Advertising?

[kdot]

I am wondering how various ads get on this web site? I know advertising money supports something like this forum, but do you have any control over what is advertised over on the right side of the site? I am thinking specifically of a picture of Hillary Clinton that I saw, ostensibly as a poll, with the question "Should Hillary Clinton be charged with crimes against America?" Let me say up front that I AM NOT A HILLARY SUPPORTER, but neither do I like reading this kind of garbage on a nice camping forum. BTW, I would feel exactly the same if the politician in question was a Republican.

Kdot

[emm-dee]

I get all sorts of ads showing that seem to be related to searches I have done on other sites. i.e., if I search Amazon for Camco dog-bone connectors I'll suddenly start seeing ads here for the same product from other companies. I think the forum engine sees your search history and tailors the ads to that history. If you ever did a search, or opened a link, about Hillarys' email stuff you'll probably start seeing some ads related to that.

I don't think it's a big deal. In fact, I hardly notice what's being advertised. But, sometimes I do click on the links. I regularly click on the ads for Electric Generator Depot and similar to see if the prices have changed. As soon as they drop about $100 or more I'm going to order a pair of Hondas.

I'm on an aviation (pilots) forum with has absolutely no advertisements. But, there is an annual fee of $15 (plus, one has to prove their qualifications in order to get access to the system). I don't have a problem with that fee because it's not exactly cheap to operate one of these forums. Everyone has to make a living and I don't have a problem with the "owners" of this forum making a profit. These forums provide a wealth of information about subjects we are interested in so the "inconvenience" of seeing ads or paying an annual fee is insignificant when compared to the benefits.

One of the advantages of the paid forum I'm on is the qualification verification thing. At least one knows the other members are qualified to post their opinions. If something similar was done on this forum then one would have to submit a copy of their registration to prove they were really an owner of a Forest River product.

[Herk7769]

emm-dee is correct. Ads are selected for display by Google Ads whose revenue supports our free forum. Google Ads uses your browser's search history to pre-select ads that might be of interest to you.

I get lots of gun ads because that is my (other than RV) interest and Amazon (and other vendors) ads for stuff I left in my shopping cart or searched for.

If there is a particularly awful ad (like the ad for a really racy video game a few years ago) we can tell Google Ads not to display ads from that vendor.

Herk

PS - The prohibition on posting controversial discussions applies to the open forum and not so much what appears on your browser at home. The Ad in this case was controversial but not in violation since it was not in the open forum. Posting what was discussed in that ad could be considered a violation however we understand it was unintentional on kdot's part.

We will discuss whether it stays or goes based on its educational value for the nuances of the forum posting rules.

[kdot]

Emmdee and Herk, I'll take your word for it, but I've never searched for anything about Hillary Clinton. I'm big on lathes and band saws though.

Kdot

[RollingDownTheHighway]

the ads are based off of the following:

your recent searches
recent web sites you've been to
and any recent ads you may have clicked on.

The web is becoming big brother these days and tracks everything and is using cookies more and more these days. I have a plug in for chrome called Ad Block and it blocks all ads on a site so I don't see any ads

[doc73]

I seem to get lots of ads on amazon and handheld controversial items as well, all from my browser history as well...

Remember months ago (maybe over a year now) when some one came on very upset that they were getting pornography ads.... AWKWARD!! HAHA

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[18CrewDually]

Don't "Cookies" come into play? If you turn off cookies and clear browser history after every session won't it then be a random ad?
I don't experience issues with the ads since 98.3% of the time I'm utilizing the app.

[RollingDownTheHighway]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Don't "Cookies" come into play? If you turn off cookies and clear browser history after every session won't it then be a random ad?
I don't experience issues with the ads since 98.3% of the time I'm utilizing the app.

Yes, cookies are in play, and if you clear out your browser history, the cookies will be gone and when you go to the site you'll see random ads at first, then when you start bouncing around the web, the ad's will be based on where you go. You can turn cookies off, however, most sites are using cookies and may or may not work 100% of the time. Some of the sites I build use cookies and if I detect cookies are off, the page loads with the basics and the users can't buy items, search, etc, within the site.

[doc73]

Yes the cookies add to this. On the Tapatalk app I get ads on tow vehicle's, security stuff, and right now I have one for fighting the stock market recession (???)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[Herk7769]

Yes, the browser's history and cookies allow google ads to pre-select ads that "might" appeal to you.

In the absence of those, you will get random and mostly useless ads.

Ad Block software (settings) may help but could also be intrusive to your privacy by reporting your browsing history to the ad-in script writer (like Microsoft and Google).

They get you one way or the other...

[Mr. Dan]

I use Firefox on my Windows 10 laptop and get NO ads on the FRF site (although I do get Camping World and Amazon, etc., ads on Facebk). On my iPhone, I use the Safari browser some and get ads for restaurants and a GMC dealership 80 miles from here. Using Tapatalk on my iPhone, I get a "sponsored" ad thread every one in a while... all ads ignored.

[doc73]

Now that you say that.. I am on the laptop now and have no more ads... I added an ad blocker and pop up blocker some time ago and never really noticed, but they are gone!

[kdot]

Doc 73, do you remember specifically what you added?

Kdot

[doc73]

Its called AdBlock
https://getadblock.com/

[kdot]

Thanks Doc73, I just installed it!

Kdot

[5picker]

Originally Posted by doc73

Its called AdBlock
https://getadblock.com/

Use this (or AdBlock Plus) on all your browser platforms and skip all the crap.

[Janet H]

Aside from the afore mentioned criteria for serving ads - they are also displayed based on googles assumptions about where you live. The reality during an election cycle is that you may see ads based on the primary dates in your area regardless of your political leanings.

Ads keep the board online and allow everyone to read about, learn and discuss Forest River products. The board also has no affiliation with Forest River and so we need the click revenue from these ads to survive. We don't want to limit viewing to subscription only members so this is the trade off.

I am currently seeing ads for cat food but own no cat... sigh.

[Eagle-751]

Originally Posted by kdot

I am wondering how various ads get on this web site? I know advertising money supports something like this forum, but do you have any control over what is advertised over on the right side of the site? I am thinking specifically of a picture of Hillary Clinton that I saw, ostensibly as a poll, with the question "Should Hillary Clinton be charged with crimes against America?" Let me say up front that I AM NOT A HILLARY SUPPORTER, but neither do I like reading this kind of garbage on a nice camping forum. BTW, I would feel exactly the same if the politician in question was a Republican.

Kdot

I controll all the ads I don't see, I use firefox with adblocker. I don't see ads on any web page, ever! It is awesome only seeing the post from the people and not the ads.
I understand the idea of ads supporting the page but I would never buy anything from an ad on web page, I like to research from several pages first... Just my 2 cents worth!

[Davidg]

Fascinating discussion. I have a question for those with adblocker. If there is no ad, then does anything occupy that space, or is it just blank?

[Flybob]

I have had several sites tell me they know I am using ad blocker and ask me to turn it off so they can get the revenue. I have had one or two that would not allow content until it was turned off.