I'm probably in minority but...

[Ankesh]

Hi Dien,

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby

Doesn't mean you shouldn't ban some of the ads that pop up. But you need to follow your own guidelines to make the final decision. And it shouldn't be because one of the posters doesn't like it.

I think I'm more-or-less happy to block anything that's not really "relevant"... Google's "contextual" advertising doesn't always get it "right"!

Google learns over time which ads to show on a webpage and which to not. If people won't click on a specific ad, Google will quickly switch ads. And become better at contextual advertising over time.

On top of that, Google doesn't only rely on the page content to show the ads. It also tracks people with cookies. So if you've just come from say a sports website to Sowpub - you may well see a sports ad on Sowpub.

Because we talk about a lot of issues on this forum - including politics, guns, freedom, war - we are bound to see some of the ads that Sandi and others don't like. Trying to get rid of them could soon become a everyday nuisance job for you. Unless you put a stop to those conversations that attract the ads in the first place.

Well, that Google stuff may well be but I can shoot it full of holes, if you consider that I came from sites that: were about cooking and foods, weather related, health related, and simplifying your home life. Don 't see how THAT ties in with showing me guns and 'games'.

You are right, however, about needing some type of guidelines BUT I also think that Dien has a pretty good idea of what he wants to do and direction to go in...even without my input (or anyone else's for that matter). I have faith in his ultimate decisions one way or another.

Sandi Bowman

Originally Posted by Sandi Bowman

Well, that Google stuff may well be but I can shoot it full of holes....
Sandi Bowman

But to shoot it full of holes, you would need a... ummm... ???

HA! HA! HA!

Sandi Bowman

Dang, I hadn't even noticed
any of the ads until reading
this post.

Probably continue to gloss
right over them in the future
too.

I guess I dive into the posts
too quick to see anything
else.

adios
Andy

[Ankesh]

Thanks Sandi.

Google doesn't always use your surfing history to show you ads. I don't know how their ad logarithm works - but I know for sure that they do take your surfing history into account to show some of the ads some of the time.

I mentioned that, because Dien said:

"Google's "contextual" advertising doesn't always get it "right"! "

And the visitors surfing history may be one of the reasons why we think Google doesn't always get it right.

It had nothing to do with your personal experience. And I never meant to imply that you visit websites related to guns and violence.

For the record: I do wish you wouldn't leave Sowpub just because of a few ads.

I didn't take it to imply anything of the sort from you, Ankesh. I was merely pointing out that the Google theory could be very wrong. Apparently, Dien and you agree with me somewhat.

No worry about me leaving Sowpub unless I give up on the internet (which I've considered from time to time). On days I feel like quitting, it's because I am faced again with the reality that the internet and I are a poor fit. I CAN do but most days it's a struggle to even bother starting. How's that for an approach-avoidance conflict?

Ah, well...we do what we can, as we can, I guess.

Sandi Bowman