocker does somewhat reduce a site's income from advertising.

Thank you. My point exactly.

Quote

I do have mixed feelings about that, but I really hate advertising, and if a site has a donation button I will donate small sums now and then in lieu of viewing the ads. If they don't have a donation button... maybe they should get one?

Well, that works too, of course. But that requires active participation, as opposed to the passive participation of advertisement. For a passive medium (looking at stuff), you're not going to get a lot of active participation!

I wonder - I was tryiing to think of a parallel to window shopping, and then thought about home delivery, which is comparable to RSS. Do ads go into RSS feeds? I've never used one. If not, and it's not a pay service, it also cuts into ad revenue, which hoome delivery doesn't.

At some point, the model does break down.

Loki · « **Reply #33 on:** 02 Oct 2013, 00:35 »

I am pretty sure the feeds don't have ads, but I should probably stop describing the elephant I have not touched.

LawGeek · « **Reply #34 on:** 09 Apr 2014, 19:14 »

I am getting religious ads on the site.

KOK · « **Reply #35 on:** 10 Apr 2014, 00:14 »

When I notice ads, it almost always goes like this:

I click on a link
The page is slow in loading
I look around while waiting, and notice an interesting ad
Before I can clik on the ad, the new page loads
I go back to check the ad. It is not there.

pwhodges · « **Reply #36 on:** 10 Apr 2014, 01:08 »

Quote from: LawGeek on 09 Apr 2014, 19:14

I am getting religious ads on the site.

Jeph can block ads that he thinks are inappropriate, so it's worth emailing him if you wish to complain (email address on the contact page of the comic site).

Kugai · « **Reply #37 on:** 10 Apr 2014, 12:45 »

Ad Blocker is my friend

LawGeek · « **Reply #38 on:** 10 Apr 2014, 14:20 »

Quote from: pwhodges on 10 Apr 2014, 01:08

Quote from: LawGeek on 09 Apr 2014, 19:14
I am getting religious ads on the site.

Jeph can block ads that he thinks are inappropriate, so it's worth emailing him if you wish to complain (email address on the contact page of the comic site).

Do you think that's the kind of thing QC readers may find objectionable? I found it objectionable enough to install an ad blocker, but I can disable it and post a screen capture if it may do some good. I assumed it was my own personal objection.

pwhodges · « **Reply #39 on:** 10 Apr 2014, 14:25 »

Jeph has his own views; but if you as a reader express yours to him, he can if he chooses take that into account. Also, he's not watching his page all the time, so if there's something he objects to coming up it's most likely that he will hear about it from a reader first.

Smallest · « **Reply #40 on:** 16 Apr 2014, 17:56 »

Quote from: Sidhekin on 05 Sep 2013, 07:34

I turn off AdBlock for most sites I frequent, notably comickers'.

Same, but I've never gotten obnoxious ones here.

Sidhekin · « **Reply #41 on:** 16 Apr 2014, 23:24 »

Quote from: Smallest on 16 Apr 2014, 17:56

Quote from: Sidhekin on 05 Sep 2013, 07:34
I turn off AdBlock for most sites I frequent, notably comickers'.

Same, but I've never gotten obnoxious ones here.

Me neither, but as I was (perhaps far too obliquely) trying to say, that may be because I still block popups, sound, and most scripts. Being obnoxious without those is kind of a challenge.

(Don't take that challenge.)

mabhatter · « **Reply #42 on:** 17 Apr 2014, 17:19 »

Quote from: Zebediah on 05 Sep 2013, 08:16

Same here. I've trained myself to ignore them. The ads that do catch my eye are usually the ones that are so off-target that they're hilarious.

For example, a few months back Facebook's ad targeting algorithm decided I was in the market for a used forklift. Dozens of ads for "discount used forklifts" before that went away.

Your avatar tag line is "psychopath in a hockey mask" maybe Facebook thought you had a busy week?

Storel · « **Reply #43 on:** 18 Apr 2014, 09:22 »

Quote from: Zebediah on 05 Sep 2013, 08:16

Same here. I've trained myself to ignore them. The ads that do catch my eye are usually the ones that are so off-target that they're hilarious.

For example, a few months back Facebook's ad targeting algorithm decided I was in the market for a used forklift. Dozens of ads for "discount used forklifts" before that went away.

Yeah, you Like ONE picture of a bikini-clad woman on a forklift, and you never hear the end of it...

Method of Madness · « **Reply #44 on:** 18 Apr 2014, 09:26 »

I never really got why people put "like" in quotes. We're smart enough to know what you mean in context, the quotes just look out of place.

Storel · « **Reply #45 on:** 18 Apr 2014, 09:34 »

I dunno. Just trying to make it clear that I meant Facebook's meaning of like, not just that you liked looking at it, I guess. But yeah, it is pretty obvious.

What if I capitalized Like instead of using quotes?

Method of Madness · « **Reply #46 on:** 18 Apr 2014, 09:40 »

I didn't mean you in particular, it's always bugged me. Then again, it's silly to click like on something you don't actually like. It's like saying lol if you're not actually laughing.

Storel · « **Reply #47 on:** 18 Apr 2014, 09:47 »

True, but it is possible to like something (enjoy it) without Liking it (clicking Like).

It's a pretty minor distinction, true, but I'm a computer programmer, so I've learned the hard way that seemingly minor things can be pretty major sometimes. Call it an occupational hazard, I guess, along with tending to take things way too literally.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #48 on:** 18 Apr 2014, 09:50 »

The capital letter seems a better distinction than quotation marks.

Nepiophage · « **Reply #49 on:** 21 May 2014, 09:23 »

When browsing the archives, it often shows an advert for dalelazarov.com. This is an animated gif of two men having sex, which I think is a bit over the top, and also could get Jeph into trouble with Google?

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Author Topic: Annoying Ads (Read 12683 times)