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For future reference, might I suggest installing an ad blocker into your browsers? I use uBlock Origin in Firefox and I have never seen an ad here ever. Not only are ads an annoyance, they are frequently vectors for malware.

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3 hours ago, Mstor said:

For future reference, might I suggest installing an ad blocker into your browsers? I use uBlock Origin in Firefox and I have never seen an ad here ever. Not only are ads an annoyance, they are frequently vectors for malware.

 

Ad revenue is the thing that keeps ARC online.  By encouraging people to block the ads, you are saying you want ARC to disappear.

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5 hours ago, SBARC said:

 

Ad revenue is the thing that keeps ARC online.  By encouraging people to block the ads, you are saying you want ARC to disappear.

 

Steve, I in no way want ARC to disappear, but you yourself seem to indicate that these ads are intrusive and an annoyance. Also, as I mentioned above, these ads are frequently used as vectors for malware. These ads are obviously upsetting your user base and, after you made changes, one user above states that "all ads have now disappeared". If these ads are so vital to ARC, why are you seemingly working to remove them entirely?

I know Google makes it difficult to control ad content. Google also has a long history of intrusive data gathering that does not respect user's privacy. I find ad targeting to be especially intrusive but once you let Google in there appears to be little the user can do to limit Google's skimming of data.

If Google ads are truly vital to ARC's existence, I will consider turning off ad blocking, but if it becomes too intrusive I would probably limit my time here, which I really don't want to do.

That said, I will mention ad blocking no further and respect your right to use ads to fund ARC. It is a shame that ads have become a necessary evil for so many sites these days. Have you considered launching donation campaigns similar to what Wikipedia does? Their campaigns have gotten even a tight wad like me to donate and I would certainly consider making a donation to ARC's continued existence.

Well, I've probably said too much. It just made me very upset that you would infer that I want ARC to disappear. That was a low blow Steve.

 

Mark Storin aka Mstor

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8 hours ago, Mstor said:

 

Steve, I in no way want ARC to disappear, but you yourself seem to indicate that these ads are intrusive and an annoyance. Also, as I mentioned above, these ads are frequently used as vectors for malware. These ads are obviously upsetting your user base and, after you made changes, one user above states that "all ads have now disappeared". If these ads are so vital to ARC, why are you seemingly working to remove them entirely?

I know Google makes it difficult to control ad content. Google also has a long history of intrusive data gathering that does not respect user's privacy. I find ad targeting to be especially intrusive but once you let Google in there appears to be little the user can do to limit Google's skimming of data.

If Google ads are truly vital to ARC's existence, I will consider turning off ad blocking, but if it becomes too intrusive I would probably limit my time here, which I really don't want to do.

That said, I will mention ad blocking no further and respect your right to use ads to fund ARC. It is a shame that ads have become a necessary evil for so many sites these days. Have you considered launching donation campaigns similar to what Wikipedia does? Their campaigns have gotten even a tight wad like me to donate and I would certainly consider making a donation to ARC's continued existence.

Well, I've probably said too much. It just made me very upset that you would infer that I want ARC to disappear. That was a low blow Steve.

 

Mark Storin aka Mstor

The issue was pop up ads and other intrusive ads which we all find annoying and I do not permit that type of ads on ARC.  Those ads do pay much more, but those types of ads do not sit well with me or anyone else.

 

Static ads sit well with me.

 

I refuse various offers by e-mail from companies wanting me to post dummy articles with ghost text leading to ads unrelated to the article.  I always refuse such deception.

 

I refuse e-mail to have ads inserted into dummy article or existing articles with links leading to porn sites.  I only use googles ads because they have a strict policy against any sort of porn.

 

With Google I do have to option to block certain types of ads in in the last day or 2 I have blocked all ads for dating sites as those did not sit well with the ARCer's according to recent feedback.

 

I do have the option to block targeted ads and for a week or so I did block all targeted ads, but then ARCer's were complaining about the random nature of untargeted ads so I switched back to targeted ads. 

 

I know my comment to you came across as negative and I do apologize for that, but I get frustrated when ARCer's encourage other users to use ad blocking on ARC, when I know that will kill ARC in the long run.

 

I do apologize for causing you any stress or negative emotions over this issue.

 

Be well dear Mark.

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Here is the text from a recent e-mail I received regarding a company wanting to put porn ads on ARC...

 

I get e-mails like this regularly...I always say no.  ARC's mostly male membership makes it a very attractive audience for some advertisers.

 

Hi,
My name's Miriam and I run an adult website guide blog – I was hoping we'd be able to do some business together.
 
We would like to purchase an article posting on your site. Content will be relevant to the topic of your site, with 1-2 do follow links going to our Adult website guide blog. Around 300-400 words.

Is it possible? If yes, how much do you charge?
 
Thanks,
Miriam
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I can handle the ads now that Steve has fixed it. I just don't want to constantly deal with top 5 Russian dating sites, sexy lingeries or any adult crap!!!

Sorry guys, but I'm happily married and just don't want that crap around!

 

Tim

Edited by hawkwrench
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4 hours ago, SBARC said:

Here is the text from a recent e-mail I received regarding a company wanting to put porn ads on ARC...

 

I get e-mails like this regularly...I always say no.  ARC's mostly male membership makes it a very attractive audience for some advertisers.

 

Hi,
My name's Miriam and I run an adult website guide blog – I was hoping we'd be able to do some business together.
 
We would like to purchase an article posting on your site. Content will be relevant to the topic of your site, with 1-2 do follow links going to our Adult website guide blog. Around 300-400 words.

Is it possible? If yes, how much do you charge?
 
Thanks,
Miriam

It seems like things are back to normal or at least ARC Forums feels better while using it. Maybe a add banner at the top and bottom but not the intrusive embedded or pop up like earlier.

 

So, thanks for fixing it Steve, we really do appreciate all that you do for our hobby!

 

Although, the ‘Free roofing estimate’ add at the bottom certainly isn’t as exciting as what I was getting yesterday 😂

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6 hours ago, SBARC said:

I do apologize for causing you any stress or negative emotions over this issue.

 

Be well dear Mark.

 

Thanks Steve. Your post clarified a lot of things and I am amazed at the diligence with which you have worked to limit ads and keep "questionable" content out of the forum. As I stated, I will never mention those unmentionable sites I brought up again. :thumbsup: I think I will turn off ad blocking for a while and see how things go.

Best of the season to you and yours,

Mark

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On 12/25/2019 at 1:32 PM, crackerjazz said:

She mentions "content will be relevant to the topic of your site" -- probably because of the "gorgeous models" in ARC  : )

 

And here is another e-mail along the same lines...I would NEVER do this for any price.

 

Hello,

 

We would like to advertise on your website. I represent a group of UK gaming brands who would like to discuss possibility of placing a several guest posts / sponsored articles on your website. We would initially look to purchase one placement, with additional placements in the future after a few months. All our articles are 100% unique content, tailored specifically for your website, written by Native UK writers.

 

If you are interested in this collaboration, could you please reply with your advertising fees and any specific criteria you have for the content and links and we will respond to your email asap.

 

Kind Regards

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Well, I turned off ad blocking, but still saw no ads. Had to turn of Tracker blocking too. Now I see ads at the top and bottom of pages. Not terribly intrusive. I think I can deal with that just fine.

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