Same here.


Yes, thanks!

Welcome! to ORP sticky above
 

Wonder why Randy chose the Omni board (where some of us never visit) to answer on Friday the questions posed in this thread in accordance with his above policy?

Perhaps because Randy actually uses Omni for information occassionally? ;).

Actually, there was a post pretty early on in Omni about the ads. There are 2 replies from Randy in that same thread.

They both say the same thing... it wasn't his idea, and he is going to look into it further. IMHO, I think he finds them obtrusive also, but simply left it at they are going to look some more.

Since this happened late on Friday we'll probably see some action, if there is going to be any action, early this week.

Another happy Firefox ....... user here... I will admit to once clicking on a sponsored ad for the Marriott Rewards Visa that I found on FT, but that's the only ad I ever clicked on in 3 years as a member of this wonderful community. Perhaps in another 3, I will turn ....... off for a day or two and click another ad.

Mac/Safari users: there is a great shareware solution to this problem:

http://culater.net/software/PithHelmet/PithHelmet.php

Pithhelmet can easily be configured to eliminate even the most sneaky of popunder ads and embedded ads from FT, Drudge Report, CNN, etc. Well worth the $10 shareware fee.

AWESOME. Well worth $10. THANK YOU. ^ ^ ^

Quick question (I've read over the FAQ and other areas of the PithHelmet website to try and find the answer but to no avail): Is there a way to tell PithHelmet to allow some content?

For example, on http://www.wfaa.com/ PithHelmet blocks some Flash animation and banners that are actually site content.

No worries if not... I can always tell PithHelmet not to block any content on those pages... as long as I can get rid of the post-hijacking ads I'm happy... none of the others really offend me.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

The PithHelmet "default" is to allow content from all servers unless specifically blocked. Also, a few extremely well known pop-under offenders (like tribalvision) are blocked by default. There are different levels of filtering, some of which including all content from third-parties or even blocking all images. Play around and find what is most comfortable for you. If you visit a web site where there seem to be many "?" or just look weird, there is also an option to reload the specific page without filters. That way you can see what you are "missing".

But for sure, the "default" mode will immediately remove the pop-ups, pop-unders, google generated ads, banners, blinking lights, sidebars, etc from the FT.com experience...

:-: WOW :-:
That works well-- thanks for the tip!

Dave, i hope you can appreciate it's sometimes a little difficult to answer various posts such as this when they are located in various forums. I have made an attempt to answer some of your question here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...3&postcount=18
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...5&postcount=33

But will go ahead and add additional information here.
First of all i'd like to clear up some information that apparently a few members are using as a base for their opinions. I appreciate some or most of this is emotional and will try and point out the facts as they be. First of all FlyerTalk did not add any new ads to the main format of our forums. What apparently happened is that last week or so, the ad folks (not me) were on a conference call with Google who was pointing out that the advertising on FlyerTalk was performing well below what they might have expected. They then went on to suggest a test of a different format of the existing ads to see if that might better assist FlyerTalk in meeting it's goals to be self-sufficient in operating cost plus raise the capital necessary to hire a full-time director for FlyerTalk. So the ad guys and gals took the advice of Google and reformatted the existing Google ads on FlyerTalk from being listed in thread format to being listed in post format. Apparently Google has had a lot of success with this new format. The format seems to allowed a few members to come forth and state that they prefer something else. That's cool, but to take this a few steps further, the results have been night and day. Something like a 600% increase in ad views than in the prior format. So at least Google was correct in suggesting something new.

So, first point. We did not introduce any new ads, just a different format in the way they were being presented. Second point. It's not some conspiracy to tick any member of FlyerTalk off. We're not ad experts, we're frequent flyers. So if we try something new with a partner like Google, accept that for what it is.

I have to agree with some but not all of you. I don't like the particular placement of the ads. So i'll suggest a few things to the ad guys and gals and see what we can do.

As i said, i agree with some but not all of you. I disagree with Leumas (However, I will definitely resent from paying any subscription if there's a flooding of ads on the free site just to drive people into paying subscription ... I figure this is the pre-advertising for pushing us ALL to be willing to pay for our FT subscription.) and ozstamps (The present situation I feel sure is a huge profit centre for Randy way over and above whatever any actual costs are.).

Now, not to confuse those who know it all, let's go back to August 9, 2004, almost one year ago. The TalkBoard (duly elected by you as members to represent you) introduced an action item which passed on a vote of 7-1 in favor. That action item is below:
I/We vote to offer FT members for a set fee or minimum donation per month enhanced services and capabilites within the FT website... to potentially include but not be limited to the following based on Randys preferences and ease of facilitation for the WebFlyer Staff

- larger PM boxes
- Custom titles
- Signature lines
- Avatars
- Polling permission
- OMNI access

Part of the dialog was an ad-free environment on FlyerTalk. As noted from my posts elsewhere, FT and it's goals are fairly consuming. As for the comments of Leumas above, it would seem that our actions are not the result of what you say, that there is a traceable history and that as I'll explain soon, a real care for our members. As for Mr. ozstamps, let's see, I'll send you a notarized statement of last months advertising revenue for FlyerTalk (May is my last audited month available). It was a total of $1,727.14. But not all months are that low, we entered the year real well with $8,830.80. Now, I know you must be some sort of smart guy, but take that month, so whatever pro-forma and extraction you wish over a 12-month period (don't forget January) and then compare against the capital needs of FlyerTalk as noted in my other answer (6 servers, two and a half full-time tech folks and 6 mbps of recurring monthly bandwidth) and see how this is all coming. And don't forget to factor in the community director position that we're also trying to find. I think the last thread that was active about that gave me an idea that the position would require about $60-75K per year including all the health benefits and 401K plan, etc. So, how we doing oz? Should I just start sending the bills your way so you can enjoy the "huge profit center"?

Anyway, back to the topic. As noted from August 2004, the TalkBoard suggested and directed me to take some actions to balance the budget for FlyerTalk. But I'm a real softy and could not find it within myself to start charging for larger PM boxes and in fact have continued to increase the size of these boxes without charge. As well, we reintroduced signature lines without fees associated with them, though the TalkBoard felt at that time it might have been a reasonable benefit to help sustain the costs of providing FlyerTalk. As well, and on behalf of my friends in OMNI, including those now on vacation with me, I had a problem charging for that benefits as well. The moderators recently discussed and are moving forward with polling permissions - at no charge and while we have some ideas with Avatars, we continue to make them available for free in FlyerTalk Chat, etc.

So, how have we really been doing? Despite suggestions from your elected TalkBoard, I have not moved forward to monetizing the benefits named above. We did not add new ads to FlyerTalk in the last week, we simply tested a new format for them.

I hope the reality of our actions show a real care and concern about our members and when they are connected with the reality of how much FT costs to run, I would hope you'll grant us a little leeway to experiment from time to time.

I welcome comments like that of yours Dave_C which serve to give us a heads up on the day-to-day operation of FT. I just wish i was half as smart as members like Leumas and ozstamps because then I'm sure we wouldn't have had this problem. But, I'm not so will continue trying.

I think there's been enough said from this end to address the situation and if you don't mind, will close the thread. Between diaper duty in OMNI and a few other things, I'm not getting to chat with the ad guys and gals about this change and would like to make it the same priority that you have made it in bringing it to my attention.

Sincerely thanks,
Randy