If You're Blocking Ads While On ATS, You Get A Big Ugly Message

a reply to: Kryties

Are you SO?

a reply to: JackReyes

I realise that we are on a conspiracy site and that people here are naturally suspicious, but too much of it can be bad for you.

No I am not S.O. - although I am sure he's chuckling as I am at the suggestion lol.

originally posted by: Kryties
a reply to: JackReyes

I realise that we are on a conspiracy site and that people here are naturally suspicious, but too much of it can be bad for you.

No I am not S.O. - although I am sure he's chuckling as I am at the suggestion lol.

Yeah ok. You're right. I was looking through some of your posts and you same to say mate a lot. Perhaps you're from down under? Anyway sorry about that.

a reply to: JackReyes

I'm Aussie yeah.

If you look under my avatar at the Location bit its written upside down.

a reply to: Kryties

Cool. I bet if I heard you talk I'd like it. I always like Australian accents. And I did see your Australia written backwards (eta after you showed me where to look of course).

Anyway you seem to understand this computer code, and the viruses really good. Perhaps you have some good insight for them? I am sure you do, I think you must know you do. I hope you help them out where you can, and they realize you can.

a reply to: JackReyes

I am partway through a Uni course in Web Design so I have more of a clue than many people on this website but I admit I am a novice compared to S.O.'s skills and knowledge.

I do know enough however to say that it is highly unlikely that people are getting viruses from ATS. I have been on this website since 2008 and have never had an issue.

And yes, we have an awesome accent

originally posted by: Kryties
a reply to: JackReyes

I am partway through a Uni course in Web Design so I have more of a clue than many people on this website but I admit I am a novice compared to S.O.'s skills and knowledge.

I do know enough however to say that it is highly unlikely that people are getting viruses from ATS. I have been on this website since 2008 and have never had an issue.

Ok, that's cool, and good enough for me. Way more clue than me. Thanks for the insight.

Well, i've whitelisted ATS. And for the record, if i win my millions tonight or the next i would graciously give a million to those who run ATS in order to keep it running.

a reply to: JackReyes

No worries at all mate

Glad I could be of assistance!

Seemingly, the bigger problem is bots 70% of traffic is bots?
Meaning the remaining 30% is actual humans browsing the site, out of which X% uses adblock.

I'm not overly technical, but wouldn't having to CAPTCHA to make a page load be a reasonable work round? "Prove you're human" - I don't know if CAPTCHA generates revenue or what its "greater goal" is. Surely this would diminish server load by scuppering bot-traffic?

Stray observations:
* Does ATS need to host images/video, there are plenty of secondary sites that do this?
* There are forums I'm much more attached to that have far more basic aesthetics, it's content that brings me back, not a pretty layout - a decent legible fon't and the ability to quote is enough. The quotation/image/youtube linking system is just overly fiddly and unnecessary - people that make a mess of these things can have mod guidance and they'll get it right sooner or later.
* I'm surprised that ad revenue is even still a thing in this day and age. I assume all web-advertising to be scammy/spammy and ignore it accordingly, I use adblock because *previously mentioned. I frankly don't believe there are enough people stupid enough to sign-up or buy whatever crap is being hawked.
* The internet is still very new territory, remember the .com boom/bust? Adapt to survive.
* From a consumer pov adblock makes the experience better for free - I use the term adblock in general, there are open-source donation only ad blockers out there.

As to adblock, sorry, keeping it - if I lose privileges or even the ability to browse here, then so be it.

My defence of adblock:
Less adverts make my days better.
I refuse to be a mindless consumer, passively sucking up advertising.
Security concerns.
My bandwidth/speed.
(For clarity, my parents fired me out in England, so I guess I'm british because of what my parents did, because some people seem to care where you're from.)
Anyway, is this something along the lines of corporations having "human rights" in the USA? It sounded terribly Orwellian, you can't turn the tv off, it's always watching you...

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO OUR PRODUCT SPACE IN YOUR BRAIN?

I'm somewhat surprised to see anyone encouraging the viewing of adverts here, Left/Right/gay/straight/black/white/whatever, I thought there were some things we'd all agree on.

Essentially though, no one has the right to sell to me, if that means I'm not welcome at some establishments just to browse, then I'm fine with that.

a reply to: Kryties

The amount of content, members, visitors and therefore pageviews increased dramatically?

Except that in reality the amount of content (provided by users) visitors (=users) and pageviews (generated by users) has been steadily decreasing over time (www.alexa.com...).
If it was rising then add revenue would go up and asking people to stop using an ad blocker would't be necessary: it's called logic, you should use it sometimes.

Without that ad revenue this site wouldn't exist for you to come and act entitled on.

Except, it did so for more then 10 years... so you point is idiotic at best, and refuted instantly...

Ok, Einstein: Did ATS start as a discussion forum for conspiracies or as an advertising platform??? Shees you'dd think anyone would realise it was the first option...It's really not that hard to figure out if you think about it for ONE minute.

ATS is a conspiracy discussion forum, it should never be a business model.

If the owner of this site (filled with user provided content) calls me an extortionist for simply using and add-blocker then IMHO that's bordering on insanity...it's totally unacceptable and it will only backfire. It's an issue of principle.

It 's also really funny that you lack the intelligence to see the greed & entitlement of the site owners who profit from adds that only get views because of user created threads.

originally posted by: XyZeR
a reply to: Kryties

The amount of content, members, visitors and therefore pageviews increased dramatically?

Except that in reality the amount of content (provided by users) visitors (=users) and pageviews (generated by users) has been steadily decreasing over time (www.alexa.com...).
If it was rising then add revenue would go up and asking people to stop using an ad blocker would't be necessary: it's called logic, you should use it sometimes.

Are you seriously suggesting that in 2005 this website had more members, visitors, content and pageviews that it does now?

Wow....just wow.

You seem to be missing the point that more people including a large number of new visitors and members are using adblockers and ATS can no longer keep up with it. These members yourself included seem to think you have a god-given right to use this website and that S.O. pays for it without you having to contribute anything. What a joke you are.

Except, it did so for more then 10 years... so you point is idiotic at best, and refuted instantly...

Simple maths appears to be a problem for you.

Ok, Einstein: Did ATS start as a discussion forum for conspiracies or as an advertising platform??? Shees you'dd think anyone would realise it was the first option...It's really not that hard to figure out if you think about it for ONE minute.

ATS is a conspiracy discussion forum, it should never be a business model.

Again expecting S.O. to pay for ATS out of his own pocket. What a joke you are. You entitled, ignorant, selfish fool.

If the owner of this site (filled with user provided content) calls me an extortionist for simply using and add-blocker then IMHO that's bordering on insanity...it's totally unacceptable and it will only backfire. It's an issue of principle.

It 's also really funny that you lack the intelligence to see the greed & entitlement of the site owners who profit from adds that only get views because of user created threads.

Get a clue on how the internet works before you make even more of an ass of yourself.

Pathetic.

a reply to: Kryties

I'm going to gloss over all the petty personal attacks you make and ask once again because it sure seems you have trouble answering a simple question :

did ATS start out as a discussion forum or as an advertising platform?

A simple answer would be nice.

And some internet etiquette lessons and decorum would suit you as well kiddie.

I have the right to use and add blocker any time I see fit, I can even block scripts, use ghostery , heck i could even alter a CSS as I see fit, so i see what i Want to .. no matter how much you bitch and rant about it like a small child will change that , period.

But keep on telling me i have to get a clue about how the internet works ,Ii've only been using it professionally since 1996...stay in school kid, apparently you've got lots to learn.

originally posted by: XyZeR
a reply to: Kryties

did ATS start out as a discussion forum or as an advertising platform?

It started out as a discussion forum funded by advertising and has remained that way for its entire existence. Without that advertising there would be no ATS.

What part of that is so difficult to understand?

And some internet etiquette lessons and decorum would suit you as well kiddie.

Keep calling me "kiddie" and you are in danger of looking hypocritical. Woops too late.

I have the right to use and add blocker any time I see fit, I can even block scripts, use ghostery , heck i could even alter a CSS as I see fit, so i see what i Want to .. no matter how much you bitch and rant about it like a small child will change that , period.

But keep on telling me i have to get a clue about how the internet works ,Ii've only been using it professionally since 1996...stay in school kid, apparently you've got lots to learn.

Ive studied Web Design at Uni and have been using computers since I got a Commodore 64. By all means though keep up with the hypocritical insults and ignore the fact that ATS would not exist without the advertising revenue you want to block from them because you feel as if you have a god-given right to use ATS and be damned who pays for it.

I highly doubt your claims of "using it professionally since 1996" by the way - judging by your severe lack of anything resembling knowledge of the subject.

originally posted by: jokei...The quotation/image/youtube linking system is just overly fiddly and unnecessary...

This is very true, ATS does have one of the worst toolsets for posting that I've ever seen and is a complete turn-off for complex posts. I have no idea how some people have the patience to make the really long, image- and detail-rich posts that make the site worth visiting in the first place.

I make it a challenge to make the required ADs not-so-much-a-Pain ...

for instance I am presently getting ADs which focus on presenting me with graphic images of all types of Fancy Canes and Walking Sticks...

when I tire of those ADs, after seeing then in my peripheral vision for the million-eth time I will go searching for something else... going to 3 different sources to seek out the product so that the AD providers are pretty well forced to put all sorts of canes with unique handles in front of my face...


in the past I had all sorts of scaffolding ADs or Wal-Mart ADs...

just change the theme as YOU are the Author of those in-your-face-ADs

adapt... or suffer a gruesome life

originally posted by: XyZeR
a reply to: Kryties

I have the right to use and add blocker any time I see fit, I can even block scripts, use ghostery , heck i could even alter a CSS as I see fit, so i see what i Want to .. no matter how much you bitch and rant about it like a small child will change that , period.

But keep on telling me i have to get a clue about how the internet works ,Ii've only been using it professionally since 1996...stay in school kid, apparently you've got lots to learn.

Lol since 1996 and you still need adblockers to have control over your network? That is funny

a reply to: Kryties


Actually not true - there were no ads on ATS back in the day and members were told there never would be.
Members were also told they would never be asked for any money period.
And they were told in absolutely no uncertain terms that ATS would never, ever charge a subscription for the site.

a reply to: stargatetravels

Must have been before my time. Speaking of time - you do realise that times change don't you? I would almost guarantee that when they said that they had no idea how big ATS would become - or how expensive it would be as a result.

People these days just feel entitled to be able to use ATS and not care about how its paid for as long as they have a forum in which to have their whinge in.

I have to wonder what the whingers would say if ATS was shut down? Would they get on GLP and whinge about not having their free ATS - then turn it into some conspiracy that doesn't put the blame squarely on them for not contributing to the upkeep of ATS by doing a simple thing like turning off adblocks?

My god some people are selfish.