Why all of the new Google ads?

**Ron Thorne** · January-16th-2009, 11:48 PM

Am I the only one annoyed by feeling as if I'm navigating a mine field to simply try to click on Calendar, New Posts or Search without accidentally clicking on an unwanted Google ad?

Why all of these new hyperlinks? And, if they're necessary for the survival of JC, can't they be placed where they don't interfere with normal navigation ... such as in the gray area above Welcome ______ on the upper part of each page, for instance? The ads on the bottom of the page aren't nearly as annoying or as much of a navigation hazard, and there are fewer of them.

**Jon Abbey** · January-17th-2009, 02:14 AM

not positive, but Ron, you might consider trying to DL and install something called Adblock Plus in your browser. here's the Firefox one, I installed it a month or so ago when I was having a similar problem with a different ad popping up everywhere:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865

**Lois Gilbert** · January-17th-2009, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Am I the only one annoyed by feeling as if I'm navigating a mine field to simply try to click on Calendar, New Posts or Search without accidentally clicking on an unwanted Google ad?

Why all of these new hyperlinks? And, if they're necessary for the survival of JC, can't they be placed where they don't interfere with normal navigation ... such as in the gray area above Welcome ______ on the upper part of each page, for instance? The ads on the bottom of the page aren't nearly as annoying or as much of a navigation hazard, and there are fewer of them.

We just did an upgrade and we are testing out google ad words. They are not demons but a source of income. I think your suggestion of putting them above welcome is a good idea and I'll ask Doc if he can do that We'll also be offering blogs through Speakeasy as well as well the same logins you use for Facebook and other social networks. There is also now a way to tag

**tippy** · January-17th-2009, 07:29 AM

I figured they were for income. For me the ads appear as a straight line of about 5 very plain links and I do not find them too imposing.

**Gordon B** · January-17th-2009, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

not positive, but Ron, you might consider trying to DL and install something called Adblock Plus in your browser. here's the Firefox one, I installed it a month or so ago when I was having a similar problem with a different ad popping up everywhere:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865

I've been using Adblock Plus or its predecessor, Adblock, ever since i first started using Firefox. Users should make sure they go to Filters/Add Filter Subscription and choose EasyList.

**Scott Dolan** · January-17th-2009, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by tippy

I figured they were for income. For me the ads appear as a straight line of about 5 very plain links and I do not find them too imposing.

Same here. They are barely noticeable.

I just see a link that says "Ads by Google", one for Jazz scales, the rest all with the word Speakeasy in them. All text in a small font.

No minefield here.

I'm using Chrome as my browser, I wonder if that makes a difference?

**Lois Gilbert** · January-17th-2009, 05:09 PM

Jon and Gordon B

Unlike other sites, we do not accept generic ads for stomach reducing, telephone services, etc

I wouldn't join that "network" So all the ads you see on JazzCorner are jazz related.

Thanks Tippy and Scott for understanding. I don't think they're intrusive at all. I think you know me better than I would putting something up that would dilute your beautiful writing!

**Ron Thorne** · January-17th-2009, 06:06 PM

Lois, as I stated in my original post, I also thought these new hyperlinks were likely part of a revenue producing effort, and that's fine. Relocating the five ads at the top of the page would do much to clean things up a bit while not negating their intended purpose, in my humble opinion.

For the record, I never suggested that these new Google ads were demons.

Perhaps my wording was too strong, and if so, I'm sorry.

**Troll** · January-18th-2009, 06:47 AM

Ron's comment got me to click on the Calendar link. I've never clicked there before and was curious what was behind the link. The calendar ends December 2008, with no 2009 available in the dropdown.

No biggie for me but perhaps Doc could add in a few more years when he moves the ads up?

**tippy** · January-18th-2009, 05:50 PM

Hey, I just had 5 google ad links for sausages. How can you complain about 5 different links for sausages?

**Cem** · January-18th-2009, 06:04 PM

Time to eat, tip.

**Ron Thorne** · January-18th-2009, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

Ron's comment got me to click on the Calendar link. I've never clicked there before and was curious what was behind the link. The calendar ends December 2008, with no 2009 available in the dropdown.

No biggie for me but perhaps Doc could add in a few more years when he moves the ads up?

I just clicked on Calendar and see January 2009 in the lower left hand corner with today's date circled in red.

**Troll** · January-19th-2009, 06:11 AM

'09 has just been added. Thanks Lois & Doc

**clinthopson** · January-19th-2009, 10:58 AM

Hey, if it puts a few more bucks in Lois' coffer, that's just fine with me.

**Ron Thorne** · January-19th-2009, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by clinthopson

Hey, if it puts a few more bucks in Lois' coffer, that's just fine with me.

I don't think that anyone is in disagreement with that, Clint.

**michaeld** · January-20th-2009, 03:10 PM

I finally found the right template to change and moved the ads up above the breadcrumb and welcome box. Please let me know if this works better for the workflow of the board. Lois has also asked me to look into a few other add-ons and plugins and I'll be rolling those out as I nail them down as to what to add to make your lives easier here on the board. If there are any other requests or suggestions, please free to post them here, and I will see what I can track down for a solution.

Thanks everyone for your feedback,

--
Doc

**groover** · January-20th-2009, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by michaeld

Please let me know if this works better for the workflow of the board.

Workflow? You flatter us.

**tippy** · January-20th-2009, 03:51 PM

Indeed.

**tippy** · January-20th-2009, 03:59 PM

oooh I just picked up on google diabolicalness - the google links are placed for me to hit them instead of hitting the usual JC menu links I press hundreds of times a day probably. very sneaky. but I haven't missed yet so it's okay with me.

**Ron Thorne** · January-20th-2009, 11:59 PM

Thanks for repositioning those Google links, Doc. Yes, it's much better in my view.

**Pete C** · January-23rd-2009, 04:45 PM

...

**Pete C** · January-23rd-2009, 04:46 PM

Can't get it to post bigger, but the food chains thread gets ads for McDonalds, etc.

**Bill Barton** · January-25th-2009, 01:27 AM

FWIW, I haven't seen any of the ads people are talking about. I have Adblock Plus installed and use Firefox exclusively. In the Adblock Plus filters mine is set to the default with everything including EasyList checked.

**Ron Thorne** · January-25th-2009, 01:32 AM

They aren't "ads", per se, Bill. They are hyperlinks ... five at the top of the page and two on the bottom. They change topics depending upon the thread topic, as Pete has suggested, too.

I also have AdBlock Plus installed, but it hasn't changed anything with respect to these Google hyperlinks. Perhaps I need to investigate further.