Advertising ethically.

Discussion in 'Free Thoughts' started by invert_nexus, Oct 14, 2006.

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Do you agree with this sort of advertising?

  1. Yes. I think there's nothing wrong with it. Carry on.

    4 vote(s)
    19.0%
  2. No. I think this is wrong. Remove it.

    16 vote(s)
    76.2%
  3. Ambivalent. I am undecided on this issue. It really doesn't matter.

    1 vote(s)
    4.8%
  1. invert_nexus Ze do caixao Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,686
    Ok. This is most likely better fitted to the Open Government section. Or even the ethics section. But, I feel it's important to bring this to people's attention and so I'm posting it here.

    There's a little thing called "content links" that places links in your post.

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    I can understand the need to raise funds to run the forums. But this is disgusting to me.
    This is, in fact, a violation of my copyright.
    I post material here and have given no permission for that material to be altered by insertion of advertising.

    The new admins have not noticed the complaint over this issue yet. So I am unsure what their response will be. But, I don't know if I can continue to post if this isn't removed.

    Note: It's only visible by people that are not logged in or under a certain post count.

    What do you think?
    Sound off.
     
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  3. Nickelodeon Banned Banned

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    10,581
    I hate them. Even though I can't see them when I log in, I feel it is detremental to the site in terms of bringing people in. It makes the site look messy and is soooo unappealing.

    If I were new here it would drive me away, that I know for a fact. I may not have hung around to realise the gem that is sciforums. Ads in the side are tolerable, but this reminds me of pop-ups, noisy or flashing ads, and other shite that is so prevalent on the interent. What will people come up with next? "Content-links" suck, I fucking hope this kind of crap doesn't spread (or maybe its too late?).
     
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  5. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

    Messages:
    24,690
    All right, big shots. How much money did you voluntarily pay to SciForums to pay their operating expenses? Apparently in aggregate we didn't pay enough or they wouldn't have to do this. The moderators are all volunteers as far as I know.

    We all hate advertising in our media but we all want it for free. The universe doesn't work that way.
     
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  7. leopold Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    17,455
    this is also my concern, what impression are they making to would-be posters.

    i guess you could also consider them spam because they are unsolicited and unwanted.
     
  8. Nickelodeon Banned Banned

    Messages:
    10,581
    The donation box is gone. Sciforums has changed ownership in the last week. We didnt have a choice to continue donating even if we wanted to. I did contribute, and would have paid more too if needed.
     
  9. invert_nexus Ze do caixao Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,686
    I paid 200 dollars, Mr. Fraggle. And was prepared to pay more when the time came. I was only waiting until the last minute to get the rest of the cheapskates to contribute.

    Note: I'm not against advertising.
    I'm against this particular form of advertising.
    If I want to link to something in my post, then I will link to something in my post.
    Google can provide all the content links they want. In a banner. Away from my post.
     
  10. leopold Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    17,455
    i don't mind advertising on the site. but in my posts?
     
  11. invert_nexus Ze do caixao Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,686
    There are many users here these days who just post chaotically. They don't put any effort into their posting. They just pop in here and there spouting off their two cents worth without a care in the world.

    But, there are posters who work hard to say things in just that way. People that suffer over choosing this word or that word.
    People that are trying to convey a specific message with each post.

    And now their posts are being infiltrated with this... spam?
    Because this is spam. There can be no other word for it.
    It is unwanted. Unsolicited. Advertising.

    When I try to convey a message, how can I have any certainty what spam will be interjected into my post? How can I say what word is going to be linked in my post? And how can I say where it is going to be linked to?

    This is a breach of faith. This is a travesty.

    It was bad enough when google ads were placed in the top post of the page making it seem as though the user had placed it there...
    But this???

    This is altering the very words that we write.
    This is altering the intent of the words we impart on whoever may be reading this.


    Now.
    Let's take a different approach.
    Someone finds this site through a google search.
    They are a conscientious writer. They are intelligent, witty, creative, knowledgeable. They have found some posts that interest them (despite the injection of advertising into their very fabric)...
    What are they going to do?
    I bet that more than a few of them will not wish to join a forum that would alter posts in that manner.

    I would not. I can tell you that right now. If these content links were installed when I first came across sciforums, I would not be here now. And neither, I suspect, would many that I respect and admire (even those that have fled these parts for their various reasons. Their content remains... and it too is being befouled with this filth.)


    Foul, I say.


    And I suggest you speak up yay or nay for this issue. Because these are the times of transition. If you lay down and let these changes occur then they will only be the beginning. More and more will follow.

    We are entering corporate times, oh my brothers.
    But a promise has been made to follow the will of the people.
    So. The people damned well better speak up or give up their voice altogether.
     
  12. Nickelodeon Banned Banned

    Messages:
    10,581
    Oh the irony.

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  13. Communist Hamster Cricetulus griseus leninus Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,026
    I don't see those. Is it because I use firefox, or because I just downloaded this?
     
  14. Nickelodeon Banned Banned

    Messages:
    10,581
    No, it's because your post count is above a threshold I think.


    Also...for example.... you have a link in your post, but that would be hard to disguinguish from the "spam".
     
  15. leopold Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    17,455
    i only see them when i am not logged in. i also use firefox.

    i agree with vert and nickelodeon on this matter. i am not responsible for and did not include the links to advertising in my posts.
    i also have concerns about the impact this will have on would-be posters.
     
  16. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    13,105
    In clubs memberships usually allow them to have something more than non-members, perhaps they have a key to an area that non-members can't go, or the booze at the bar is 10% less.

    Well you can suggest the same things about Advertisement currently at sciforums, it's known that the "Members" wouldn't stand for vast amounts of blatent advertisment, so much so they'd probably be an uprising or mass walk out, however the same can't be said about non-members that aren't necessarily here to stay. So Login to remove adverts.
    Simply, Membership has it's perks.
     
  17. Nickelodeon Banned Banned

    Messages:
    10,581
    How will potential contributors know this? They may think its just the normal format. They may not bother joining.
     
  18. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    13,105
    Then all it requires is a better understanding of TOC, or a louder "Members get perks" statement.
     
  19. leopold Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    17,455
    the admins are, in short, selling my posts for a profit.
    i DO NOT give them permission to do so.
     
  20. invert_nexus Ze do caixao Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,686
    Yeah.
    That's just what we need.
    To be louder.
    Let's put up some flashing neon lights while we're at it?
    Hell. Let's link to porn sites. Not from banner ads, but from content links. Let's just make every word we type into a link to some hedonistic site of pure carnality.
    Advertising for porn pays pretty well, eh?

    Let's go ahead and start tacking some spyware in there.

    Hell. Let's start distributing viruses.

    But only to non-members.
    Because membership has its perks...

    (Seriously. There's no feasible method of demonstrating to a potential poster that these intrusive advertising links are only visible to guests and new members. Not without further intrusion. At which point does the advertising and advertising about the advertising overwhelm the content of the page to begin with? Only so many disclaimers can be posted per square inch...)
     
  21. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    19,083
    Coincedally now I have one more reason to go on with my project.
    Nothing extremely flashy, just a page I will put in my ramblings. No blog, a wiki like workshop website to exchange ideas and create ideas.

    I know I haven't been extremely productive in Sciforums lately, but that's because I've been doing a lot of research and there's been no time to assemble my thoughts into written word.
    But when I do it, I'd rather they're not violated in this advertisment manner. It would be against the very nature of what I intend to write about.

    So I'll probably stick around Sciforums, but will leave the stuff I care about out.


    edit: For those who know, nah, my website is still functional and going good. But I feel another one is needed.
     
  22. leopold Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    17,455
    the TOC no longer applies because it is obvious my posts are being edited by the admins without my permission and for no other reason than to generate cash.
     
  23. leopold Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    17,455
    if i remember correctly i am resposible for my posts. that is what i agreed to.
     

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