what's up with the sleazy ads?

[uakari]

what's up with the sleazy ads on the sides of this website?

today i got one that said "meet iranian girls." it used to be girls from dominican republic, brazil, philippines, colombia, ukraine. i'm told google ads are "intelligent" and they are targeted to my interests. really?????? what have i been browsing lately?

[gh]

anybody else ever seen such? First I've heard of it.

[j-a-m]

Didn't know there were ads on this website; guess my ad blocker works.

[cladthin]

I've seen them too. I've definitely seen the Phillipines ad.

[ExCoastRanger]

The flickering (almost disorienting) Asics ads are annoying enough.
Internet/website/forum adverts are a relatively new thing, and I get that website owners/administrators need to make a buck and are still experimenting with what works, but I stop visiting when I get continuous pop-ups, scrolls, or (in the case of this particular Asics ad) distracting, almost siezure-inducing flashing animation. I just don't need to get pissed off a little bit each time I open a window or view a topic.

[kuha]

The flickering (almost disorienting) Asics ads are annoying enough.

Hugely annoying.

[LopenUupunut]

A non-distracting ad likely wouldn't work

[Powell]

I've seen them too. I've definitely seen the Phillipines ad.

You know that the ads appear on your computer based on what other web sites you visit? Seriously, that's how it works.

[cladthin]

I've seen them too. I've definitely seen the Phillipines ad.

You know that the ads appear on your computer based on what other web sites you visit? Seriously, that's how it works.

I do understand the "smart" concept and that's how the ads are supposed to work (sent to those based upon apparent preferences) but it's obvious to me that it's not working for I've not been to any other sites remotely like those.

[KDFINE]

I'm totally in agreement about the flickering ads. Does anyone remember the movie "The Andromeda Strain" where the flickering lights set off a seizure in one of the scientists (or was it an astronaut - vaguely remember it as a woman?) I keep expecting to have a fit myself!

[kuha]

A non-distracting ad likely wouldn't work

Meaning that it wouldn't make me hate both the MEDIUM and the MESSAGE?

[Powell]

I do understand the "smart" concept and that's how the ads are supposed to work (sent to those based upon apparent preferences) but it's obvious to me that it's not working for I've not been to any other sites remotely like those.

That's what they all say

Seriously, the connection could be less obvious. You might have visited some website related to the Phillipines, or whatever.

[gh]

yeah, they're not smart enough to necessarily target you down to the nubbins. If you're on a page that has a bunch of discussion of headlines that mention steroids, or HGH, for example, it's not strange if supplement Ads start popping up, even if you've never opened any of the threads.

Needless to say, unless an Ad is truly in bad taste here and generates a landslide of complaints, you simply have to learn to ignore it. Sorry, but that's the reality of the medium.

[cladthin]

I do understand the "smart" concept and that's how the ads are supposed to work (sent to those based upon apparent preferences) but it's obvious to me that it's not working for I've not been to any other sites remotely like those.

That's what they all say

Seriously, the connection could be less obvious. You might have visited some website related to the Phillipines, or whatever.

Yeah, you really have me pegged.

Nothing that I'm aware of related to Phillipines etc. so I have no idea why the ads are popping up.

[guru]

yeah, they're not smart enough to necessarily target you down to the nubbins.

Actually, they are. When you visit just about any page, you get a nice cookie deposited on your computer that says you've been there(unless you have configured your computer to prevent it). Then, when you visit a site like this with Flash advertisements, they are customized exactly to you. For example, in the last week I have been shopping for some bike components. Sure enough, at various sites(including this one), if I haven't cleared my cache, I get bike shop ads

[cladthin]

yeah, they're not smart enough to necessarily target you down to the nubbins.

Actually, they are. When you visit just about any page, you get a nice cookie deposited on your computer that says you've been there(unless you have configured your computer to prevent it). Then, when you visit a site like this with Flash advertisements, they are customized exactly to you. For example, in the last week I have been shopping for some bike components. Sure enough, at various sites(including this one), if I haven't cleared my cache, I get bike shop ads

Definitely something I do very often and largely just to keep the computer running at a decent speed-clearing out/deleting temp. internet files.

[j-a-m]

Actually, they are. When you visit just about any page, you get a nice cookie deposited on your computer that says you've been there(unless you have configured your computer to prevent it). Then, when you visit a site like this with Flash advertisements, they are customized exactly to you. For example, in the last week I have been shopping for some bike components. Sure enough, at various sites(including this one), if I haven't cleared my cache, I get bike shop ads

Isn't that really creepy, how companies track you and what sites you visit after theirs?

[guru]

Isn't that really creepy, how companies track you and what sites you visit after theirs?

Depends. It's helpful sometimes, but easy enough to prevent by adjusting your privacy settings.

[guru]

yeah, they're not smart enough to necessarily target you down to the nubbins.

Actually, they are. When you visit just about any page, you get a nice cookie deposited on your computer that says you've been there(unless you have configured your computer to prevent it). Then, when you visit a site like this with Flash advertisements, they are customized exactly to you. For example, in the last week I have been shopping for some bike components. Sure enough, at various sites(including this one), if I haven't cleared my cache, I get bike shop ads

Definitely something I do very often and largely just to keep the computer running at a decent speed-clearing out/deleting temp. internet files.

And if you run Google Chrome as your browser, just use the Incognito mode and it automatically deletes all that for you when you close.

[j-a-m]

but easy enough to prevent by adjusting your privacy settings.

Yeah, I do that; just surprised that relatively few people seem to do it.

[uakari]

since my secret marriage to roman sebrle, i'm not interested in women. well, that was the case even before that, so i don't see how "intelligent" google is. i also got at one point ads for "cheap telephone calls" to kenya, nigeria, etc. maybe because of the african athletics element here. i've also used to get ads for technical schools -- what the heck.

when i go to yahoo for my email account, i used to get ads for dating women over 50. i get tons of obama ads lately -- how did they figger i'm a secret big-government communist muslim abortionist??????

now, when i think of it, i'm really insulted. all the sleazy ads for meeting girls in ukraine, domin. rep., brazil etc. -- does google think i'm some old loser dude who can meet girls?

[toyracer]

Oddly, I don't see any of these ads and I'm not using any ad blocking software or extensions with Firefox.

[tandfman]

The latest is an AT&T ad that shows up as a small box on the left side of the home page when I open it. It blocks most of the headline section. It disappears after 10 seconds or so, but in the meanwhile, there's nothing I can do about it--no way to x out of it before it's ready to go.

A new way to teach me patience, I suppose.

[bad hammy]

Google 'Flash block' and your browser (chrome, firefox, IE). There are easy to install free browser extensions that block all of those Adobe Flash-based ads. Instead, where the flash video would be you have a box with an F in it that you can click on if you want to see the flash stuff. Great idea, works beautifully.

[gh]

The latest is an AT&T ad that shows up as a small box on the left side of the home page when I open it. It blocks most of the headline section. It disappears after 10 seconds or so, but in the meanwhile, there's nothing I can do about it--no way to x out of it before it's ready to go.

A new way to teach me patience, I suppose.

Yeah, we're well aware of it, and trying to effect a fix. Nothing is simple with website displays.

[uakari]

for my work computer, i have NoAds (blocks pop ups) and AdBlocker (works great to block the short 15 sec. ads on the nbcolympics video streaming). but for my home Mac, these don't seem to work. what do you suggest for Macs?

[tandfman]

what do you suggest for Macs?

Replace them with PCs.

[polevaultpower]

I've honestly been visiting T&FN less because of the extremely annoying Asics ad. I can't wait for it to go out of rotation.

[Cooter Brown]

Firefox + Ad Blocker is the way to go. I didn't even realize there were ads on this site until I checked it on someone else's PC a few years ago.

[bad hammy]

Firefox + Ad Blocker is the way to go. I didn't even realize there were ads on this site until I checked it on someone else's PC a few years ago.

Excellent - thanks for the tip!

[26mi235]

The latest is an AT&T ad that shows up as a small box on the left side of the home page when I open it. It blocks most of the headline section. It disappears after 10 seconds or so, but in the meanwhile, there's nothing I can do about it--no way to x out of it before it's ready to go.

A new way to teach me patience, I suppose.

Yeah, we're well aware of it, and trying to effect a fix. Nothing is simple with website displays.

I just did "ctlr -" [control key and hit the "-" key]; that n=knocks the font size down and it no longer covers anything.

[toyracer]

Firefox + Ad Blocker is the way to go. I didn't even realize there were ads on this site until I checked it on someone else's PC a few years ago.

I concur, although even without ad blocker plus I didn't have pop ups, just the asics ad. Now that's gone too.

[wineturtle]

I've seen them too. I've definitely seen the Phillipines ad.

Poster ponoyathletics posts links to a Philippine base blog site that might drive the mailorderbride ads.

[lonewolf]

I get loud intrusive audio at random times..don't know what they are pitching..

[aaronk]

Fuck this!!!

For the past two days, I've gotten those intrusive "XBox" ads with their obnoxious bullshit BLARING into my headphones while I'm trying to read something on the front page....or checking out the results of the 5th Avenue mile!!

Why all of a sudden?? We went months without this crap!!!
I'm outta here until this SHIT ENDS!!!!!