Enough with the Ads - Now INSIDE posts!
Jul 16, 2005 | 8:12 pm
#61
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Originally Posted by JonNYC
I think you are severely misunderestimating just what level of technical stupidity I am confessing to. [...] I still have no idea how to do what needs to be done here.
Regardless, I appreciate all the attempts by those trying to help us computer-illiteratti, but you (computer-savvy people) need to lower your expectations/assumptions way down.
Jul 16, 2005 | 8:16 pm
#62
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Originally Posted by tismfu
I had problems installing extra memory into my iMac, which the salesman at the store said his 7-year-old could do.
Originally Posted by tismfu
Regardless, I appreciate all the attempts by those trying to help us computer-illiteratti
Jul 16, 2005 | 8:24 pm
#63
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Originally Posted by JonNYC
OK, now that's something you probably shouldn't confess publicly.
Jul 16, 2005 | 8:30 pm
#64
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The ads inside of posts were the straw that caused me to finally use the Firefox ....... extension feature and eliminate ALL ads on FT, inside, top and side. I can't remember ever having clicked on one, so I am probably not costing any RP any revenue.
But I am more than willing to pay for value received; and that is the only reason I continue to subscribe to Inside Flyer magazine. Just like I support Brancantelli, Rowell, Kevin Mitchell's BTC, etc., I will be glad to pay for an ad-free FT, even though it is now ad-free for me.
But I am more than willing to pay for value received; and that is the only reason I continue to subscribe to Inside Flyer magazine. Just like I support Brancantelli, Rowell, Kevin Mitchell's BTC, etc., I will be glad to pay for an ad-free FT, even though it is now ad-free for me.
Jul 16, 2005 | 8:53 pm
#65
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I'm making some progress, 7-years-old or not!
This helped me figure out how to block ads on Firefox (which I'll use but I prefer Safari):
http://www.dvhardware.net/articles14.html
So, once installed, you can right-click on the ads and add them to ......., deleting most of the URL and inserting an asterisk at the appropriate place so all future ads from that source disappear with no added input on your part.
Hope that helps.
This helped me figure out how to block ads on Firefox (which I'll use but I prefer Safari):
http://www.dvhardware.net/articles14.html
1. Open Firefox and click on the Tools menu.
2. Click on Extensions.
3. Then click on "Get more extensions".
4. Click on ........
5. Then click on 'Install Now' and follow the instructions.
6. Close Firefox and then reopen Firefox.
....... will now be installed - you can find it in the Tools menu.
Once installed, it's very easy to filter ads or other elements at websites. Just right-click on the item and ....... them.
....... also allows you to use filters. You can either use the wildcard character (*) or full regular expression syntax.
But I think it would be wise not to exaggerate by blocking every single ad that you encounter. Hosting a website is expensive and if everyone would block advertising then many websites wouldn't be able to subsist. Wouldn't it be a pity that our favorite sites would have to close because their webmasters can't afford it anymore?
2. Click on Extensions.
3. Then click on "Get more extensions".
4. Click on ........
5. Then click on 'Install Now' and follow the instructions.
6. Close Firefox and then reopen Firefox.
....... will now be installed - you can find it in the Tools menu.
Once installed, it's very easy to filter ads or other elements at websites. Just right-click on the item and ....... them.
....... also allows you to use filters. You can either use the wildcard character (*) or full regular expression syntax.
But I think it would be wise not to exaggerate by blocking every single ad that you encounter. Hosting a website is expensive and if everyone would block advertising then many websites wouldn't be able to subsist. Wouldn't it be a pity that our favorite sites would have to close because their webmasters can't afford it anymore?
Hope that helps.
Jul 16, 2005 | 9:02 pm
#66
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Well, so much for the Mac being such an easy and user friendly platform, if even Oz can do this on Windows then it doesn't bode very well for the MacOS...
Jul 16, 2005 | 9:10 pm
#67
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Mac help here
OK,
As ryan182 and I pointed out before, the "hosts" file is an invisible file. In addition, OS X does not install it by default... so if you recently upgraded to Tiger, chances are you don't have one. If you have one, you can easily edit it. If you don't have one, you can easily add one.
1. TO FIND IT:
In the finder, select command-F (to find). One of your search limiters will say "kind"... scroll down to "other" and then select "visibility" in the pop-up window. In the value selector choose "invisible." Type "hosts" on the search area and your results should come up (or come up blank). If you have a "hosts" file, proceed to step 2, if you don't have one (or this step confuses you because of the different interfaces of the find window between Jaguar, Panther & Tiger), skip to step 3.
2. IF YOU HAVE A HOSTS FILE:
Open it with TextEdit and add the recommended lines:
The system won't let you save the changes into the actual file, so do a "Save As" and name your new file HOSTS (in caps). For ease, I'd recommend you save it to the desktop. Skip to step 4.
3. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HOSTS FILE:
Create a new TextEdit file with the following contents:
Save your file as HOSTS (in caps). For ease, I'd recommend you save it to the desktop. Proceed to step 4.
4. MAKING THE NEW "HOSTS" FILE LIVE:
Drag the new 'HOSTS' file to your "home" directory (the little icon that looks like a doghouse if you are in the finder and open a new window).
Now here comes the fun part. Open a window in Terminal (in your Applications>Utilities folder), and paste the following script in it:
What this script does is: back up you current hosts file (if any), add the new 'HOSTS' files after re-naming it 'hosts'...
Terminal may ask you to type your admin password. If this happens, type it, hit the return key, and paste the script again.
Congratulations, you may now enjoy an ad-free FT experience.
I've done this on three different macs (running 10.3.9 and 10.4.2) with nooo problems.
As ryan182 and I pointed out before, the "hosts" file is an invisible file. In addition, OS X does not install it by default... so if you recently upgraded to Tiger, chances are you don't have one. If you have one, you can easily edit it. If you don't have one, you can easily add one.
1. TO FIND IT:
In the finder, select command-F (to find). One of your search limiters will say "kind"... scroll down to "other" and then select "visibility" in the pop-up window. In the value selector choose "invisible." Type "hosts" on the search area and your results should come up (or come up blank). If you have a "hosts" file, proceed to step 2, if you don't have one (or this step confuses you because of the different interfaces of the find window between Jaguar, Panther & Tiger), skip to step 3.
2. IF YOU HAVE A HOSTS FILE:
Open it with TextEdit and add the recommended lines:
Code:
127.0.0.1 a.tribalfusion.com 127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com
3. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HOSTS FILE:
Create a new TextEdit file with the following contents:
Code:
127.0.0.1 localhost 127.0.0.1 a.tribalfusion.com 127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com)
4. MAKING THE NEW "HOSTS" FILE LIVE:
Drag the new 'HOSTS' file to your "home" directory (the little icon that looks like a doghouse if you are in the finder and open a new window).
Now here comes the fun part. Open a window in Terminal (in your Applications>Utilities folder), and paste the following script in it:
Code:
mv HOSTS hosts sudo mv /etc/hosts hosts.previous sudo mv hosts /etc sudo killall -HUP lookupd exit
Terminal may ask you to type your admin password. If this happens, type it, hit the return key, and paste the script again.
Congratulations, you may now enjoy an ad-free FT experience.
I've done this on three different macs (running 10.3.9 and 10.4.2) with nooo problems.
Last edited by WindFlyer; Jul 17, 2005 at 4:42 pm Reason: clarity
Jul 17, 2005 | 4:39 am
#68
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no, it's because usually mac runs so well, we don't need to go into the gubbins of the system 
Windflyer, thanks for the detailed instructions.. followed them... Mac didn't like them 
But thanks for the effort in trying to help us Mac people who don't know how they work, just how to use them
Originally Posted by ScottC
Well, so much for the Mac being such an easy and user friendly platform, if even Oz can do this on Windows then it doesn't bode very well for the MacOS...
But thanks for the effort in trying to help us Mac people who don't know how they work, just how to use them
Last edited by Jenbel; Jul 17, 2005 at 4:49 am
Jul 17, 2005 | 5:47 am
#69
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: BAEC Silver, AA LTP 2MM
Posts: 3,358
Add me to the list of those who have installed ....... for Firefox as a direct result of the in-post adverts. Now surfing FT blissfully ad-free.
Jul 17, 2005 | 5:56 am
#70
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How about this for a way forward?
1. Dump all the banner, margin and in-post ads, none of which have any relevance to my lifestyle
2. Replace them with a series of commission-paying links to the major airlines, hotel and car rental groups, Expedia etc. I would be totally happy to use these links when booking my own travel, on the basis that it costs me nothing and brings FT some revenue.
One UK 'commission sharing' website pays you 0.5% commission if you book a flight on Expedia and 2.5% on hotels. Assuming that Expedia pays greasypalm.com 50% more than this, this is a serious chunk of cash that FT could be accumulating. The same site also offers rebates on booking on the websites of Air France, KLM, Avis etc etc etc.
All we would need is a list of icons on the right hand margin that link through to the relevant websites. I can't imagine a better way of funding FT.
1. Dump all the banner, margin and in-post ads, none of which have any relevance to my lifestyle
2. Replace them with a series of commission-paying links to the major airlines, hotel and car rental groups, Expedia etc. I would be totally happy to use these links when booking my own travel, on the basis that it costs me nothing and brings FT some revenue.
One UK 'commission sharing' website pays you 0.5% commission if you book a flight on Expedia and 2.5% on hotels. Assuming that Expedia pays greasypalm.com 50% more than this, this is a serious chunk of cash that FT could be accumulating. The same site also offers rebates on booking on the websites of Air France, KLM, Avis etc etc etc.
All we would need is a list of icons on the right hand margin that link through to the relevant websites. I can't imagine a better way of funding FT.
Last edited by RJB; Jul 17, 2005 at 6:00 am
Jul 17, 2005 | 6:18 am
#71
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: BAEC Silver, AA LTP 2MM
Posts: 3,358
Originally Posted by RJB
How about this for a way forward?
1. Dump all the banner, margin and in-post ads, none of which have any relevance to my lifestyle
2. Replace them with a series of commission-paying links to the major airlines, hotel and car rental groups, Expedia etc. I would be totally happy to use these links when booking my own travel, on the basis that it costs me nothing and brings FT some revenue.
One UK 'commission sharing' website pays you 0.5% commission if you book a flight on Expedia and 2.5% on hotels. Assuming that Expedia pays greasypalm.com 50% more than this, this is a serious chunk of cash that FT could be accumulating. The same site also offers rebates on booking on the websites of Air France, KLM, Avis etc etc etc.
All we would need is a list of icons on the right hand margin that link through to the relevant websites. I can't imagine a better way of funding FT.
1. Dump all the banner, margin and in-post ads, none of which have any relevance to my lifestyle
2. Replace them with a series of commission-paying links to the major airlines, hotel and car rental groups, Expedia etc. I would be totally happy to use these links when booking my own travel, on the basis that it costs me nothing and brings FT some revenue.
One UK 'commission sharing' website pays you 0.5% commission if you book a flight on Expedia and 2.5% on hotels. Assuming that Expedia pays greasypalm.com 50% more than this, this is a serious chunk of cash that FT could be accumulating. The same site also offers rebates on booking on the websites of Air France, KLM, Avis etc etc etc.
All we would need is a list of icons on the right hand margin that link through to the relevant websites. I can't imagine a better way of funding FT.
^ ^ ^ As long as the "powers that be" don't start banning every single user who doesn't use those links...
Jul 17, 2005 | 6:55 am
#72
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1) agree the ad in the first box is HORRID. It makes the post very hard to read
2) I figure this is the pre-advertising for pushing us ALL to be willing to pay for our FT subscription. I for one was happy living with the ads at the top, bottom, sides and pop ups and had no intent of paying for them to go away. I understood why they needed to be there, to fund the site, but now that we are seeing them in the posts I would have to rethink that, so I guess it works for their intended purpose.
3) I assume shortly we will see ads in every post not just the first one, to close the deal on announcing the new paid subscription service.
This was defniitely a bad choice on FT's part!
2) I figure this is the pre-advertising for pushing us ALL to be willing to pay for our FT subscription. I for one was happy living with the ads at the top, bottom, sides and pop ups and had no intent of paying for them to go away. I understood why they needed to be there, to fund the site, but now that we are seeing them in the posts I would have to rethink that, so I guess it works for their intended purpose.
3) I assume shortly we will see ads in every post not just the first one, to close the deal on announcing the new paid subscription service.
This was defniitely a bad choice on FT's part!
Jul 17, 2005 | 7:02 am
#73
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Originally Posted by ClueByFour
I think Randy makes an interesting point here which has all sorts of merit.
I'm one of the voices who would gladly pay for a premium FT experience (eg, sans the ads)--it actually takes longer for me to view it now because my machine spends time trying to contact ad servers that are hostnamed out. I also understand the need to subsidize the free service that FT represents somehow.
I guess I don't have a feeling one way or another about the "ads in posts" because I've never seen them.
I'm one of the voices who would gladly pay for a premium FT experience (eg, sans the ads)--it actually takes longer for me to view it now because my machine spends time trying to contact ad servers that are hostnamed out. I also understand the need to subsidize the free service that FT represents somehow.
I guess I don't have a feeling one way or another about the "ads in posts" because I've never seen them.
Jul 17, 2005 | 7:08 am
#74
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Originally Posted by ClueByFour
While I understand the need for revenue generation to support FT and sure would not have gone this far, I take Randy at his word that the marketing folks may have gone a bit nuts without his personal oversight every step of the way.
Jul 17, 2005 | 9:45 am
#75
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Here's the full text of the message from Randy Petersen as posted in Omni on Friday.
Originally Posted by randy petersen
]that's the problem - none of you did. Actually the problem i think - just my own opinion - is that the ad agency has bungled this Web site. I think they've sat on their asses and only added in campaigns that came to them rather than work the account and really book relevant ads. This of course has multiplied over time and thus the click rate has gone way down. Now, the agency is considered one of the larger and best around - not my words or opinion - so we are hoping we can get the correct blend of user friendly interface and support necessary to benefit everyone.
But hey, that's not your problem unless i can get it fixed. you will often note a seemingly confusing disconnect in what i say and when i say it vs. when things like this happen. And there's a reason. Some will understand it, most won't. Stemming from a long standing policy with InsideFlyer, I never get involved with the advertising end of the business. I personally have always believed that editorial needs to be separate, which is why if you polled every marketing manager of every frequent flyer program in the world as well as their agencies, they will all say that they have never heard me ask for any meeting or initiate any conversation about advertising. It's not as cut and dried with FT, but i do not participate nor initiate the types of things that happen on FT from an advertising perspective. Karen really heads that up and she knows that it will fall on deaf ears to me. I come in later on and see the input and output of things they are doing, usually only from threads like this. Then i try and figure out what is going on, what's in the best interest of FT and is there middle ground for everyone - which is what i'll do in the next day or two. I hope this explains why it seems we are usually dis-functional in this particular area. For better or worse, it's a relative of the way things still happen at InsideFlyer after 19 years. Sure, if i did what other publishers did and personally pushed advertising and went out on sales calls, advertising would double or triple or more, but i like the freedom to pick on a program when i feel like it without any thought whatsoever to how the magazine is run.
On FT, it's more a matter of trying to balance offering the value of Ft to a very fast growing audience without me personally going broke.
so, there's the story for you.
But hey, that's not your problem unless i can get it fixed. you will often note a seemingly confusing disconnect in what i say and when i say it vs. when things like this happen. And there's a reason. Some will understand it, most won't. Stemming from a long standing policy with InsideFlyer, I never get involved with the advertising end of the business. I personally have always believed that editorial needs to be separate, which is why if you polled every marketing manager of every frequent flyer program in the world as well as their agencies, they will all say that they have never heard me ask for any meeting or initiate any conversation about advertising. It's not as cut and dried with FT, but i do not participate nor initiate the types of things that happen on FT from an advertising perspective. Karen really heads that up and she knows that it will fall on deaf ears to me. I come in later on and see the input and output of things they are doing, usually only from threads like this. Then i try and figure out what is going on, what's in the best interest of FT and is there middle ground for everyone - which is what i'll do in the next day or two. I hope this explains why it seems we are usually dis-functional in this particular area. For better or worse, it's a relative of the way things still happen at InsideFlyer after 19 years. Sure, if i did what other publishers did and personally pushed advertising and went out on sales calls, advertising would double or triple or more, but i like the freedom to pick on a program when i feel like it without any thought whatsoever to how the magazine is run.
On FT, it's more a matter of trying to balance offering the value of Ft to a very fast growing audience without me personally going broke.
so, there's the story for you.
Originally Posted by mary2e
Originally Posted by Mary2e
Thanks Randy... FT has been so valuable I would gladly pay to continue access. I'm anxiously awaiting the ad free FT so that I can actually give something back to you (the site) for giving so much to me. That makes sense, doesn't it?
In any event, the ads are really obtrusive, really really obtrusive. Wouldn't it be better if we all just clicked on the links in the good old sponsored links rather than have an ad in the middle of our posts? Revenue is revenue, after all
Thanks Randy... FT has been so valuable I would gladly pay to continue access. I'm anxiously awaiting the ad free FT so that I can actually give something back to you (the site) for giving so much to me. That makes sense, doesn't it?
In any event, the ads are really obtrusive, really really obtrusive. Wouldn't it be better if we all just clicked on the links in the good old sponsored links rather than have an ad in the middle of our posts? Revenue is revenue, after all