Do We Really Need Political Ads on a Sailing Forum?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

In the user control panel under edit options down at the bottom of the page is an option to turn off banner ads, that may help, but I think it’s only vendor ads?
Supporting members only I think.

As a "supporter", you can turn off all ads except the one narrow banner just below the menu at the top of the page. That's all I see and it doesn't bother me since it is scrolled off the top of the screen most of the time when looking at anything after the first couple of posts on a page. Well worth the $15 bucks a year for that alone in my opinion.


And as others have said: If you are seeing political ads, that is at least partly a reflection of the types of sites that google has tracked you as visiting recently.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by grantmc

Same for me. But the reality life is full of adverts.

I notice that half the posters complaining above haven't spent the minuscule $15 and signed up as members. The more revenue from subscribers the less reliance for adverts.

For the record, I AM a supporting member, but I don't always log in when browsing. It's a great forum.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Janet H

As noted by shrew and others - ads are displayed based on each readers location, viewing habits and other metrics that the site doesn't have control over. Most of these ads are served up by google or other ad networks and we each see unique content. The only exception are the forum sponsor ads.
Forum supporters see fewer ads but there are still some visible and for regular members, be sure to login - you will see fewer ads.

The site cannot survive without ad revenue and we deeply appreciate the support and our forum sponsors.

Well. This means the owners of the forum endorse the adds.


Because they have a way to opt out.


Solution one: get forum members pay for the upkeep of the forum, kick out the adds.


Solution two: shut up and use blockers, or simply disregard the adds. That an add pops up on my screen does not imply I must read it.



Somehow, I get NO adds. Why? Simply: I stated very clearly in my post #1 I am a COMMIE ;-)))



Flowers too,

b.

[Mike OReilly]

Run ad and snooper blockers. I see no ads, zero, zip. And I am an avid supporter of CF. I support it, and this community, by providing free content.

[Midnight Son]

Even before I put an all purpose blocker in, all I saw, and still see, are boat related ads on this site. I just block ALL trackers, no matter which website I visit.

Works for me.

[Lazy Jack 32]

I feel the same way about banners on boats in marinas. There are guys on other boats that I can enjoy having a beer with. Sometimes I see from the bumper stickers on their trucks that we are on opposite ends of the political spectrum, but we make a point not to bring up politics when we're on a boat and we get along fine. But the guys who wave larger than life flags for their favorite candidate from their boats, surrounded by outsized American flags? I don't want to know anything more about them.

[fox9988]

Originally Posted by ttex

I'm glad I am not the kind of person that is targeted by political adds.

Never seen one.

.

Same here. But if I did, I’d simply ignore them.

[Hardhead]

Originally Posted by Lazy Jack 32

I feel the same way about banners on boats in marinas. There are guys on other boats that I can enjoy having a beer with. Sometimes I see from the bumper stickers on their trucks that we are on opposite ends of the political spectrum, but we make a point not to bring up politics when we're on a boat and we get along fine. But the guys who wave larger than life flags for their favorite candidate from their boats, surrounded by outsized American flags? I don't want to know anything more about them.

Same here. Really think about that - sharing so much of actual reality in common - and enjoying hanging around together, in real life - but then that same mutual commonality is distorted by 3rd party political "platforms." When it comes to the facts, of what we all want in life... we need to be pushed apart and divided. Who's idea is that?

[taxwizz]

Maybe they caught you reading the Trump Tweets....

[Lazy Jack 32]

Hey, the point is to keep this place free of politics, so I wasn't going to name the candidate who evokes all that jingoistic fervor. But you could guess, right? Have you ever seen any other candidate's name on a flag on a boat?

[Midnight Son]

Originally Posted by Lazy Jack 32

Hey, the point is to keep this place free of politics, so I wasn't going to name the candidate who evokes all that jingoistic fervor. But you could guess, right? Have you ever seen any other candidate's name on a flag on a boat?

Unfortunately that is how it works. Google Analytics looks at what you spend a bit of time looking at, next thing you know up comes more of the same in advertising. Sigh
Oh, and not just Google, is listening to what you say casually, in listening distance by your phone.



Best wishes all

[onewadd]

Are you scared of political ads?? You can always just blow by them. That said, if you want to have a say in the way your (our) country is run..... then guess what, you have to deal with politics and political ads... kinda how things work... just say'n

[Hudson Force]

I believe that it's poor judgement to suggest that those opposed to political ads are fearful. It's far more likely that they are annoyed as gnats flying about their face.

I'm fortunate by having a very effective filter. I'm aware of their presence, but they don't draw my attention and I rarely note their content.

I favor the presence of ads to pay for my use of many forms of media so that there is no cost to me and I'll continue to ignore them.

[Copacabana]

Try deleting your browsing history and cookies. Then go to a few online florists and look at flowers. When you log on next time, you'll see a nice floral border on the pages you open.

Seriously, the ads you see are directed to you based on your browsing history.