Inline Text Ads

[MasseyWV]

Please don't tell me that TBN has started using inline text ads. I utterly despise those things with a passion. I discovered it after creating a post with the words "riding" and "mower" next to each other, and the following garbage appeared as a link using my own words.

"http://ads.pointroll.com/PortalServe/?pid=1669556C81920120323190729&pos=c&r=[RANDOM]"

I guess now I'll have to start carefully choosing my words so they won't be used as annoying ads. When I want a link in my posts, I'll put it there. What's next? Kontera, Infolinks, and Intellitext? I certainly hope not.

 

[rambler]

Whew - I noticed one a few hours ago here, thought perhaps I got something on my computer, but if others saw it too.... Whew.

--->Paul

 

[MasseyWV]

Unfortunately, it looks like TBN has started using inline text ads. I just saw another one embedded in the first post of the following thread.

Box Blade won't hold position... - TractorByNet.com

One can only hope that it's only on an experimental basis, or that enough users complain and/or the ads don't prove themselves to be viable. I have nothing against TBN making money with ads, it's just that certain kinds of ads really get my blood boiling, with inline text ads being at the top of the list. I'm a "scroller" when I read, and those things make me insane with anger.

 

[aczlan]

I agree, they are annoying and make it hard to see if someone posted a link, or if it is an ad link.

Aaron Z

 

[beenthere]

I just ignore them.
They help pay the bills, and help keep the site of TBN free to use for all of us.

 

[Muhammad]

If you would like this disabled, please PM me. We can disable it on an account-by-account basis.

 

[MasseyWV]

I just ignore them.
They help pay the bills, and help keep the site of TBN free to use for all of us.

I don't ignore ads, I block them. Many people don't realize it, but the tracking methods used by many ad servers can present a huge privacy risk, not to mention other problems they often cause, so I take no chances.

Perhaps I haven't noticed it until now, but this has suddenly started appearing in the page source:

"http://cdn.viglink.com/api/vglnk.js"

 

[Muhammad]

I don't ignore ads, I block them. Many people don't realize it, but the tracking methods used by many ad servers can present a huge privacy risk, not to mention other problems they often cause, so I take no chances.

Perhaps I haven't noticed it until now, but this has suddenly started appearing in the page source:

"http://cdn.viglink.com/api/vglnk.js"

Yes, that's suppose to be there. That's an affiliate linking script.

 

[Domush]

Them being ads is a little disappointing, though if this forum automatically created links to further info or specs/classified ad listings that may be helpful to some.

So, if someone said "my ym336d is smoking", YM336d would get linked to the specs of that tractor with a photo so people would know what that person was referring to. I can see that as extremely helpful, especially to those who are new to a particular tractor.

Seeing as they are ads right now, and you can have them disabled.. why not just make it easier on yourselves and add a setting in vbulletin to disable them instead? People who don't want ads won't click them anyhow, so you aren't losing money, just making people happier.

Don't want to tell you how to do your job, simply sharing some ideas with you. Novel site improvements happens to be my forte (and profession).

 

[MasseyWV]

So, if someone said "my ym336d is smoking", YM336d would get linked to the specs of that tractor with a photo so people would know what that person was referring to. I can see that as extremely helpful, especially to those who are new to a particular tractor.

Having a generated link to specifications would be very helpful. In addition, I also like the ldea of generating tool tips for abbreviations, which they seemed to be experimenting with earlier.

Seeing as they are ads right now, and you can have them disabled.. why not just make it easier on yourselves and add a setting in vbulletin to disable them instead? People who don't want ads won't click them anyhow, so you aren't losing money, just making people happier.

Giving members the ability to disable ads is a great idea. Perhaps there could even be some sort of incentive put into place to encourage people to join/post more. Something like... become a member and create X number of posts before having the ability to disable ads. It's better than a popup. IMO

 

[MasseyWV]

If you would like this disabled, please PM me. We can disable it on an account-by-account basis.

It's not working. I'm still seeing inline text ads.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I had that happen a couple of days ago when I had the words riding mower in the post. After I submitted the reply the words were highlighted blue and out of curiosity I clicked.

Took me to an ad for Cub Cadet - not really what was needed for a post dealing with JD Lawn Tractors.


EDIT: Similar thing in this post except CC was highlighted when first posted, but when I went in to do this edit the link disappeared.

 

[DaNag]

If you would like this disabled, please PM me. We can disable it on an account-by-account basis.

Does this disable these annoyances for the person making the request, the person's posts, or both?

Actually, "annoyance" is an understatement - these ads are worse than an inconvenience. My primary complaint about such ads is they automatically and unknowingly insert themselves into user submitted content. This gives the appearance the poster is supporting/advertising the product - not the site owner. Frustrates me enough, that when I notice it happens to one of my posts - I'll go back and edit it, putting in an intentional misspelling on the word being used for the advertising link.

To be clear, I'm certainly not suggesting site owners shouldn't make $$ off their efforts. There are simply far better ways to do it. And, at the risk of being labeled an ungrateful TBN whiner - at one point in time, you agreed with the above sentiments.

Yeah, it looks like ad ware... we don't serve ads like that (they are called inline contextual ads) because I find them annoying. My guess is either a toolbar or straight up adware is causing it.

 

[sparc]

Would those better ways include popup ads for Trend-micro anti-virus software which just started appearing on my tablet. I will check but i have AV software and also Lookout security running on the tablet and nothing has ever got in before.


If this is the new norm for tablets then i will be here less often. I know that hurts no one but the ads and other commefcial overload on this forum are getting to be a little much.

 

[MNBobcat]

The forum is using vigilink ads. When you click a link, it redirects to vigilink first and then takes you to where you really wanted to go.

If you install AdBlock Plus (browser plug in) you can disable those ads and things will work like normal again.

 

[stuckmotor]

Would those better ways include popup ads for Trend-micro anti-virus software which just started appearing on my tablet. I will check but i have AV software and also Lookout security running on the tablet and nothing has ever got in before.


If this is the new norm for tablets then i will be here less often. I know that hurts no one but the ads and other commefcial overload on this forum are getting to be a little much.

The Trend micro ad is popping up on my tablet as well, it's unbelievably annoying. So far it only comes up when I use Google's Browser. I discovered it doesn't appear when I use the Dolphin browser.

 

[MNBobcat]

It only appears on google chrome. In Firefox it doesn't seem to do the redirect. When I look at the source code of the page in chrome I see the Ad code but when I look at the source in Firefox I don't see it. Seems like it targets chrome. AdBlock took care of it after I added a rule for it.

 

[aczlan]

It only appears on google chrome. In Firefox it doesn't seem to do the redirect. When I look at the source code of the page in chrome I see the Ad code but when I look at the source in Firefox I don't see it. Seems like it targets chrome. AdBlock took care of it after I added a rule for it.

Check your plugins on Chrome. My bet would be that there is a "plugin" which is adding the popup ads.

Aaron Z

 

[MNBobcat]

Check your plugins on Chrome. My bet would be that there is a "plugin" which is adding the popup ads.

Aaron Z

No, I don't get those kinds of things.

 

[Muhammad]

Are you using the TBN app or just browsing using your tablet? Regardless we don't have any invasive trend micro ads running as far as I know.