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Increasing number of ads on Eng-Tips 2
- Thread starter StrEng007
- Start date
There are a multitude of things that can block ads:
> Privacy Badger
> uBlock
> custom Hosts file
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list
> Privacy Badger
> uBlock
> custom Hosts file
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list
I'm not going to try too hard to participate on a website where the owners want to make the experience as un-enjoyable as possible.
I realize ads are the way to monetize websites...I don't begrudge them for having ads. But it's bad enough this website hasn't evolved since the 90s. They don't need to rely on 90s internet advertising methods, too.
I realize ads are the way to monetize websites...I don't begrudge them for having ads. But it's bad enough this website hasn't evolved since the 90s. They don't need to rely on 90s internet advertising methods, too.
jerseyshore
Structural
I've used Ublock for years (2.4M blocked ads and counting) and refuse to open ET on my phone. Website is basically cancer on mobile.
I would like to bring this up with site management (others certainly have before). To that end, I would welcome anyone's comments with respect to what we feel an acceptable advertising solution would be here. For me it would be:
1) A freemium option. I feel as though $5/months would be a reasonable price to pay for no ads. I'd be willing to pay twice that but, then, I understand that I'm probably an outlier in that regard.
2) I would like to see some of the ad revenue used to push the evolution of the site forward technologically.
3) I would like it if the heavy contributors here were rewarded for their participation with free access to the freemium option. While I feel that would be eminently fair, I think that this is a probably a very long shot.
4) I think that this whole thing is ultimately toast if it can't be made to work well on phones. So I'd like to see that prioritized. Even without the ads, every other forum system that I use works much better on phones than this one does.
1) A freemium option. I feel as though $5/months would be a reasonable price to pay for no ads. I'd be willing to pay twice that but, then, I understand that I'm probably an outlier in that regard.
2) I would like to see some of the ad revenue used to push the evolution of the site forward technologically.
3) I would like it if the heavy contributors here were rewarded for their participation with free access to the freemium option. While I feel that would be eminently fair, I think that this is a probably a very long shot.
4) I think that this whole thing is ultimately toast if it can't be made to work well on phones. So I'd like to see that prioritized. Even without the ads, every other forum system that I use works much better on phones than this one does.
GregLocock
Automotive
ChorasDen I agree, I like linear format threads, I see no features on other websites that would significantly improve this site. That pop up ad was an outlier and seems to have gone.
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376
jerseyshore
Structural
Quoting/ replying has been discussed to death, but that's the most obvious upgrade I think everyone wants improved.
Between the ads & having to log back in everytime on mobile the website is unusable on my phone. Between the pop up ads and that every other "reply" is an ad in-line it makes it impossible to view without an ad blocker.
Between the ads & having to log back in everytime on mobile the website is unusable on my phone. Between the pop up ads and that every other "reply" is an ad in-line it makes it impossible to view without an ad blocker.
milkshakelake
Structural
Some things I think would be nice:
-Direct messaging (to network and build professional contacts); it goes without saying, but the messages should be encrypted like in Facebook, Whatsapp, etc.
-No ad option like KootK said.
-Better mobile view; it's almost totally unusable.
-Ability to paste images directly instead of drag/drop.
-Quality of life improvements, like being able to turn off signatures.
-Notification system and thread following features like in Reddit. "Notify me" uses email, which is simply antiquated. I don't want junk in my mailbox.
-The quote and hyperlink system is so bad, I rarely use it anymore. To quote someone, you should be able to just type @username >quote here, or press a button and a quote box appears.
-Since this is an engineering website, and engineers use drawings: a sketch feature.
None of these things are make or break by themselves, but I do find myself on other forums (not specifically engineering) because they're more usable. I mostly use Reddit. It has numerous flaws, but is nonetheless a pretty solid system. I don't think every forum has to be non-linear like Reddit; it could be linear, and still have a lot of usability.
If the new owners really want to rake in some cash, that's the way to do it. I'm a business owner. I'm not using the same calculation standards I was using 1 year ago. I'm always improving, lest I get left behind.
Regarding the argument about liking the old-school style of the website: I get it, it's a personal preference of mine too aesthetically. I don't necessarily need it to look better, though it can definitely use less clutter. I'm mostly talking about usability. But anyway, I'll refer to Reddit again in this regard: there's a Classic and New look that you can easily switch on that site. I always use classic. The young folks probably don't.
-Direct messaging (to network and build professional contacts); it goes without saying, but the messages should be encrypted like in Facebook, Whatsapp, etc.
-No ad option like KootK said.
-Better mobile view; it's almost totally unusable.
-Ability to paste images directly instead of drag/drop.
-Quality of life improvements, like being able to turn off signatures.
-Notification system and thread following features like in Reddit. "Notify me" uses email, which is simply antiquated. I don't want junk in my mailbox.
-The quote and hyperlink system is so bad, I rarely use it anymore. To quote someone, you should be able to just type @username >quote here, or press a button and a quote box appears.
-Since this is an engineering website, and engineers use drawings: a sketch feature.
None of these things are make or break by themselves, but I do find myself on other forums (not specifically engineering) because they're more usable. I mostly use Reddit. It has numerous flaws, but is nonetheless a pretty solid system. I don't think every forum has to be non-linear like Reddit; it could be linear, and still have a lot of usability.
If the new owners really want to rake in some cash, that's the way to do it. I'm a business owner. I'm not using the same calculation standards I was using 1 year ago. I'm always improving, lest I get left behind.
Regarding the argument about liking the old-school style of the website: I get it, it's a personal preference of mine too aesthetically. I don't necessarily need it to look better, though it can definitely use less clutter. I'm mostly talking about usability. But anyway, I'll refer to Reddit again in this regard: there's a Classic and New look that you can easily switch on that site. I always use classic. The young folks probably don't.
- Thread starter
- #33
GregLocock
Automotive
I've reported the popup purple ad to 'them in charge'.
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376
I run Firefox with uBlock Origin (plus other add-ons and settings) and I've never seen an ad here. I'm not sure how sites can be profitable without ads, but with ads they are too often unusable. The comments above convince me that would be the case here.
Regarding KootK's idea of charging for ad-free access. I'm only here to offer advice as I'm retired and no longer have questions. If Eng-Tips wants to charge me to provide free answers then I'm gone.
Regarding KootK's idea of charging for ad-free access. I'm only here to offer advice as I'm retired and no longer have questions. If Eng-Tips wants to charge me to provide free answers then I'm gone.
ALK2415
Structural
- Sep 15, 2014
- 289
To me a few ads are absolutely harmless.
It is very natural that there is funding for such sites, which require operation, maintenance, and also development, as Kotak mentioned.
Why are you surprised by such a step that we accept on other sites?
Providing engineering information is a voluntary work, not a forced work, and you are not forced to contribute. Likewise, your presence or absence, I do not think, will affect the site’s number of users of one hundred thousand users.
This site is unique in that it covers most countries in the world and has members who devote most of their time to helping others.
It is very natural that there is funding for such sites, which require operation, maintenance, and also development, as Kotak mentioned.
Why are you surprised by such a step that we accept on other sites?
Providing engineering information is a voluntary work, not a forced work, and you are not forced to contribute. Likewise, your presence or absence, I do not think, will affect the site’s number of users of one hundred thousand users.
This site is unique in that it covers most countries in the world and has members who devote most of their time to helping others.
I use Chrome with AdGuard AdBlocker on my desktop computer and it removes all of the inline ads. There are still some in the sidebar, but I have no issue with those as they don't obstruct the use of the site.
I honestly can't believe how bad it is on my phone. It's almost unusable.
If ads are a necessity, that is fine, but they shouldn't hamper the use of the site in any way. Some ads in the sidebar are fine. The ad content is also mostly garbage. If ad revenue is important, I think ads relevant to structural engineering (for this particular forum) would make more sense than the seemingly random ads that I get. This would be a great place to advertise structural engineering software for example.
I honestly can't believe how bad it is on my phone. It's almost unusable.
If ads are a necessity, that is fine, but they shouldn't hamper the use of the site in any way. Some ads in the sidebar are fine. The ad content is also mostly garbage. If ad revenue is important, I think ads relevant to structural engineering (for this particular forum) would make more sense than the seemingly random ads that I get. This would be a great place to advertise structural engineering software for example.
I use latest Firefox browser with Adblock Plus on my PC and get the occasional advertisement. My android devices using DuckDuckGo browser also gets ads. Sometimes more frequently than at others. Presently the impact seems to be a bit less than in the past.
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