The Principals here police us but not themselves

Hello everyone. I just need to rant and vent here. With all the U2Us from the management regarding negativity and whatever else they feel they must control, I have some things of my own to mention in regards to what I consider negative behavior from those that run this place.

My biggest annoyance is that every time I come here I get at least 10 different spyware cookies attached to my computer. What does that mean: a site that is against us being controlled by Big Brother type organizations or our own government spying on US Citizens and going against the consitution to do it. This site is against all that. But the principals here have no problem allowing their advertisers to attach spyware to our computers so they can spy on our activity and see how often we visit whatever websites the spyware is monitoring.

Question for the principals: why is it okay for you to allow organizations to spy on us? Is it for monetary gain? If so, it appears you have sold out and also speak out of both sides of your mouths......

Anyone else have any thoughts?

1) "Cookies" are not spyware.

2) We "ATS" only write a few cookies to keep track of who you are from page-to-age.

3) "Cookies" are not spyware.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


From your Privacy Policy:

Third Party Data Cookies: Advertising networks that serve advertising on AboveTopSecret.com may write their own cookies for the purposes of determining advertising frequency and relevance, and to match ads against your interests. We have performed reasonable diligence on all advertising networks authorized to serve ads on our websites to ensure that their data cookies are for this purpose and nothing more. Many of the providers serving display ads on AboveTopSecret.com provide users with the ability to opt-out of these third-party cookies. Below is a list of the networks which may, from time to time, deliver ads to our users (many may only occasionally deliver ads):

Google
DoubleClick
Mediaplex
Eyeblaster
Eyewonder
Interpolls
PointRoll
Unicast
Safecount
Factor TG
TribalFusion
Casale Media
Specific Media
Value Click
Media 24/7
Real Media
Pulse 360

Questions:

a: How do they know my interests?

b: How do we "opt out" of the cookie service from your advertisers as stated above. Must we contact each and every service. If so, can you please provide an up to date and comprehensive list and instructions on how to do it.

c: In reference to "b" above...what's the difference between "opting out" and using ad-blocking programs?

Cheers.

BTW.....for a site that promotes THIS in it's T&C:

1). Posting: You will not post any material that is knowingly false, misleading, or inaccurate.

Why do I have a REALLY annoying flashing banner telling me "I HAVE WON!" and that I must "CLICK HERE NOW TO CLAIM!" (in french)

Lies, lies, lies.

I don't want it, I will never want it, I will NEVER click on it, I will never click on ANY advert yet I must suffer them.

Members Avatars have been removed for less offensive visuals.

[edit on 9/5/2009 by nerbot]

Originally posted by nerbot
a: How do they know my interests?

They don't.

The best the ad networks can do is identify you as user "XC82FHU8934SIW01" or some other randomly assigned identifier. Then they attempt save the use patterns of your browsing, on sites where their ads appear. From that information, they try to target ads based on the broad interest-silos represented by the domains you visited, or, at least manage the frequency at which you receive the same ads.

b: How do we "opt out" of the cookie service from your advertisers as stated above. Must we contact each and every service.

Yes, that's normal.

c: In reference to "b" above...what's the difference between "opting out" and using ad-blocking programs?

When you opt-out of their cookie, you only opt-out of what I described above... not receive ads.

You get what you pay for, brother.

*insert witty comment here for filler*

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


May I have a really annoying, flashing, brightly coloured avatar please?


reply to post by whitewave


Making profit for a business while suffering unwanted visual annoyance without choice is fair payment I think.

Your signature is quite relevant in this thread wouldn't you say?

[edit on 9/5/2009 by nerbot]

reply to post by SkepticOverlord

1) "Cookies" are not spyware.

There are cookies that are not spyware but spyware requires cookies to work. Are you trying to use logic as a trick? When I scan my computer and find 10 possbile threats and they are listed as a spyware cookie....then the cookie is for spyware. It's not rocket science.

Yes Skeptic, all cookies are not spyware. The ones that get attached to my compter every time I come here are spyware.

Originally posted by Excitable_Boy
[When I scan my computer and find 10 possbile threats and they are listed as a spyware cookie....then the cookie is for spyware.

No... the scanning software is attempting to instill fear and doubt so that you continue to use it.

More info here, and here: The conspiracy of "tracking cookie" paranoia.

There are no "spyware" applications that actually use cookies that I know of, or have hear about. Cookies are only used by web browsers, or applications (like mail) that integrate some web browser code.

The ones that get attached to my compter every time I come here are spyware.

You are wrong, sorry. None of them are. Cookies are not spyware.

Appreciated some of the ads can be annoying, but you can just ignore them. I block pop-ups and click a button also at the bottom of my screen that is meant to stop your ISP from spying on you too. Nothing pops up anymore, however the odd ad may open a separate window - if so, i close it, not hard. Considering this brilliant and unique site is free to access and so is membership, you have to understand the funding has to come from somewhere, and in this case it's Ad's. The owners care about the site and it's members - thats rare.

peace

Spyware cookies can track a person's movement all over the web and create a report on it to the owner of the cookie. This is fact. This is mostly done for marketing purposes but it is still spying. Call it whatever you want to help you sleep at night. There are some out there are using this same technology for not so "innocent" reasons. Like identity theft. It all should be illegal no matter what it is for.

Spying is spying.

This site is about denying ignorance isn't it? It's not about denying the truth.

Originally posted by MCoG1980
Appreciated some of the ads can be annoying, but you can just ignore them.

Easier said than done when you have a multicoloured flourescent flashing area on the page that we are NOT allowed to block regardless of our intent to use them or not.

I (try to) ignore the banners, have never clicked one and never have any intention of doing so, they are irrelevant to me except that I'm FORCED to view them(ATS T&C re: adblocking).

From Wikipedia-"Web Banner":

When the advertiser scans their logfiles and detects that a web user has visited the advertiser's site from the content site by clicking on the banner ad, the advertiser sends the content provider some small amount of money (usually around five to ten US cents).

I'm sorry I can't click like mad and help ATS profit by annoying me with ads, they'll just have to use the 168 thread and 2000+ post contributions I've made over the last two years intsead.

Originally posted by Excitable_Boy
Spyware cookies can track a person's movement all over the web and create a report on it to the owner of the cookie. This is fact.

No, it is not a fact, you are wrong.

Cookies can only be written by, and loaded by, the domain that created them.

You ATS cookie has no idea if you go to CNN.com or any other site for that matter.


When advertisers use cookies, it stores a unique identifier for you, they put that identifier in their database, and then (when possible) use the referring data to see which sites you've visited on their network. That, and the frequency with which you receive ads, is used to deliver banner ads on sites using their network.

It's not "all over the web." That's a popular misconception.

Originally posted by nerbot
I'm sorry I can't click like mad and help ATS profit by annoying me with ads

What's with the intense angst?

This place is maddeningly expensive to operated. Our traffic is enormous. Our goals for are extensive. At this point, there is no other way for us to pay the bills.

reply to post by nerbot


I honestly don't have the same problem, i don't know why but i don't. I got to say though, if i had a flourecent flashing thing on my screen it would have to go or i would - it would enduce a seizure

Actually, though I am not a computer expert by any means, from what I can tell very little is going on in terms of tracking cookies when I'm logged on to ATS.

I use a great little program on my mac called "little snitch" where I can get a live view of all my connection history and all I get is google-analytics, quantserve.com, stats big-boards, internap, and digg. Compared with other sites it's actually quite minimal.

As far as the ads go, I think I run out of them cause by the evening I just get gray boxes.

I need to get out of the house more.

reply to post by whitewave


Making profit for a business while suffering unwanted visual annoyance without choice is fair payment I think.

Your signature is quite relevant in this thread wouldn't you say?



Pop up ads are hardly cruelty and oppression. That's a bit melodramatic, don't ya think?

Instead of complaining about the fluorescent flashing lights (I'd be annoyed too), try asking some of the members on the computer help forum how to avoid the problem. I don't have fluorescent, flashing lights when I log on. I'm not computer savvy enough to have blocked anything so I know there's a way to avoid distractingly annoying pop ups.

When you're invited into someone's house do you complain about their decor and angrily insist that they change it to make your stay more pleasant for you?

There is such a thing as personal responsibility. If you have a problem then it's YOUR problem. Fix it. Don't expect others to change for you. They're not the ones with the problem.

Don't mean to sound all pissy and it's nothing personal, it's just that all the complaining threads are just as distracting to topics of interest as flashing fluorescent ads would be.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
What's with the intense angst?

Not "intense angst", more like "frustrating obligatory distraction".

*****You Have Won****
*****Click Here Now*****

This place is maddeningly expensive to operated. Our traffic is enormous.

Yes, I DO understand that.

*****Congratulations****
*****Click Here Now*****

Our goals for are extensive.

Do you mean "for ATS", what's next?

*****1,000,000th Winner****
******Click Here Now******

At this point, there is no other way for us to pay the bills.

Wouldn't it be great not to have to deal with advertising.. You're just so good at it, maybe you can't imagine ATS supporting itself any other way? Or will there be a point where there IS another way to pay the bills?

I'll accept your blinking banners but you must accept that I'm not happy being forced to see them. My ad-blocking software is switched "off" for ATS/BTS to follow the T&C and I sometimes remind other members about this condition when they talk about blocking. EVERY other site is blocked.

I just wish there was another way....don't you? I guess I'm just sick to death of commercialism and grew an aversion to it after starting in the advertising business 30 years ago.

**You're A Lucky Winner**
*****Click Here Now*****

I don't believe ATS uses any malware though.

Not anxious...cheers ..nerb (thnx for the U2U btw)

*****Last Chance****
****Click Here Now*****

Originally posted by whitewave

I know there's a way to avoid distractingly annoying pop ups.

Not "popups" but "banners"...and "Adblocking" is not allowed on ATS/BTS

There is such a thing as personal responsibility. If you have a problem then it's YOUR problem. Fix it.

I/We are not permitted to "fix it". See my above post.

Don't mean to sound all pissy and it's nothing personal, it's just that all the complaining threads are just as distracting to topics of interest as flashing fluorescent ads would be.

Except you CHOSE to enter the complaining threads, can I CHOOSE not to see flashing banner ads?

Originally posted by nerbot
Do you mean "for ATS", what's next?

Yes. The ATS Press Corps effort is a glimpse in the right direction.

Wouldn't it be great not to have to deal with advertising.

No. While there are other ways to make money with content, right now, the best way to make content absolutely free for all, is through advertising.

However, this is not to say the advertising couldn't be better. As ATS continues to grow, and we're constantly working on that, the possibilities start to open up for higher-paying ads, which would mean fewer overall ads. We're close, but not yet there.

I'll accept your blinking banners but you must accept that I'm not happy being forced to see them.

Have you seen any ads on ATS/BTS today?

reply to post by Excitable_Boy


I will now refer you to this thread.......

www.abovetopsecret.com...


Situation resolved.....