You can block all of the ads on CNET without losing any functionality; I, and many others, have done it for years. However, you must be very careful when adding new rules to block ads as you may inadvertently block legitimate content as well, as is evidently the issue you're encountering. For instance, the domain i.i.com.com serves both ads and images for CNET, so while some may recommend that you block it as an ad server, you'll also block the Preview, Submit, Cancel, etc. buttons if you add such a generic rule.
My advice: Delete the rules you've created thus far, add an EasyList subscription (covers most ads without you needing to add your own rules and without blocking most legitimate content), and add custom rules as needed one-by-one, making them as specific as possible to avoid cases of blocking an entire domain, like i.i.com.com.
Regards,
John
HI -
Having searched this same forum for 'adblock' and
reading the first 10 pages of posts, I am still left
wondering why blocking "ads" should inhibit my
ability to post to the forums. System is:
Linux/Ubuntu 9.10 with Firefox 3.6.9 and with
Adblock plus. When trying to post replys, I don't
see the buttons for "preview post", "submit post",
etc. Seems to me I shouldn't have to allow "ads"
in order to post replies. Can Cnet maybe break the
bonds between ads and forum buttons ???

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