Annoying Advertising

xdx · Feb 28, 2006

I am on a Tight Budget and cannot afford paid Membership. But I am so annoyed with this new advertising. I understand the reasoning for advertising but one add for smiley central SHouts HELLO all the time it is annoying distracting and uncalled for.

So what are memebers like myself who CANNOT afford paid membership to do? I quite happy to see adverts but this is getting beyond that and driving us away from the forum.

phenomsmom · Feb 28, 2006

You know I heard somethign shout hello and I couldn't figure out what it was!

jlutgendorf · Feb 28, 2006

So that's what those windows are! I use a mac, and I had over 30 different blank windows open! I think everytime I clicked a new thread, a pop up window has been opening, but no ad is displaying. And each new ad is popping up in a new window.

Someone might want to look into that, as it's quite annoying to have these millions of windows open, which aren't displaying your advertisers content, and it's doing something weird, where when the new thread loads, it forces my internet browser to front of the screen, pre-empting whatever other program I was in.

I know mac users aren't a huge percent of the market, but in this day and age, there is no excuse for websites that don't work equally as well on a pc or a mac. That's the sign of a bad web designer/programer right there!
(for reference, I'm a graphic designer, and frequently design websites, so I'm not just trying to be inflamatory)

I hope they can get these bugs worked out. Glad I'm not the only one who's experiencing this!

~Julia

cagnes · Feb 28, 2006

I find the flashing ads very annoying! To me the paid membership is a bit too expensive. I don't mind being a paid member at all, in fact I think that it's a great idea! I just think that $59.50 is too much for me.

I'm a member of a few ezboard groups & I'm more than happy to support ezboard by being a paid member... but it's only $12 per year. I also support some of the indivual message boards by making a contribution to their treasure chest which goes towards their dues, but I give $5, $10 or $15 per year... whatever I can afford at the time.

IMHO... if Catsite were to charge between $12 - $20 per year, then more members could afford it & hopefully more would become members, which in turn bring in more money than just a handfull paying $59.60 a year. Well, that's just my

BTW, I do like the Brad Pitt running from the paparazzi ad. Mind you, I never noticed what the ad is for, but it does make me giggle!

phenomsmom · Feb 28, 2006

Originally Posted by cagnes

IMHO... if Catsite were to charge between $12 - $20 per year, then more members could afford it & hopefully more would become members, which in turn bring in more money than just a handfull paying $59.60 a year. Well, that's just my

I agree. I would be more than happy to help support TCS financially but realistically 60 is tom uch for me to be able to contribute. I may be able to contribute several times a year aswell. I know a lot of us would do it.

stormy · Feb 28, 2006

The ads don't bother me...I keep the speakers shut off.

valanhb · Feb 28, 2006

I know that Anne has very recently set up new advertising, and is still working on the bugs. I believe most advertising comes as a script that is just inserted into the HTML code, so it isn't her actually writing the code for the ads.

Also, while the cheapest (per month) choice is paying for a year up front, there are also 3 and 6 month options available for $19.50 and $33.00 respectively. http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/payments.php Thought I would mention it as some said they would be willing or better able to contribute throughout the year rather than a lump sum.

xdx · Feb 28, 2006

I still cant afford that amount. I'm lucky I stil have an internet connection. As i listen to music while on the net my speakers are on. I dont see why I should turn them off.

lionessrampant · Feb 28, 2006

I use Mac OSX and Firefox...I don't think any popups have gotten through. Although, I was really confused when I saw the new ads thinking I had gotten some syware or something!

consumerkitty · Feb 28, 2006

I can't afford to subscribe but no one has the right to complain about the ads. Anne doesn't owe us anything and if she wants to put ads up (like most websites do) then that's her right. I'm just very grateful that this site is here.

cheeseface · Feb 28, 2006

Originally Posted by xDx

I still cant afford that amount. I'm lucky I stil have an internet connection. As i listen to music while on the net my speakers are on. I dont see why I should turn them off.

Increasing server costs for popular web sites are expected and justified. Since most people don't pay for a subscription, web advertising is the only effective way to pay for server costs. Get used to it. It hasn't cost you anything. That's how well the advertising works.

babyharley · Feb 28, 2006

Originally Posted by consumercity

I can't afford to subscribe but no one has the right to complain about the ads. Anne doesn't owe us anything and if she wants to put ads up (like most websites do) then that's her right. I'm just very grateful that this site is here.

I agree, definately.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to subscribe - and when I get a little extra money, I would subscribe and become a paying member.

I know that I'm not going to let a few silly advertisments keep me from TCS!

I don't mind them - I think the one of Brad Pitt is kinda funny!

xocats · Feb 28, 2006

If more ads are what it takes to keep TCS up and running ... then bring 'em on.

Originally Posted by consumercity

I can't afford to subscribe but no one has the right to complain about the ads. Anne doesn't owe us anything and if she wants to put ads up (like most websites do) then that's her right. I'm just very grateful that this site is here.

cagnes · Feb 28, 2006

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

Increasing server costs for popular web sites are expected and justified. Since most people don't pay for a subscription, web advertising is the only effective way to pay for server costs. Get used to it. It hasn't cost you anything. That's how well the advertising works.

I fully understand the need for web advertising to help alleviate server costs.

I also heartily support the paid subscription idea, I just feel that the rates are way too high. My point is that if the subscription rates were more affordable, then maybe you could soon be saying that most people do enroll in the paid subscription (I would) instead of... "most people don't pay for a subscription".

nebula11 · Feb 28, 2006

Originally Posted by cagnes

I fully understand the need for web advertising to help alleviate server costs.

I also heartily support the paid subscription idea, I just feel that the rates are way too high. My point is that if the subscription rates were more affordable, then maybe you could soon be saying that most people do enroll in the paid subscription (I would) instead of... "most people don't pay for a subscription".

Its only 5$ a month, how much more can they possibly lower it???

hopehacker · Feb 28, 2006

I think advertizing is cool, but I think Pop Up advertizing is the bane of the Internet. Pop Up's have been known to destroy computers, and make them go heywire.

That being said, I used to have an EZ board for my Paul Stanley website, and when they started getting pop up's for non paid boards, I started paying so my subscribers didn't have to have Pop Up's. I left it up to the subscribers whether or not they wanted to contribute to my board. Some did, some didn't.

I've now moved my message board to Pro Boards, where it's free. There is advertizing, but not Pop Up's. If they started doing Pop Up's, I'd probably have to ask the members to contibute to the cost of keeping the board up.

I also did something about never having to see any more pop ups, I got a pop up blocker, and I started using Opera as my browser.

sweetiecat3 · Feb 28, 2006

I too find the new ads very annoying, especially the flashing ones and the pop-ups. But I wouldn't complain too much.... I'm just glad we have TCS, and if the ads are what keeps TCS running, they're fine with me.

I mean how else do you expect the server to be paid for?

cagnes · Feb 28, 2006

Originally Posted by Nebula11

Its only 5$ a month, how much more can they possibly lower it???

Personally, I feel that $12 to $24 a year would be reasonable for a message board.

There are a gazillion message boards out there on the net, from topics ranging form cats, dogs, cars, photography, art, computer graphics, child care, religion, etc, etc, etc. Many members (like me) are also members of other message boards. I'm on 6 boards & if they were all to charge $60 a year for membership that would be a bit expensive.

I know that not everyone is a member of more than one board & that I'm not forced to come here. I like this board & the people here. I also know that TCS has the right to charge whatever they want for membership.

I was just making the suggestion that, if the rates were lower more people would subscribe... hence more money would be raised. It's common business practice... more sales at a lower rate generate more money than fewer sales at a higher rate. My suggestion was to help TCS & to help us (the members) who would like to become subscribers but can't afford the current rates.

hopehacker · Feb 28, 2006

Originally Posted by cagnes

Personally, I feel that $12 to $24 a year would be reasonable for a message board.

There are a gazillion message boards out there on the net, from topics ranging form cats, dogs, cars, photography, art, computer graphics, child care, relegion, etc, etc, etc. Many members (like me) are also members of other message boards. I'm on 6 boards & if they were all to charge $60 a year for membership that would be a bit expensive.

I know that not everyone is a member of more than one board & that I'm not forced to come here. I like this board & the people here. I also know that TCS has the right to charge whatever they want for membership.

I was just making the suggestion that, if the rates were lower more people would subscribe... hence more money would be raised. It's common business practice... more sales at a lower rate generate more money than fewer sales at a higher rate. My suggestion was to help TCS & to help us (the members) who would like to become subscribers but can't afford the current rates.

I agree with you, on the price, but maybe because TCS is such a huge board, the costs are more. My suggestion is: Use Opera as your main browser. You won't get Pop Up's with Opera. You'll still get the other advertizing, but IMO, that type of advertizing is easy to deal with.

eupnea · Feb 28, 2006

Originally Posted by jlutgendorf

So that's what those windows are! I use a mac, and I had over 30 different blank windows open! I think everytime I clicked a new thread, a pop up window has been opening, but no ad is displaying. And each new ad is popping up in a new window.

Someone might want to look into that, as it's quite annoying to have these millions of windows open, which aren't displaying your advertisers content, and it's doing something weird, where when the new thread loads, it forces my internet browser to front of the screen, pre-empting whatever other program I was in.

I know mac users aren't a huge percent of the market, but in this day and age, there is no excuse for websites that don't work equally as well on a pc or a mac. That's the sign of a bad web designer/programer right there!
(for reference, I'm a graphic designer, and frequently design websites, so I'm not just trying to be inflamatory)

I hope they can get these bugs worked out. Glad I'm not the only one who's experiencing this!

~Julia

I'm having this exact same problem with the empty windows. I think there is something wrong, because I know TCS wouldnt want an ad window popping up every time you click any link on the forum! It would definitely keep people from coming back.

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