Re Inappropriate Ad Content -- It was Unintentional and Has Been Blocked

[Forum Boss]

Forum members noticed that a placement for an anti bear-baiting group appeared in a sidebar advert.

Let me explain that situation:

#1. Management of this site did not solicit that ad nor approve it.

#2. I was as surprised as you to see the advert.

#3. The ad was "pushed" through by a major ad network with which we started working on December 23rd. Unfortunately, that network provides no means by which we can preview ads or block certain categories of ads.

As noted, the appearance of the bear ad was completely unexpected, and I immediately notified the ad network to stop running such ads.

#4. Our only certain option (since I do not know where or when an inappropriate anti-hunting ad may appear again), is to kill all advertising from the network, everywhere it appears in the site. I have tried to eliminate ALL adverts from this ad network, wherever they may have appeared.

Delay: However, because your browsers have a "cache" i.e. a built-in memory, you may still be seeing some of the ad listings until your cache updates itself.

#5. In response to reader concerns, I have removed all the network ads from the Forum, Bulletin, and main site. This will reduce site revenue by about $25K/year if those slots cannot be filled.

We will look for another ad network, but this is not a simple fix because most of the major ad-filling networks refuse to work with websites that feature firearms. Google and AOL ad network are among the networks which will not do business with us.

 

[GLZ]

Thanks for that! I just made another small contibution to the site.
Every little bit helps. I hope you can find a service that does a little better job of matching clients. I am sure the bunny huggers were not to happy with there dollars going here either.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Ok guys, time to get together and help out. Send in your donations and help keep this site going! This is a great site and we need to keep it going!

 

[swede7]

Absolutely, I've lurked here for years, not to betray my ignorance of fine accuracy, but because I was taught to listen more than I speak, you might learn something ;D, have contributed before and will again, all fellow lurkers, get out your wallets and save the best site there is!

 

[dreever]

It was an ad, nothing more, so I ignored it just like I ignore a lot of ads on different web sites I look at.
It wasn't a big deal to me especially now knowing it will reduce the revenue of the web site by $25K a year. So if anyone who is that offended by that or other ads wishes to volunteer to pony up that lost $25K have at it.

This site is as good as it is because of our Moderator's devoting countless hours seven days a week. This site is not only his baby but his livelihood. If he loses that $25K that's out of his pocket. So I think we can put up with a bad ad or two untill he finds a way around this.

Danny

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

It was an ad, nothing more, so I ignored it just like I ignore a lot of ads on different web sites I look at.
It wasn't a big deal to me especially now knowing it will reduce the revenue of the web site by $25K a year. So if anyone who is that offended by that or other ads wishes to volunteer to pony up that lost $25K have at it.

This site is as good as it is because of our Moderator's devoting countless hours seven days a week. This site is not only his baby but his livelihood. If he loses that $25K that's out of his pocket. So I think we can put up with a bad ad or two untill he finds a way around this.

Danny

Great points, Danny. Agree completely. Until all the Brouhaha by a few folks, most of whom don't contribute to the site at all, I hadn't even noticed the silly ad....

 

[necchi]

Another one for bring it back,
They can advertise all they want on this site and very likley not gain a cent.
Bring back the ad agency and let'm put up what they want..
I'm not a sheeple that needs to click every pop-up or banner just because it's on my screen,,

 

[Erik Cortina]

I didn't notice the ad either, never even saw it! The point is, the Moderator should try to work with the ad network and just let them know that some of this site's members are not confortable with those kinds of ad's, and therefore he would need a way to screen the ad's for this site. I say work with them, not just block their ad's and lose 25K because of it!

And those that were extremely offended should hit the "Contribute" button and support the site!

 

[VooDooMagic]

By all means, take their money. It will be money "wasted" by them as it will have little to no influence here...

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I for one find this humorous in a twisted sort of way.. I say let em pay for our pleasure.. I wonder if the advertisers even have a clue that their dollars are supporting exactly what they want to banish..

 

[Kenny474]

I could care less what runs in the side bar, or in any ad slot for that matter. Take the $25K. I am sure we can deal until you find an acceptable replacement. But you in no way need to sacrifice $25K of income to "satisfy" anyone who can't simply look away if an ad pops up they don't like.

Please reconsider and accept the advertisement deal, at least until you find another solution that doesn't cut $25,000 from your income and/or budget. You need to put the site first, even if it means we see stupid ads from time to time. If it keeps this place going, than so be it.

Kenny

Thanks for a great site and the best forum on the net.

ps: I plan to send in a donation shortly as well, likely in the first few weeks of the new year.

 

[Forum Boss]

I appreciate the comments from those who understand that we don't have control over what the ad networks feed us. I will try to secure a deal with a network that has better subject matter controls and which provides some publisher "veto power." The difficulty is, as I've noted, nearly all the successful ad networks refuse to place ads on gun-oriented sites.



From a Machiavellian standpoint it is tempting to take money from the forces we don't like, but I know there are folks who would relentlessly criticize this site if an inappropriate ad runs even 1% of the time.

Keep your fingers crossed gentlemen. Hopefully we can find a better ad network solution. It would be ideal if we could fill all the inventory with shooter-industry ads, but that hasn't provide feasible yet. Even the NRA magazine has ads for watches, cold remedies, credit cards etc.

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

From a Machiavellian standpoint it is tempting to take money from the forces we don't like, but I know there are folks who would relentlessly criticize this site if an inappropriate ad runs even 1% of the time.

Those who refuse to understand are not part of the solution, they are part of the problem, and we can do without them. We don't need to let a few selfish & ignorant people jeopardize the financial security of the site...

 

[FryeGuy]

I also agree with some of the others above, take the money. How awesome would it be to have them fund the website. We constantly are in battle with our freedoms, and how many of us have joined organizations that promote hunting, etc.? To have them run an ad here helps this site, no one is really going to change their minds due to an ad on anti-baiting. but, It also takes that money away from the ad going somewhere else.

 

[GermanS1]

Take their money!

 

[RJinTexas]

I also agree take their money and we'll have the last laugh.

RJ

 

[Erik Cortina]

What would offend me is if 6mmBR.com was advertising on their website, because they would be taking our money! Let them advertise on ours and take their money, that should offend them, not us!

 

[TRECustom]

I appreciate the comments from those who understand that we don't have control over what the ad networks feed us. I will try to secure a deal with a network that has better subject matter controls and which provides some publisher "veto power." The difficulty is, as I've noted, nearly all the successful ad networks refuse to place ads on gun-oriented sites.



From a Machiavellian standpoint it is tempting to take money from the forces we don't like, but I know there are folks who would relentlessly criticize this site if an inappropriate ad runs even 1% of the time.

Keep your fingers crossed gentlemen. Hopefully we can find a better ad network solution. It would be ideal if we could fill all the inventory with shooter-industry ads, but that hasn't provide feasible yet. Even the NRA magazine has ads for watches, cold remedies, credit cards etc.

Don't bust a gut trying to find another advertiser. I see and hear objectionable crap everywhere. If it does some good by supporting this site, let them back on. We'll get the benefit of their contribution. If they come back on, run the ad again. I never got to see it.

Whatever you decide, I'm "down with it".

Tom

 

[tunered]

Run a full page ad if they want, no donations to their site from here will be great, maybe they will run out of money and stop this nonsense. ed

 

[Preacher]

Take the money.....