Google Ad Bar

[Killer Shrike]

Couple of questions:

A) Is it possible to filter the links that come up? Some of the links Ive seen pop up are inappropriate to the workplace, such as sex ads.

B) Would you consider putting it at the bottom of the pages instead of the top so that it does not deform the page as much?

[Doc Democracy]

I found it odd that we are censored in language but the google ads are trawling for adult contacts trawling for sex.

I'm all for the ads bringing revenue - more power to the elbow - just found the adult stuff a bit jarring in our new family friendly forums.


Doc

[Darren Watts]

We're still working the bugs out, guys. Dan's experimenting with filters even as we speak. dw

[Super Squirrel]

It is possible to configure AdSense to not display certain types of ads IIRC. Give Simon time and I think he can get them all worked out.

[Simon]

A lot of it is just going to be a matter of time. AdSense will deliver ads that have a history of working for the site. Over time, it will learn both the content of the pages on the site (and get better tagetting based off of that) as well as the history of the users on this site (in terms of what ads are clicked on) and deliver the ads that tend to do the best.

I'm going to leave things as they are for a week or so to allow the normal filtering to take place, and then I'll start working in the specific blocks on the AdSense configuration.

[Super Squirrel]

Hey!!!

(From one of the web ads)
http://www.livetrap.com/shop/product_shots/large/201sqrl.jpg

[archermoo]

My only problem with the ads (and it is really a minor one) is that they visually clash quite a lot unless you have the standard blue and white forum theme. With the borderless dark theme you get a bar of blue and white in the middle of your grey and black.

[Simon]

My only problem with the ads (and it is really a minor one) is that they visually clash quite a lot unless you have the standard blue and white forum theme. With the borderless dark theme you get a bar of blue and white in the middle of your grey and black.
Ah...forgot about that on the dark forums...

I'll get that adjusted....probably won't be today (still at a client site), but it will happen this week.

[Blue]

There are ads?
Take the day off from posting and look what happens! ;)

[beauxdeigh]

I for one approve of these new Google ads. The fun we're going to have with certain user names alone is worth the price of admission.

For example:

Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel
Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel
Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel
Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel
Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel
Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel Super Squirrel

and....voila!

[Super Squirrel]

What the hell is a Squirrel Call?

Do I want to know?!?

[Simon]

What the hell is a Squirrel Call?

Do I want to know?!?
It worked!

Woo hoo!

[beauxdeigh]

What the hell is a Squirrel Call?

Do I want to know?!?

It's what you use to get them into your Tomahawk Squirrel Trap?

It's a new cell phone plan? Get in touch with all your nutty friends!

I thought for sure you'd know. I was afraid of clicking the link.

Maybe we should ask Alice. I bet she knows how to call her squirrel.

[JTesla]

A lot of it is just going to be a matter of time. AdSense will deliver ads that have a history of working for the site.

Must be working, I keep seeing various ads for "Hero Games" which has to be good. Of course, the one I clicked on didn’t take me to the HERO games I was interested in, but with my random browsing style it led me to something I didn’t realize I was interested in… go figure.

[BlackSword]

They're getting a little better; the four ads currently on the screen are:

Dungeons & Dragons: Sale
Dungeons & Dragons Game (be a product tester)
Dungeons & Dragons Online
Dungeons & Dragons Game (get this popular game free)

I am glad they are just text ads, it would be more embarrasing if the Intimate Dating ads had pictures.

[Hisho]

I only have one critic about the ads, i use the dark forum version and my problem is not with the colours at all. No, it's the placement of the ads.

It would look better and not disturb browsing the forum if it would be directly under the "HERO GAMES Boards" part of the site
and not seperating the navigationbar from the forum below

[Simon]

I only have one critic about the ads, i use the dark forum version and my problem is not with the colours at all. No, it's the placement of the ads.

It would look better and not disturb browsing the forum if it would be directly under the "HERO GAMES Boards" part of the site
and not seperating the navigationbar from the forum below
Well, part of the point is to "disturb" the browsing of the forums. The ads have to be at least somewhat intrusive in order to be effective.

If the ad bar were placed at the very bottom of the screen, it wouldn't be intrusive at all....and most folks would never even notice it.

Likewise, while placing it at the very top of the screen may make it less intrusive, it also decreases the visibility of the ad bar and reduces the revenue that it generates.

I've tried to select one of the "optimal" locations for the ad bar that generate the most notice/revenue in an attempt to make this whole thing work out for everyone.

[Trencher]

I get ads about getting password finder programs? Is that even legal??

[Simon]

I get ads about getting password finder programs? Is that even legal??
Yes. Why wouldn't they be?

A password finder is a useful piece of software...particularly for those of us in the IT industry.

Of course, you can use it for illegal purposes...but that's true of a wide variety of applications.

[Trencher]

Well I would not know how to use it anyway, I'm not any good with all that computer stuff.
I guess a lot of the forumgoers are interested in computer things.

[BlackSword]

Super Hero Costumes
Super Hero Costumes - Adult (?!?!?!?!)
Super Hero Costumes
Hero Clix

[archermoo]

Well I would not know how to use it anyway, I'm not any good with all that computer stuff.
I guess a lot of the forumgoers are interested in computer things.

I don't know that a lot is accurate. I think that the ad bar is still working on getting the ads targeted. So hey, if you want to make sure you get ads that you are interested in, click on the ones that interest you! ;)

Me personally? Yeah, computers are what I do for a living, as well as a hobby. And yes, I've used password finder/cracker programs as a legitimate part of my job. Heck, at the ISP I used to work at we would run one every month or so against our own system. We had it set to not report the results except for letting us know if a password got hit, and who the user was (but not their password). We'd send out a notice to all users whose passwords were insecure and let them know that they might want to change to a more secure password. Just an extra part of the service we provided. And most users were quite happy for the info.

[Lightray]

Well, part of the point is to "disturb" the browsing of the forums. The ads have to be at least somewhat intrusive in order to be effective.

If the ad bar were placed at the very bottom of the screen, it wouldn't be intrusive at all....and most folks would never even notice it.
I've been on several fora that have their google ads posted at the end of the thread, and not only are they noticed, but they're usually commented on several times throughout the thread.

I think the irony of "male enhancement" ads popping up in a thread on, say, cucumbers is too much to resist.

As it is, I'll predict that topic-trolling for ads is going to become a fun NGD passtime (if it hasn't already...).

[Trencher]

Hmm if we all go to web site where they sell zuchinis and we allways click on ads that is for zuchinis..... :eg:

[AliceTheOwl]

That would first require ads for zucchinis, and I haven't seen any.

Hmm.

EDIT: Nope, the experiment didn't work. I'm still getting "Get rid of squirrels" ads.

[ghost-angel]

it's not just zucchini's you know...

zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini porn zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini porn zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini porn zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini zucchini

[keithcurtis]

Super Hero Costumes - Adult (?!?!?!?!)
Sizes, I presume.

Keith "I presume" Curtis

[archermoo]

Huh. I still haven't seen any "adult" type ads. Maybe I just don't pay enough attention.

[Dust Raven]

The adds are weirding me out though. I keep seeing adds for D&D, and that just seems wacko. Here we are, a Hero System BB that's making money advertising for the compitition.


Huh. I still haven't seen any "adult" type ads. Maybe I just don't pay enough attention.

Or you're not visiting the right threads on the NGD.

[Teflon Billy]

The adds are weirding me out though. I keep seeing adds for D&D, and that just seems wacko. Here we are, a Hero System BB that's making money advertising for the compitition.



Or you're not visiting the right threads on the NGD.Look at it this way, WotC is spending money that is going into DoJ's pocket. So, the more times we see/click/whatever to up Google's payments to Simon = More money that WotC is giving to DoJ.

TB

[Fuzzy Gnome]

I get ads about getting password finder programs? Is that even legal??
I see an ad for City of Heroes accounts. Not illegal per se, but against their terms of service. If the publisher of the game found out, the account in question could get banned and the buyer would be out whatever he paid for it.

[Super Squirrel]

I have a really, really amusing idea for the ads that would help with the forum display.

See if you can get a single or double ads displayed between the sidebar links and the rotating images of characters. Have the background behind the ads be a word bubble like you'd see in a comic so it looks like the character is "speaking" the ad.

[Super Squirrel]

I have a really, really amusing idea for the ads that would help with the forum display.

See if you can get a single or double ads displayed between the sidebar links and the rotating images of characters. Have the background behind the ads be a word bubble like you'd see in a comic so it looks like the character is "speaking" the ad.
VIPER Agent says: Get Rid of Squirrels!

[Thag13]

I swear by all that MightyBec hold dear,

I didn't notice the ads until I read this thread.....

:ugly: :doi: :confused:

I guess I just even dont look there.

Is that good for bad???

[Super Squirrel]

I'm scared. :nonp:

[JohnTaber]

Hi Folks: If folks are using Firefox you can install the GreaseMonkey and Platypus extensions and remove the add pages from the forums and the front Hero page. It is really easy to do for any site... ;)

[keithcurtis]

Hi Folks: If folks are using Firefox you can install the GreaseMonkey and Platypus extensions and remove the add pages from the forums and the front Hero page. It is really easy to do for any site... ;)
But doing so wouldn't help Hero Games any...

Keith "doing my part" Curtis

[Thag13]

I have to agree with KC here, the ads are very small and dont get in the way.

As I said in an earlier post, I didnt even notice them until there were pointed out to me.

I even clicked on a few just to make sure Hero or Dan get a few cents.

I figure I spend hours here a week for free. I can at least take 15 seconds to click on one ad and then kill the page.

[Simon]

They get in the way for me. Every single time I click on a page I must move everything on the page about 2.5" to the right in order to read the forums. I've spent considerably less time on the forum the last couple of days because of this. It's just no fun to need to reposition the screen 100+ times a day.
Umm....what resolution do you run your browser at?

The ad bar is 728 pixels wide. The only way it should create horizontal scrolling is if you are running your browser very narrow.....which will create similar issues on a great number of sites.

[ghost-angel]

I'm scared. :nonp:
I saw tha manga some time ago ... looked cute.

I might get it. Because every once in a while you need to induce brain damage on yourself.

[bigdamnhero]

Look at it this way, WotC is spending money that is going into DoJ's pocket. So, the more times we see/click/whatever to up Google's payments to Simon = More money that WotC is giving to DoJ.
I LIKE that idea!! :thumbup:

The yahoo group my home campaign set up gets a lot of ads for "Champion Juicers." Haven't seen it here yet, but I always found it kinda funny.


bigdamnhero
"Mercy is the mark of a great man. [stab] Guess I'm just a good man. [stab] Well, I'm okay."

[archermoo]

Umm....what resolution do you run your browser at?

The ad bar is 728 pixels wide. The only way it should create horizontal scrolling is if you are running your browser very narrow.....which will create similar issues on a great number of sites.

Huh, and I just checked by resizing my browser (both with firefox 1.5 and IE under WinXP) and while the adbar doesn't scale, the rest of the web page scales quite nicely and stays within the display area of the resized browser. So the only effect I got from shrinking the browser down was not being able to see all of the ads. Well, that and having to scroll down more to see stuff. But no horizontal scrolling needed at all. Unless of course I wanted to read the ads. ;)

So on top of the resolution question, MitchellS, I'm curious as to what browser/OS combo you are using.

[archermoo]

Because I have bad eyes I keep my screen resolution set at 800 x 600 and the text size set to "normal." I frequent many boards which have similar ads on them. This is the only one which requires me to scroll. I assume this is due to the Hero sidebar information on the left [something most other forums do not have - they are all full-screen forums].

Ah, I hadn't thought about the sidebar. I use one of the borderless themes and don't have the horizontal scrolling problem with it, even on very low resolutions.

[Teflon Billy]

Because I have bad eyes I keep my screen resolution set at 800 x 600 and the text size set to "normal." I frequent many boards which have similar ads on them. This is the only one which requires me to scroll. I assume this is due to the Hero sidebar information on the left [something most other forums do not have - they are all full-screen forums].You can turn off the side bar by going into User CP and choosing the "borderless" forum style. Yeah, it's annoying not having a convenient list of links to move around the site in general, but if you are trying to make you forum usage more pleasent it's what you ought to do.

TB

[Fitz]

These thing have become so omnipresent that my brain just edits them out. I'm another who didn't even notice the ad-bar until it was mentioned -- though I did wonder why the links to all forums I usually read weren't in their usual place on the screen :)

[Super Squirrel]

Hi Folks: If folks are using Firefox you can install the GreaseMonkey and Platypus extensions and remove the add pages from the forums and the front Hero page. It is really easy to do for any site... ;)
While I don't mind for intrusive ads, I have never thought of Google Ads as intrusive and actually find them amusing at times. (e.g. Squirrel Traps)

[ghost-angel]

I watched 'em for a while, I like that 90%+ of them are simple text ads. Refreshing.

[Intrope]

Google Ads are one of the few types of ads I *don't* block, simply because they are non-annoying and frequently at least humerous--and occasionally actually offer me products I'm interested in! (what a novel concept in advertising! :p)

On the other hand, I have seen some amusingly ridiculous ads on Google before (adds for C4, Sarin, various rocket weapon systems, nuclear weapons materials, etc.)

Heck, their is even a google ad for Unobtanium! :D

I would appreciate if some of the dead space around the ad block was removed, though...

[beauxdeigh]

While I don't mind for intrusive ads, I have never thought of Google Ads as intrusive and actually find them amusing at times. (e.g. Squirrel Traps)

But wait! There's more!!

I don't know why I keep getting these, I guess I'm just lucky

[Steve Long]

Man, you guys are lucky. All I keep getting are ads for website hosting, message boards (the physical kind, not the online kind), comics, and computer stuff. Though I did just get one regarding a high-level defense industry conference in the UK. ;)

[susandwyer]

Seems to be straight D&D for me. Weird!

[AliceTheOwl]

I was getting the boring links, like Mr. Long, but tonight I've been getting a ton of banner ads for webservers. Very annoying.

[Mister E]

I hope whoever it is, is making lots of money with these ads, because I can't stand them. Personally, I hate being constantly reminded of how cancerous and all-invasive commercialism and capitalism are. I don't come to the HERO Boards in search of random sales-pitches on topics of interest I don't have. It makes me soul-sick.

Enjoy the pennies.

[keithcurtis]

Don't mince words, Mister E. Tell us how you really feel.

Keith ":rolleyes:" Curtis

[Mister E]

Don't mince words, Mister E. Tell us how you really feel.

Keith ":rolleyes:" CurtisI'm out of cigarettes. Sorry.

[Super Squirrel]

I hope whoever it is, is making lots of money with these ads, because I can't stand them. Personally, I hate being constantly reminded of how cancerous and all-invasive commercialism and capitalism are. I don't come to the HERO Boards in search of random sales-pitches on topics of interest I don't have. It makes me soul-sick.

Enjoy the pennies.
I'm sorry that my squirrel traps aren't of interest to you. It is also unfortunate that commercialism exists. I tried to get the country changed to communism once but it didn't work.

[Trencher]

How about socialdemocracy? Have you tried that?

[Mister E]

I'll get over it. All I need to do is sit in my magical pagota and listen to my magical windchimes, and everthing will be better.

[Dr. Anomaly]

I'll get over it. All I need to do is sit in my magical pagota and listen to my magical windchimes, and everthing will be better.
I find myself wondering what kinds of ads those words and phrases will bring up in the ad bar... ;)

[Mister E]

Good times. :)

[AliceTheOwl]

Whoa, where'd the ads go?

I kind of miss them . . .

[BlackSword]

Whoa, where'd the ads go?

I kind of miss them . . .
Didn't even notice they were gone until you mentioned it.

[keithcurtis]

I am submitting a formal petition to have the ads re-instated. Then I'll start a campaign to have them banned. Because I apparently have nothing better to do with my time.

Keith "Pot-stirrer" Curtis

[McCoy]

I found a STUN multiplier through the Google ads. I would not mind if they came back.

[Super Squirrel]

I noticed last night I was getting a black box but no ads. I didn't mind them at all and wouldn't mind seeing them back.

[ghost-angel]

I found a STUN multiplier through the Google ads. I would not mind if they came back.
Yeah ... you're find had me on the look out - and will result in a purchase of said find.

[sinanju]

I'll get over it. All I need to do is sit in my magical pagota and listen to my magical windchimes, and everthing will be better.

Or download a copy of Firefox (free). Install it. Download the "Adblock" extension and install it (free). Then click on the ad(s) in question, tell Adblock to exorcise them (also free)...and they'll never darken your monitor again.

It works like a charm, I tells ya.

[Super Squirrel]

Or download a copy of Firefox (free). Install it. Download the "Adblock" extension and install it (free). Then click on the ad(s) in question, tell Adblock to exorcise them (also free)...and they'll never darken your monitor again.

It works like a charm, I tells ya.
And yet, ironicly, the ads are gone.

[Fitz]

Personally I'm glad to see the back of them -- advertising may be a neccessary evil these days, but it's still an evil. Also, forum loading (for me) slowed markedly while they were around, though that might just have been coincidental or due to Magical Internet Pixies.

[archermoo]

Personally I'm glad to see the back of them -- advertising may be a neccessary evil these days, but it's still an evil. Also, forum loading (for me) slowed markedly while they were around, though that might just have been coincidental or due to Magical Internet Pixies.

Well, it they are likely to be just temporarily gone. It sounds like Google was unhappy with the number of clickthroughs on the ads. Not that they were generating too little traffic, but to much. Sounds odd to me, but ah well. My understanding is that Dan is working with them to see what it will take to get the ads back.

Personally I don't see advertising in general as being evil, just a number of ways that it is implemented. Banner ads I don't have much of a problem with. When they start flashing colours and blinking text at me is when I find them annoying.

[AliceTheOwl]

Or covering up what I'm reading. :mad:

Guess who just came from the Onion site?

[ghost-angel]

Aye, the Google Ads were actually useful and non-intrusive.

I really only hate the big ones that either create an annoying popup (especially the ones with those stupid little minigames) or the flash ones that feel the need to sit on top of the content. Or worse yet when you click a link and get "please visit our sponsor" page that you have to click through to get to your destination.

ah well. I'm not too sorry to see 'em gone. Ads are Ads.

Alice: now you know why I only pick up the dead-tree version of The Onion ;)

[Mister E]

Alice: now you know why I only pick up the dead-tree version of The Onion ;)Monkey killer.

[ghost-angel]

I'll have you know The Onion uses only trees from Monkey-Free forests.

[zornwil]

And yet, ironicly, the ads are gone.
That's not ironic! Sinanju's blocker is megascaled! :eek:

[Mister E]

That's not ironic! Sinanju's blocker is megascaled! :eek:Maybe he used Extra-Dimensional Movement to block the adds. I here that's effective.

[buzz]

Uh... what ads? :confused:

[Super Squirrel]

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=221972

Google is being sued due to Click Fraud.

[ghost-angel]

How do they KNOW an IP is a robot? I suppose they guess based on number of clicks through from it and surfing patterns .. but can they prove it?

I dunno .. the whole internet ad click thingy is kinda annoying. They don't go through this hubub on radio or television ads.. Maybe the model should go to a flat rate based on appearences and not clicks. That was probably their mistake, using click throughs.

[buzz]

So... what ads?

[Super Squirrel]

Another interesting insight to Google Adsense. I'm sort of glad they revoked my account. I'm looking forward to Yahoo going public.

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050922.html