Get rid of "in post" ads?

[Parasite]

Well...?

 

[DoctorGordon3]

Yes. Stupidest thing ever. Whoever is running these forums has apparently lost their mind....ads in the posts? Thats absurd. Sounds like they're in it for the money.

And where the heck are their morals?

 

[Phisionary]

yes please. I despise them.

 

[RaBiD WeAzEL]

I say no... If we want to continue posting on these boards, we need to keep them alive, and one of the ways that this website makes money is through the advertisements on here. It doesn't harm you or anything, just scroll down.

 

[Gunner]

If it were up to me I'd get rid of them, but I don't really care either way.

 

[Duracell]

I say no... If we want to continue posting on these boards, we need to keep them alive, and one of the ways that this website makes money is through the advertisements on here. It doesn't harm you or anything, just scroll down.

There are a *lot* better ways to make money from such a popular website. I can think of a lot less intrusive ways of doing it as well. I actually feel sick when I see one of my posts on this forum get turned into an ad. I'm normally not one to complain but I really don't like them.

I also see that its not really our choice. we don't have a right to use this board, just a privilage.

 

[Parasite]

I say no... If we want to continue posting on these boards, we need to keep them alive, and one of the ways that this website makes money is through the advertisements on here. It doesn't harm you or anything, just scroll down.

Ads only make money on click through, so unless you an a few dozen others are actually clicking on these ads, they arent creating any revenue for this site.

As far as the "scroll down" comment, maybe your thinking of banner ads? Im not oppsed to those...or nearly any ads short of the ones that take your text from a reply and turns them into an advertisment. They need to go, noone has the right to force me to endorse any product for any reason.

As far as keeping this site alive, Myself and several others have suggested alternatives, and the mods could care less. They must have an exellent reason for wanting to annoy us despite our complaints, and the sheer violation of principle that these ads are.

 

[chimpmunk]

If they stay, i might leave, not that it matters.

 

[Burn]

Does'nt really bother me, its not like my mouse is drawn to them and forced to click them.

 

[The Dark Elf]

Yes. Stupidest thing ever. Whoever is running these forums has apparently lost their mind....ads in the posts? Thats absurd. Sounds like they're in it for the money.

And where the heck are their morals?

Hey if you don't like it so much, why did you keep coming back after being banned?

 

[Maxi]

Well, they look too much like links to me... imo they should go.

 

[Dalamari]

If it keeps the site running, I am all for them

 

[Foxtrot]

Wtf is wrong with all of you people? When you see a link in a post that you already know is an ad it makes you sick? Just ignore it you ****ing pussies, god damnit.

 

[The Monkey]

It bothers me some, but I'll live. Besides, they are here beacouse the site needs them.

 

[Angry Lawyer]

I think that getting the site sponsored, and having the occasional plug on the main news page would be easier to swallow than the post-intruding ones. But, whatever keeps the site alive, as long as no spyware is installed.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Phisionary]

Wtf is wrong with all of you people? When you see a link in a post that you already know is an ad it makes you sick? Just ignore it you ****ing pussies, god damnit.

Wtf is wrong with you ? When you see a few people expressing their opinions and it makes you angry? Just ignore it you ****ing dickhead, god damnit.

:cheese:

 

[DreamWraith]

im sorry but how is it the site *needs* the ads? are they no longer hosted for free?

 

[spencerjrus]

amazing.

 

[Mr.Reak]

im sorry but how is it the site *needs* the ads? are they no longer hosted for free?

Yes they are hosted for free, site doesn't need ads, Munro just wants to make some money. To me it seems that way very much, hey I hope I am wrong, but heck.

 

[Parasite]

THis is the case imo. Thats why they never announced it, thats why they wont answer our questions and ignore our complaints. They just want to exploit the site while they can. I think they just got bored with this hobby and doesnt want to deal with it without some kind of return...hope Im wrong, but the whole thing seems shady, and the mods are acting shady in regards to the ads.

 

[Chris D]

Yes they are hosted for free, site doesn't need ads, Munro just wants to make some money. To me it seems that way very much, hey I hope I am wrong, but heck.

I'm not even gonna start actually...

You're all being incredibly unreasonable. The ads aren't earning that much but they're essential to make sure this place can carry on running and improve in the future.

Parasite, how are we acting shady?? Check all my posts on the matter, I've been saying from the start (as has Munro) that the ads are there to cover costs and make sure there's money for things in the future like an extra webserver or a dedicated file server and much more.

If you have any questions in relation to the ads, please feel free to ask.

 

[TheMster]

hlfallout.net has far less advertising than you, pays for its hosting, has more staff and frequent updates, and is busier.
HL2.net = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[The Dark Elf]

hlfallout.net has far less advertising than you, pays for its hosting, has more staff and frequent updates, and is busier.
HL2.net = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

And yet your posting here *shrugs*

 

[Parasite]

I've been asking questions...

Why do you insist on these ads despite numerous complaints?

The 'side banners' were pulled after significantly less complaints, and didnt intrude at nearly the level these do. Is it a matter of convenience for you guys? Do they create more revenue? Do you feel somehow they are less intrusive or subtle? I assure you that isnt the case based only on the amount of outcry. I mean dont you get that people cant stand the damn things? Theres a reason so few websites use them. They are the last type of ad that even the money whoring websites use, or a last ditch effort to cling to life for already long dead websites.

Where was the announcment? Why wasnt there any discussion as to such major changes to the community?

Granted its your site to run as you see fit, but part of the appeal of independent game sites like this is the community involvment. Obviously the community wants to support the site, but I think most want to do so while maintaining a level of dignity for the site. People have suggested alternatives and donation systems and so on, but it seems your minds were made up by then, as you dont even seem to take them into consideration.

My problem with these ads are many. First, they invade our space at a level we should feel safe from shit like advertising. Im sorry but putting ads at the 'conversation level' is absolutely distasteful and just plain tacky. Second, its one thing for the website to endorse a product, quite another for you to take my words and force one from me without my consent. Admittedly I dont remember the agreement I "signed" when joining the site, but I'm almost certian it didnt give you the right to do such a thing with my words. I imagine this is a violation of the agreement, but even if not, it is a violation of trust and principle.

Lastly, they suck every ounce of dignity from the site. It just looks cheap. The whole site feels tacky now, like a gamespy forum. No offense but I think you guys are out of your minds for even thinking about using these things without having exhausted every other possible method of collecting revenue first. These things are the absolute last resort, and if thats where the site stands, no amount of 'in-post' ads will save us, all they can do is make us look like cheap whores while we die.

 

[Zerimski]

Ok, I just need to clear this up. Are you guys purely against the in-post ads, or any form of advertising at all?

I really hope it's not the latter, as that is an extremely selfish view to hold considering the amount of time and effort that goes into the running and making of this site.

 

[Mr.Reak]

I am personally not against ads, I never blocked any banner before. Now you started to put shit into people posts, I installed ad-blocker and blocked everything off (even banners on the top that I never touched before and sometimes even clicked on), I got fed-up with such things. So I don't know, your actions forced me to install ad-blocker... how about that heh.

 

[The Dark Elf]

I am personally not against ads, I never blocked any banner before. Now you started to put shit into people posts, I installed ad-blocker and blocked everything off (even banners on the top that I never touched before and sometimes even clicked on), I got fed-up with such things. So I don't know, your actions forced me to install ad-blocker... how about that heh.

How did you block the post ads?

 

[Parasite]

Ok, I just need to clear this up. Are you guys purely against the in-post ads, or any form of advertising at all?

I really hope it's not the latter, as that is an extremely selfish view to hold considering the amount of time and effort that goes into the running and making of this site.

Vehemently against 'in-post' ads. I honestly click on banners if Im intersted (Or if the have a shooting game in them ) and I dont want to have to install ad-block. Hell sometimes when Im bored I just click them for the hell of it. I expect a website to have advertising and I dont expect it to be completely un-invasive. I could deal with more banners. I dont like "page ads" or anything that "pops up" but I could deal with that. I cant stand the idea that you run scripts on our conversations and force endorsments...people get paid for that kind of thing.

Hell run a column along the bottom or side filled with those text link ads for all I care. It would look kinda tacky, but keep the ads out of my posts!

 

[TKATK]

i myself find this more intrusive than banners...nothing worse than having a huge window popping up right over the words you were reading after a accidental mouse movement(which hovers over a AD)

 

[Stigmata]

What TKATK said.

It's too intrusive. The banner ads are much better, they're less irritating and they generally look a lot nicer than the thickly-underlined sponsored links.

 

[B.Calhoun]

If they make the money that is needed to help ease the spending on the staff's part then by all means keep em. I dont see how they are that annoying, but what is annoying is walking into a store and realizing that you have no money because you spent it on a website that people visit daily and dont pay a dime.

 

[Fat Tony!]

Doesnt bother me, if they want to make a bit of money after all the trouble they put in then fine. How do does it effect you? honestly. The things in the text are no problem sure they pop up a hover over window but then you just avoid the words with your mouse. If I were munro I would had spammed your with pop ups and given you all adware

 

[luketabor]

I blocked them by adding a block for scripts coming from "http://www.vibrantmedia.com*" in my Firefox adblocker. It did the trick instantly.

I am in support of ads at the top of the page. Others intrude on the usability of these forums. Popups are a definite no-go, and even side ads limit the amount of text displayable on each line. These Vibrantmedia ads are completely intrusive, turning our words into advertisements. I've witnessed posts where people ask those whose posts have been modified if they're getting paid for advertising.

I do not want to be associated with advertising in my own posts. I just might be alone here, but that is how I feel.

Why not look into Google's AdSense program? They are unobtrusive and can be integrated into the site design (customizable colors, etc).

 

[Pro[pH]et]

Look at the bottom of the page. This place has had Google AdSense for quite a while. That fact that you haven't noticed proves that Google ads don't pay much.

 

[StardogChampion]

If you can get by OK without the ads in posts then I say get rid of them. But if you really have to have them there, then i'm fine with it.

 

[luketabor]

heh...i guess I haven't noticed because I've had Google's ads blocked for a couple months now.

 

[A2597]

my main question is: Are they earning the site money enough to run?

If they earn the site money, I'm fine with them. But if they earn like, 2 cents...then forget it!

 

[Pro[pH]et]

Monro said somewhere around here that the google ads only help them break even.

You can't go to hardly any sites on the net (sites that are busy of course) without some form of advertisement. The best I have been able to do as far as advertising is get a free gameserver in return for banners and some other stuff at my site. I like this arrangement since you are looking at $30.00/mo worth of server hosting for free. I'm small time though and that is ok money for me.

As far as HL2.net goes it really depends on results what they need to end up going with. I don't see any of the ads in the posts themselves and never have. I use Opera and I guess it doesn't support that type of advertisement.

You can't blame them for trying to turn a slight profit. They say they will be spending it back on this site and its members so I think we should just drop the arguing and see what they do with the money.

I would agree that the ads in the posts themselves is a bit gay but I would bet the reason they did it was because the banners weren't paying off the way they had wanted (just a guess).

To expect this site to remain 100% ad free is pretty inconsiderate, IMO.

 

[Teddy]

How did you block the post ads?

I setup a filter for this website using my proxy, it just cleans out that bit of html in the posts. I wasted 30 minutes of my life getting it to work, that's how annoying those ads are.

Can we pretty pretty please go back to banner ads? Or at the least, can you change the colour/style of the ad links, so it's easy to tell them apart from real links? (in firefox & in IE)

thanks very much

 

[AudioStar]

Pa-lease HL2.net.