UGH...the ads have arrived.

I feel like I'm at the Garden Web :(

I just noticed that too.
Dave promised that would not happen, silly me, I believed him.

What ads??????

Go to my info, manage preferences and change your preferances so you don't see either adds or sponsors. If you are a paid subscriber, you can choose not to see ads. If you are not a paid subscriber the advertisers make this site possible.

I'm paid up too, and I get ads once in a while. I thought it was my server, but maybe it wasn't?!

I have been having trouble logging in as well - that is where I get the ads, but usually a second try will go through. I really hope this gets cleared up. I know that the "big merge" caused some glitches and hiccups, but is it going to be like this from now on? Is DG getting *too* big?

Just asking. I do not want to lose this wonderful world of friends.

Ads remain optional for subscribers - just as they have always been.

On your profile page (Click on My Info, then "Manage your preferences") you can choose whether to see ads (or not), or forum sponsorships (or not.)

The ads have been displayed to non-subscribers for three years - they're nothing new.

I know non-subscribers have had ads, but I've been a subscriber since 2002.
I've never had ads until now, which means that my preferences have either been changed or they are new and you must de-select them.
I didn't get a courtesy notice informing me of the change or how to get rid of them, frankly I feel that was a breach of promise.

Dove

Terry - I keep seeing posts about changing the preferences - I have never had "see ads" checked - it has only been in the last week or so that I've seen any. And, yes, I double checked and nothing has changed on my page.

I'm trying very hard to hang in here, but I'm seeing things that I'm afraid are coming from the "sell out". There are too many really big changes, and I'm not totally convinced that "Dave and Crew" have the control that was promised. I truly hope I am wrong!!

I'm paid...why would I suddenly get them?

Try looking at this thread--I can't remember if she ever got her problem resolved, but the problem was something where her computer was thinking she was logged out of DG on occasion and then she'd see ads, but when it remembered she was logged in then they wouldn't be there. When you're on a page where you're seeing ads, look at the bar on the top and see if it has the word login or the word logout up there--if it says login then I think it's the same thing that was happening to Patti in this thread where her computer thought she wasn't logged in.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/702234/
Also, have you downloaded a new browser version or antivirus software or anything like that lately? That could have changed settings on your computer such as security settings for cookies and that could make it forget that you're logged in to DG

I'm not seeing ads, but I noticed that a lot more forums sponsored in the last few days. Could you be mistaking the forum sponsors for ads?

I'm not logged out and my virus wear didn't change my Dave's settings.
It's new... and now you must go to your preferences to block the ads... nothing more and nothing less.
If everyone sees the ads, until they figure out how to turn them off, they may make more money with the click through sales.

I'm surprised to hear some people actually like the ads; Go figure.

Nothing on my computer has been changed. I do get the ads when I try to log on, and when I hit log in again it usually goes through - no more ads. BUT, this whole thing is new. I have had some problems with my server, but those problems predate this DG problem by several months.

I really hope this can be resolved.

This message was edited Mar 29, 2007 8:57 PM

Oh is that what we're calling it? "Forum Sponsors"
Yes, but a forum sponsor, sponsors a forum by paying money to place a banner ad on the forum page.
Explain to me what Dutch Gardens has to do with roses? It's a bulb catalog with a poor watchdog rating.

Why don't you turn them off?

tgif,
I went to my preferences and un-clicked view ads & view sponsers they went away.
Did you try that yet?
Go to "my info" at the top of the page
then on the left side go to "manage my preferences"
then on the left side again go to "ADS"
there you will find the place to deselect seeing the ads & sponsors

claypa,
Most people don't know how to turn them off.
I think that's one of the rotton things about how they did it.

If you scroll up a bit you will see my post about about the fact that I have from the first introduction of the advertizing I stated that I have ALWAYS had it OFF!!!!!! It has only been in the last week or two that this has shown up. It is NOT my computer OR my home page!

Thank you all for trying to help, but I really feel that this is a problem from above us.

The only time I've ever seen ads on Dave's Garden is looking at the classifieds, or logging out to see what my journal looks like to everybody else. I think when ads were started, people either turned them off or left them on by choice. I don't think it's too hard to figure out. Maybe how to turn the ads off should be in the faq's at the top of the page.

tgif,
I realize that... I also always had it off.
Then all the sudden the ads arrived and I had to go back and turn them off again.
Now if you have turned them off in the past day or two then yes, I have misunderstood your problem and say, like a true computer goof, when in doubt reboot!

I don't see any issue.

I've been a subscriber since 2002. I did see some ads today. One on the right, and one on the bottom. I can't remember what forum. Perhaps it's only the forums that are visible to the public? Not sure.

I've always had ad's turned off, or maybe I thought I did, since I never saw them before. And maybe that's what the OP was talking about?

It's well known that Dave sold this website, and I'm guessing with any change there is change. KWIM?

I went to my preferences page, and un-checked the ads box. That was it. No more ads.

How 'bout I just checked my home page one hour ago - all was the same - and the computer was rebooted this morning?

I repeat, thanks to you all, but I still think this needs to go to a higher level. Meanwhile I'm outta here. I will lurk, but I really have nothing more to add. I have a problem. It is mine to deal with, or give up on until Admin can come up with some answers.

There's no "they" - it's still Dave and the same admin team here ;o)

Dutch Gardens (and its affiliate, Gardeners Supply) are new forum sponsors. Dutch Gardens is a highly-rated company (80/100 in the Watchdog), and Gardener's Supply is one of the Watchdog 30 companies.

When Dave introduced forum sponsorships last September (back long before NameMedia), he announced them here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/655402/

As he explained, he set them up so that everyone would see them if they went to a sponsored forum, but you have the option to turn them off, just like the ads.

It's quite possible that the forums you frequent have not had a sponsor before now. But as Dave explained back then, there are many companies that have expressed an interest in sponsoring a forum, so you'll likely see more of these as time goes by - you have the option to turn them off or leave them on, just as you do with ads.

I'll just add to Terry's explanation that you have to turn the forum sponsors off separately--unchecking ads won't do it (it's in the same place in your preferences though). When Dave started the forum sponsorships, the default was that forum sponsors were turned on, so if you've never gone to change that option then that's why you're seeing them (and they look a lot like ads, so I could understand the confusion!)

aha! You explained it ecrane3.

I never knew about separate buttons for forum sponsors and ads. Or maybe I did and never noticed it. Anyhoo....thanks for the heads up!

I sorta like the ads...They aren't moving...flashing...or being obtrusive....and they have pretty pictures in most! Jo

Turned 'em off, here. I don't care if they don't flash or make funny noises, I still don't like them. I figure I pay to be here, I don't need the advertisements. Companies are paying Big Brother to advertise, so they can pester somebody else.

Too bad the forums are all narrow, though. Can't change the screen resolution, either. Otherwise it'll screw up all my work programs... hmmmm.....

I must always login in now even though I have not logged out. As a consequence I must see flashing ads to login in. What annoys me most is they are unrelated to gardening, car ads and facial treatments, etc. Also I don't see the homepage with the references to articles unless I'm not re-logged in. I clicked on one of the articles and received a flashing ad with the site. Am I missing something or can you only see the home/log in page before you log in ?
I can tolerate a moment of the text only ads on the log in page but the flashing, screamers seem rude to me. Is there any way to avoid this?

sempervirens, I think that's a setting in your browser's security. If you post your question in the Computer Talk forum, I bet you'll get some help with correcting it. (We have one computer here at our house - out of three that I use frequently - that does that, and I know that's what it is, but I'm usually in too big of a hurry to sit down and figure out how to tweak the settings ;o)

For the record, there are no flashing ads shown here. Some of the ads may have movement (a la flash), but they do not flash or float across your screen.

If you can tell us where you saw non-gardening ads, I'll take a look.

Google places the ads based on what they feel is relevant content on the page, but their process is not perfect. We've eliminated some of those errant ads in the past, and we'll be happy to keep doing that - let's face it, most advertisers don't want to waste their money advertising to the wrong audience any more than you want to see non-relevant ads.

I like the ads. :) Gardening ads are the only ones I DO like too! Course maybe it's that 'addiction' thing again! LOL!!

Nicole

Terry, Thanks, I'll check the computer forum when I get a chance. Right now on the log in page there is an ad for Publishers Clearing House. Yesterday it was for Botox.

Just wanted to say that I'm also reading this thread.

Remember, the buck stops at my desk and I have authority here.

Gardener's Supply sponsored 20 forums starting (I think) yesterday. Don't like 'em? Turn them off in your preferences. Hopefully that's only a mild one-time inconvenience for you. Personally, I'm leaving them on in my preferences because I like to see the companies who are supporting DG.

If you have the full ads preference turned on, and then see ads you don't like, take note of it and let me know. I have the authority to block any ads we don't like.

dave

Ah, that is *excellent* news! Glad to hear you have veto power on that.

I also like to see the forum sponsor's (and choose to keep ads shut off) and do click on them from time-to-time. Companies advertise to try to get our business; but if many companies didn't advertise how would we know they exist? Someone commented earlier that Dutch Gardens has "a poor watchdog rating". Their score is 80/100, not bad, but I was n't impressed that out of the last 20 ratings only eight were positive, and I didn't see any comments from customer service at Dutch Gardens to address the neutral and negative ratings.

As subscribers we have the option to turn off ads and forum sponsors. How many other online sites offer that respect and convenience to their subscribers? How many other companies care enough to put up with a lot of the complaints we give Dave and Terry? And how many other companies answer your questions and complaints as quickly as Dave's Garden?

jasmerr, thank you so much for your kind words - I really appreciate it.

dave

I haven't had a single ad show up other than the small, unobtrusive sponsorship ads by some of the forums' thread lists. I don't recall changing my preferences in the last few years regarding them, and even if ads did suddenly show up for me, I wouldn't jump to conspiracy theory level at the get-go. I'd assume the best, not worst, and ask why.

As for Gardener's Supply, I'm glad they were mentioned because I need to go put a positive in the Garden Watchdog. I got great service from them this year!

This message was edited Mar 30, 2007 3:22 PM

Thanks, GW. Conspiracy theories make fun books and movies, but they're a little over-the-top for a gardening website, eh?

I turned off the forum sponsorship ads and the page got narrower, can that be remedied?

I turned the sponsors off, and its really not that big of a deal.....

Please excuse me for posting on this thread. I hope that I haven't caused any ill will.

Right now everything is working fine, so I will hope for the best.