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General discussion

Bad ads!

Jun 29, 2005 1:13PM PDT

Hi, Lee.

Unfortunately I didn't note which one it was, but there's a maroon ad that expands from its own box down to cover the top of the message view box, including the navigation links to get back to the forum. Can you please kill that ad, and forbid any more with that "feature?"
Thanks -- Dave K.

Discussion is locked

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(NT) (NT) wow i thought was only me saw that
Jun 29, 2005 2:06PM PDT
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VTECH cellphones???
Jun 30, 2005 3:58AM PDT

It is burgundy and when you hover the mouse over it, sound comes in and the ad expands downward to cover a third of the view......but if you move your mouse away from it, it all goes back to the same rectangular ad box for me.

TONI

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(NT) (NT) yes viotck phones
Jun 30, 2005 4:21AM PDT
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Tony, VTEC Pop-up
Jul 12, 2005 3:29PM PDT

Did you purchase a VTEC Phone from the pop-up ad?
No? Wonder why?:

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possibly a hiccup in the ad call--if it continues I will
Jun 30, 2005 10:12AM PDT

alert them to it. This does happen once in a while throughout CNET.

Thanks for reporting it!

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Bad Ads
Jul 10, 2005 2:25PM PDT

I think they all stink. Way too many of these SPAM Crap things on CNET. Who the heck wants to read these idiot pop-ups in the first place. Shame on you CNET.

Kevin

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Just ignore or block them...
Jul 11, 2005 1:32AM PDT

Personally, I support the use of ads, because it helps provide Cnet (and other major web portals) the revenue to keep these forums open and on a free basis. However, I base my purchases on reviews, not ads, so they are just an annoyance to me. Thus, I use Firefox (with the extension AdBlock v.5 d2), which blocks all of the ads automatically (particularly from Yahoo) now that I added a few of the common sources to the block list.

Hope this helps,
John

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POP UP ADS ON CNET
Jul 12, 2005 2:39PM PDT

John, at work when I go to CNET at the end of the day I cannot see the POP-UPS because we have 9.2 OS system and cannot download the correct software to view the ads in the first place. No need for blockers. Lousy software will do just as well! :

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(NT) (NT) LOL...Guess that works too! ;)
Jul 13, 2005 8:36AM PDT
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No ads = no CNET
Jul 11, 2005 7:50AM PDT

Don't you understand what advertising is??

If TV shows didn't have commercials there would be no TV shows...

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No Ads
Jul 12, 2005 3:21PM PDT

Lee, Yes, I understand advertising!!
I an a professional Creative Art Director and Graphic Designer for over forty five years thank you. How CNET markets its advertising is a differt problem.
No PoP-UPS. No CNET? I don't think so. CNET is NOT TV.

Tell your Corporate and webmasters, plus graphic designers to come up with a professional way to show your advertisers in a professional way instead of crap, idiotic pop-ups. Anyone can produce a pop-up annoying ad. Just look at the internet and CNET.

Lee, go back to interesting ways to present your advertisers in a professional manner. I view a pop-up and the hell with the advertiser. Never look at it except as annoying.
John, just told you before: BLOCK IT OUT OF YOUR MIND.
That is what I do and that is why your Marketing and Advertising, I personnaly feel, is poor.

What great pop-up stands out in everyones minds in the last six months? One? Name it! Tell us about it and did you respond to it? Did the pop-up make you purchase it? NO? I wonder why?
CNET is not TV!

Kevin

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Purpose?
Jul 13, 2005 1:40AM PDT

If you're making all these numerous posts looking to impress us with your vast experience, or to find a job, I must say your advertising presentation hasn't been very effective so far.

Sort of like a pop-up.

Cindi

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Purpose
Jul 13, 2005 3:29PM PDT

Not looking for a job Ms Haynes. Just looking for a better way for CNET to present their advertising and marketing.
Presently, I personnaly think that it is not good. I do not do web design. If I did, I would redesign the CNET site. And that goes for our Forum Design also.
I am into advertising and graphic design.
Anyone can do a pop-up's with animated Giffs. You can't miss them out there because ther are designed by marketers. 90% of them are really bad!

Perhaps, better, what are your suggestions to make CNET advertising greater? Please give us your ideas. Or do you like the pop-ups? Are you in Advertising or Marketing? Do you like the pop-ups STILL or animated. Flashing and obtrusive? Or do you like them at all?

Just wait until the pop-ups have audio. What next?
Your cell phone?
Sorry, You cannot complete your call until our advertisers complete their pop-ups. Our companys revenue depends on this advertising! Just wait!

Thanks for your post, Cindi.
Waiting to hear from you and your suggestions?

Kevin

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Response
Jul 14, 2005 5:25AM PDT

Hi Kevin,

I don't have suggestions to make CNET advertising better. I seldom click on ads to begin with. If I find something intriguing, I'll do a google search, or type in the website directly rather than click on an ad.

I wouldn't have changed the forums from the original software oh, so many incarnations ago, but, just like the advertising, it's not my choice. I'm just thankful the forums are here, and I'd not object to pay for them if the advertising were removed. There ARE ads here already that have sound. That one startled me a bit, but I learned not to run my mouse over it pretty quickly. In short, I ignore them, so improving them is not something I would attempt to do. I suppose if I really hated any of them, I could use an ad blocker. It's not that big a deal to me.

The one thing I don't do is make many, many, many posts bemoaning what is. I use what's here, or I go away. Ultimately, I guess that determines whether CNET's choices are the right ones or not.

--Cindi
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email the mods

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Response Again
Jul 14, 2005 2:45PM PDT

Right on except for the squeaky wheel.
Do not like it??Post.
Don't care??Don't Post.
Post and never see a change??Post again. Maybe again.

Cindi, do you have an oil can to use on this CNET rust bucket?
I am still waiting for the type size in the forums to be corrected. Oops, there I go again bemoaning the size!
How long has it been since Lee has promised to address the issue? I am not alone on these issues.

In the mean time,thanks for your comments.

Kevin

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Bad Ads. WHY?
Jul 12, 2005 2:30PM PDT

Dave, All Pop-up ads are lousy on the CNET Site. Not just the one you mentioned. Annoying, lousy ads that interfere with viewing the site. SPAM AT ITS WORST!!!
Why!?

Kevin

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Source of ads...
Jul 14, 2005 6:04AM PDT

Kevin, what you have to consider are the options available. CNET doesn't design the advertisements on their site. Other companies inquire about purchasing ''ad space'' on the site, and present the ads they have come up with. Cnet then decides which ones would be best-suited (notice there are no ads for clothes or kitchenware) and appropriate (notice there are no ads for ''adult'' merchandise) for its users.

They must set their ''qualifications'' and guidelines at a reasonable level, or they risk attracting few-to-no advertisers. In that case, they would have to find another source of revenue...us! Thus, they cannot refuse to accept an advertisement simply becase it doesn't include state-of-the-art graphics, or appeal to all Cnet users.

However, they have recently launched a program which asks users about their thought/views on the currrent advertisements (usually 3 at a time). If you are propmpted to participate, feel free to do so and let them know which type of ads you prefer.

John

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Source of ads?
Jul 14, 2005 2:52PM PDT

John, Thanks for your research. I really thought that CNET designed these pop-ups.
I stand corrected! Keep up your great posts,

Kevin

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Insight into advertising and the current debate...
Jul 14, 2005 5:47AM PDT

Let me begin by stating I think this discussion is getting a little over-heated. It started with Mod. Dave K. noting that one of the advertisements went ?a little over the top? (probably a glitch in the system), preventing users from navigating normally. However, this has quickly turned into an unfriendly dispute over the existence of advertisements in the first place. While most people, if asked about advertisements, would respond ?get rid of them? and ?who needs them? they are not thinking about the consequences of such actions. All media outlets are funded, at least in part, by advertisements.

Think of things like television?sure, we?d like to be able to watch a movie without commercials, but it is the commercials that enable us to watch the movies in the first place. Broadcast television is supported solely by advertisements (and sometimes the government), and cable/satellite TV?s costs are supplemented by ads. If TV was ad-free, think of the prices we?d have to pay for cable?people would long for the opportunity to pay $50 for cable again.

This may soon become a reality, as more and more people are purchasing PVRs, allowing them to fast-forward through advertisements. See this recent UK article, which highlights the issue. While the general public focuses on the benefits, the TV stations and advertisement companies realize that such a trend will completely revolutionize the entertainment industry, and not necessarily for the better. Companies will lose money due to decreased sales, TV and cable companies will loose customers because they have to raise their prices, and the consumers will have to pay extravagant prices now that they have to ?pick up the check? normally covered by advertising.

The same goes for the internet. Almost every site available is either selling their own products or sponsored by ads. Very few create a website for the public and eat up the costs themselves because others will appreciate it. (And such can only be sustained for so long.) Things like the Cnet user forums exist for free because the costs are covered by advertisers and funds diverted from their other Cnet ?units.? They could very easily close the forums, because lets face it, they?re not a huge source of profit, if any. Cnet provides the forums because it is a good business strategy and because they truly care about the tech community.

It is each person?s choice whether to use a PVR to skip through commercials or ad-blocking software to block pop-ups and in-site ads. However, that person must also realize that he/she is contributing to the destruction of the current system, and be willing to accept the consequences. I choose to block advertisements because, as I said before, I don?t make purchases based on ads?I base all of my decisions on news articles and reviews. Thus, it wouldn?t make a difference if I see them or not.

However, the same cannot be said for everyone. Some make their judgments based solely, or at least in part, on advertisements they see, and it is those individuals that help maintain our current system. The decision to block is yours, but the ads must remain for both their benefit, and ours.

I hope I have helped enlighten some readers of this thread.

John

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(NT) (NT) Well said John, thank you!
Jul 14, 2005 6:11AM PDT
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Good post mousearoma. Some
Jul 14, 2005 6:42AM PDT

people don't remember the days we did not have any ads at all in the community forums for about a year and millions of complaints about the slowness and screwed up the system was. Lee was fighting tooth & nail to get 'Operations' help but the excuse was always insufficient funds. I kept badgering Lee to start putting ads back in the forums to help if funds was the problem. We finally got a decent system in October 2003, ads reinstated to help in the funding, but there is some more to go for improvements as has been noted, but Lee does not have supervisory control over the "Programmers" like when one of the Operations Programmers was the Administrator of the Community Forums. Things change and 'Time Marches On'.

PS..Hey, I remember when cable 1st came out in the late 70's and free at my son's apartment complex. Later, when I was able to get cable, almost all the channels at that time were ad free...now look at it...only the premium channels you pay extra are ad free except they advertise their own whistle.

JR

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PS....Have never gotten a pop-up ad from CNet
Jul 14, 2005 7:00AM PDT

Community forums. That is strange, as I have never used a blocker or asked for a blocker of any type from anyone. I get the regular ads at the top of posts. Must be one of these blocking without me requesting???

Firefox browser(free version)
My ISP ($4.95 mo)
Nortons Systems Works with Anti-Virus (free after rebates)
Free ZoneAlarm firewall
Free MS Spyware
Free Ad-Aware
Free SpyBot
WinXP SP2

Free-be me,Happy
JR

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Few things...
Jul 14, 2005 8:27AM PDT

I started coming to Cnet in 1999, and created an account in 2002. However, I didn't use the account because the site in general seemed a little ''limited.'' I stopped back off and on last year, then started posting regularly a few months ago. Thus, I never really experienced the ad-free days, but remember the slow speeds and dull layout. In light of that, I believe the ads are well worth it, especially considering the advances they provided. (I guess I have you and Lee to thank!)
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As far as the software, I too go free whenever possible. In fact, I only have about a half-dozen programs (excluding games) I actually bought...the rest are freeware or company perks....gotta love it!
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I never received a pop-up from Cnet either, even when my blocking software isn't working, so I assumed that they didn't use them.
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Quick question...Does Lee work for Cnet, or is he just a very dedicated volunteer? I noticed he has an ''M'' instead of a ''C'' icon, but he is in charge of the forums, sends out weekly newsletters, and isn't listed on the chart of moderators.

Thanks,
John


P.S. Just read your profile...I can't believe it...there's no way you're 73! Wink

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Re: Few Things...
Jul 14, 2005 10:11AM PDT

Remember back in 1999 these forums were ZDNet and also ZDNet had a TV program... ZDTV that was later sold. All the 'Red' Moderators were paid a $$ salary and there were then 'Green' unpaid Assistant Moderators. At one time we had a 'Roaming Paid Moderator who was sort of a 'Sheriff' to enforce the TOS... ole 'Bill' from Austin, TX (Cursorcowboy). Back then we had a lead programmer from ZDNet Operations who was considered the manager/administrator of the forums. Soon after ZDNet was sold to CNet he resigned and a new Manager of the forums was Philip Dyer, CNet $ employee, working for Lee. Then the austerity program hit and all Moderators except the home employees of CNet (Lee & Philip)were put on a non pay status as volunteers. Some left, but most stayed in an unpaid volunteer status. Layoff were wide spread in CNet around that time and soon Philip was caught in the layoff and the whole burden of the CNet forums was now on the back of Lee Koo, without supervisory control of the programmers who work on the community forums system. He has a whole bunch of other duties besides just the Administrator/Manager of the forums. Yes Lee is a paid employee of CNet from the beginning, and who knows..may own stock.

Well, I don't think Alz has set in yet, but still ask the wife what day it is on occasion. Wink
I try to walk at a pretty good clip for least 1 mile each day, but it is getting more difficult. Lost a half-lung 2? yrs ago...smoked 3packs a day for 55 years. Gads, can't believe how much money those cigs cost now. Extremely lucky...so far, but still smoke 3 cigs at Xmas, New Years Eve/day, Easter, my birthday, and the 4th of July. I will always crave cigs....but considered rehab from them.Happy

Regards,
JR
PS...Send your photo to Wayne for the gallery:
http://www.wayne.hardy.com/

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Insight into advertising
Jul 14, 2005 3:04PM PDT

John, Nice post. Well written as always.

Kevin