Naming Names

[wyozozo]

I don't know about any of your computers, but the ads that I get seem to be connected to the "cookies" on my computer.  For instance, last week my hubby emailed me about a bean bag chair that he wanted.  I went to look at the web site, and the next time my screen refreshed on ehell, the ad at the top of the page was for that bean bag chair web site, which had nothing to do with anything discussed here.  I've noticed it quite a bit that my ads are for web sites that I've visited recently.  It might not have much to do with key words at all.

Mine too! I keep getting ads for the lamp I recently bought!

[tnpenguinbaby]

Yep!  I'm getting ads for 'big girl bras' and table covers, 2 things for which I recently searched.

[Hushabye]

That's awkward, then, as I haven't searched for "divorce lawyers" anytime recently... or ever...      

[RowenaT.]

That's awkward, then, as I haven't searched for "divorce lawyers" anytime recently... or ever...      

Since I've actively looked at the banner today, I've seen ads for small-business software, invitations, and wedding favors--none of which I've ever searched for.  So I wouldn't accuse your husband of anything yet (if you have one).

Still, it looks like words such as "sex" and the like do not trigger ads for porn.  Does that mean it's an urban legend?  Have the forum members been living in fear of unleashing advertising vulgarity upon their fellow members for nothing?  I've seen people coming up with cute nicknames, and "b00bs" and "s*x" and the like, since I starting lurking here a few years ago.  Is it all for naught?  I hope so, because, personally, it always struck me as kind of excessively prudish and, as others have said, annoyingly cutesy.

[blue2000]

We used to get some VERY awful, vulgar ads. Thus the caution about words that might trigger them (they don't always, just sometimes). It has been better since the forum started censoring certain words.

I don't think the store names have anything to do with it, though.

[GoldenGemini]

And the current ad is for underfloor heating, so make of that what you will!

Underfloor heating? I am SCANDALIZED!!!! 

It is a scandalous ad. The feet (you don't see the rest of them) take their socks off!!

[RowenaT.]

We used to get some VERY awful, vulgar ads. Thus the caution about words that might trigger them (they don't always, just sometimes). It has been better since the forum started censoring certain words.

I don't think the store names have anything to do with it, though.

Ah.  Perhaps something changed since then, because even with my last keyword-heavy post, all I'm getting are ads for wedding stuff and candy bars. 

[Scritzy]

We used to get some VERY awful, vulgar ads. Thus the caution about words that might trigger them (they don't always, just sometimes). It has been better since the forum started censoring certain words.

I don't think the store names have anything to do with it, though.

Ah.  Perhaps something changed since then, because even with my last keyword-heavy post, all I'm getting are ads for wedding stuff and candy bars.

Store names, no. Just certain words that are now filtered triggered the vulgar ads.

I often click on the banner ads because some of them interest me. I get plenty of wedding-related sites plus "get your degree online" sites as well as I/T sites.

However, I do find it easy to type WMart instead of WalMart. I hope that is accpetable. And I've quit referring to one of my favorite clothing stores as Dress Farm Outbuilding.

[Miss Vertigo]

As a non-American, it drives me NUTS! Sometimes I can figure it out, most times I spend the whole time trying to work it out and completely forget about the question. It is very distracting.

This, from another non-American; it's massively distracting.

Unfortunately, some of the banner ads that pop up are really inappropriate for the forum.  They're of a very vulgar nature or lead to sites that the forum doesn't want to be connected with.  The best way to prevent those ads from popping up is by not using those brand names.

Then it really should be the responsibility of the forum operators to find a more appropriate advertising solution, rather than passing the buck on to the membership.

[RowenaT.]

We used to get some VERY awful, vulgar ads. Thus the caution about words that might trigger them (they don't always, just sometimes). It has been better since the forum started censoring certain words.

I don't think the store names have anything to do with it, though.

Ah.  Perhaps something changed since then, because even with my last keyword-heavy post, all I'm getting are ads for wedding stuff and candy bars.

Store names, no. Just certain words that are now filtered triggered the vulgar ads.

Yeah--I sort of went on my own tangent in this thread, referring not to store names, but specifically to three words I've seen many posters censor themselves here.  They're not in the forum filter, yet I've been told posters censor them to avoid triggering offensive ads.  I've used all three in this thread, and I haven't seen any remotely offensive ads. 

I don't doubt posters used to trigger vulgar ads, but I'm wondering if something has now changed.  At any rate, I've just always been curious about this aspect of the forum culture; I've never been to a forum where the ads weren't pretty well under the control of the admins, and where the posters didn't give them much thought.

Then it really should be the responsibility of the forum operators to find a more appropriate advertising solution, rather than passing the buck on to the membership.

Aaaand, that's what I was hinting at in earlier posts.  When I said I couldn't think of a reason for the massive concern about ads that wasn't also sort of odd, that's what I meant.  I don't want to criticize; I know nothing about internet advertising.  I'm just kind of mystified.  If a word or name isn't in the forum filter, can't I use it without self-censoring and being told I'll trigger bad ads?

[blue2000]

The admins can't ban every halfway offensive ad that comes up (that is a lot of ads!) thus the self-censoring. If you wish to use something that isn't a filtered word, though, you can. There is no official rule against it. It is just a habit some of us have.

Kind of like drawing the blinds so you don't get a shot of your neighbour greeting the day in his birthday suit. Some people have better-looking neighbours than others!

[Lisbeth]

As a non-American, it drives me NUTS! Sometimes I can figure it out, most times I spend the whole time trying to work it out and completely forget about the question. It is very distracting.

This, from another non-American; it's massively distracting.

Unfortunately, some of the banner ads that pop up are really inappropriate for the forum.  They're of a very vulgar nature or lead to sites that the forum doesn't want to be connected with.  The best way to prevent those ads from popping up is by not using those brand names.

Then it really should be the responsibility of the forum operators to find a more appropriate advertising solution, rather than passing the buck on to the membership.

I think that this is not going to happen.  I think it's a function of SMF, the forum platform.  And it probably would happen regardless of what platform was used to run the forum.  Before the forum was located here, there were some problems with ads on the previous platforms as well.

Also, bear in mind that the moderators do want this forum to be as self-policed by the members as much as possible.  That's why some people self-censor-even if it's in a cutesy, distracting way.

[Mad Goat Woman]

As a non-American, it drives me NUTS! Sometimes I can figure it out, most times I spend the whole time trying to work it out and completely forget about the question. It is very distracting.

This, from another non-American; it's massively distracting.

Unfortunately, some of the banner ads that pop up are really inappropriate for the forum.  They're of a very vulgar nature or lead to sites that the forum doesn't want to be connected with.  The best way to prevent those ads from popping up is by not using those brand names.

Then it really should be the responsibility of the forum operators to find a more appropriate advertising solution, rather than passing the buck on to the membership.

I think that this is not going to happen.  I think it's a function of SMF, the forum platform.  And it probably would happen regardless of what platform was used to run the forum.  Before the forum was located here, there were some problems with ads on the previous platforms as well.

Also, bear in mind that the moderators do want this forum to be as self-policed by the members as much as possible.  That's why some people self-censor-even if it's in a cutesy, distracting way.

What Lisbeth said about forum platforms is true: on Invisionfree, for instance, there are ridiculous ads such as cartoon-like dolls advertising a site that seems to be more like a...(I'm trying to think of a creative way to state this) house of ill-repute. As an administrator at such forums, there are options such as paying the company to remove the offending advertisments, but as the Dame has said, the ads here pay for the hosting and upkeep.

Thanks to this board, however, I am fairly well-versed in American retailers, and I can understand about ninety percent of the cutesy names that posters choose to use when attempting to avoid naming names. FTR, I'm an Aussie.

[Bibliophile]

As a non-American, it drives me NUTS! Sometimes I can figure it out, most times I spend the whole time trying to work it out and completely forget about the question. It is very distracting.

This, from another non-American; it's massively distracting.

Unfortunately, some of the banner ads that pop up are really inappropriate for the forum.  They're of a very vulgar nature or lead to sites that the forum doesn't want to be connected with.  The best way to prevent those ads from popping up is by not using those brand names.

Then it really should be the responsibility of the forum operators to find a more appropriate advertising solution, rather than passing the buck on to the membership.

I think that this is not going to happen.  I think it's a function of SMF, the forum platform.  And it probably would happen regardless of what platform was used to run the forum.  Before the forum was located here, there were some problems with ads on the previous platforms as well.

Also, bear in mind that the moderators do want this forum to be as self-policed by the members as much as possible.  That's why some people self-censor-even if it's in a cutesy, distracting way.

If an ad is inappropriate you screen shot & let a mod know.  They then fix it so that ad will no longer be allowed.  They've done it in the past with political ads, etc.  It seems to be a common thing.

[CakeBeret]

And the current ad is for underfloor heating, so make of that what you will!

Underfloor heating? I am SCANDALIZED!!!! 

It is a scandalous ad. The feet (you don't see the rest of them) take their socks off!!

SURELY NOT! Oh, my sensibilities have been mortally offended!