TargetOfUndesirableAds

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HelmutLeitner: being pointed to a number of pages at AboutusOrg, I noticed that they had scientology advertizing on them. I tested random pages and found 7 out of 10 pages had also scientology advertizing on them. That got me started thinking. I asked questions but none of the answers explained this. (The typical answer is: no, we are not connected/member/affiliated to scientology, we are not responsible for google adsense logic). I'm still waiting for a response from WardCunningham. So the situation is unresolved. I know that I wouldn't want to create some subproject at any platform/wiki/system to find my - hopefully wonderful - content used systematically as an attractor to scientology, porn or other undesirable advertizing.

FridemarPache using NonViolentCommunication: Helmut I observe that you put scientology and hardcore porn (which is forbidden by law in some countries) in one line in connection with AboutusOrg. As I initiated AboutusOrg in good will, this causes a bad feeling in myself and (possibly in some other people too, who have less courage to protest). So I ask you for fairnes to modify your contribution into a form, that helps to reduce pain.

I don't see the ads on AboutUs and I was wondering what you are talking about. I suspect you are talking about AdSense??, and they are cheap geotargeted impressions? Most pages linked to from here to AboutUs are extremely poorly written, have low visitor counts, high bounce rates, and consequent terrible clickthrough rates. That would probably make the prices low enough that Scientology can pick up the spots at remnant advertising prices. -- SunirShah

Fridemar, is this move good enough for you? -- HelmutLeitner

Thank you Helmut, Sunir : it is good for all of us contributors and the community. I am happy on your sensible and fast move. -- FridemarPache

Fridemar, I also changed "hardcore porn" to "porn" because the legal side is not the point. -- HelmutLeitner

Sunir, yes this could be the situation. Still they must throw in an awful amount of money. A larger 100-page-random-sample shows 57% scientology ads, at least to me. What would you do? How would you even know? Can one reject ads than one doesn't accept? -- HelmutLeitner

http://www.stuffbypaulbrown.com/how-to-block-scientology-ads-from-your-website/

Hi everyone. I modified the AboutusOrg AdSense? settings the other day in an attempt to block scientology ads. Could you please verify that its working? Thanks! -- TedErnst

Ted, I just did a 50-page random sample, that didn't show a single Scientology ad. Looks good! -- HelmutLeitner

Great! Thanks for bringing it up! -- TedErnst

You're welcome. -- HelmutLeitner

Discussion

JuanmaMP -- Sat Aug 29 18:19:25 2009

I found in sourcefourge similar ads (similar technically, not in contents); with "similar technically", I mean embeded with flash but over there, it is preceded with "from our advertisers". Maybe, it's recommended in aboutus.org this header since that it doesn't appear there and really it can be confused (seen too integrated esthetically). Hope it helps --JuanmaMP.

NathanielThurston -- Mon Sep 7 08:23:54 2009

Helmut, the scientology and porn advertising you saw seem to me like only the most obvious tip of the iceberg. In its modern form, advertising is designed to sow seeds of desire, usually for products which the recipients have no genuine need, and most of their effect happens below the level of consciousness of the owner of the "eyeballs". Personally, I find nearly all of the advertising I see undesirable, and the fact that AboutUs is advertising-supported is enough for me to avoid contributing there.

MarkDilley -- Thu Sep 24 18:20:02 2009

Hi Nathaniel - I hear the issue about advertising-supported - for the first 18 months we were without ads. When we switched to an ad based model - we developed the option for anyone to turn the ads off - I am pretty excited about this concept, wikiHow rocks!, and think that community / non-profit sites would do well to have this setting so the ads are turned off - and people could turn them on. What do you think of that? http://www.aboutus.org/list/advertising-optional

HansWobbe -- Fri Oct 2 20:33:38 2009

@Mark - I really believe that such settings need to become much more sophisticated than they currently are. There are many Categories that I will never want to see ads for and then there are some that I will only occasionally wish to receive information on. In fact, I can think of quite a few control variables that I would like to be able to set, that I could rely on to "filter" advertising material that I am willing to accept in many different contexts. I like your preliminary ability to "turn ads off", but I think a lot more can and should be done. After all, the difference between annoying advertising and appreciated information is nothing more than its appeal to the recipient!