Forum ads as a post

[Shinplaster]

I'd just like to say that I hate the ads appearing as a post thing in journals, etc.  Being forced to look at ads in order to move on to the next page is annoying, and seems contrary to the MMM spirit. 

[ElleFiji]

I don't mind that ads exist. I assume that they pay for us to play. But the new format is weird and gross.

[Shinplaster]

I don't mind that ads exist. I assume that they pay for us to play. But the new format is weird and gross.

I didn't mind the ads running at the bottom of the page, below the quick reply box.  Running them in both places seems pushy.


ETA:  sometimes they run in both places, sometimes not.  But always as a post now at least.

[Orvell]

I don't mind that ads exist. I assume that they pay for us to play. But the new format is weird and gross.

I didn't mind the ads running at the bottom of the page, below the quick reply box.  Running them in both places seems pushy.


ETA:  sometimes they run in both places, sometimes not.  But always as a post now at least.

The things that bother me about the new ad locations are:
1) The ad is within the 'zone' of the posts/conversation, not below like it used to be (I understand ad content is how forums exist). It is trying to be part of the conversation in a way that is distracting.
2) There is the 'quote' button above it, as if someone would ever want to quote an ad and add it to the conversation. No one will want to quote an ad except by accident, let's be real.

Ads are a necessary form of paying for the forum. I think all of us notice when they encroach too much, though.

[maizefolk]

The things that bother me about the new ad locations are:
1) The ad is within the 'zone' of the posts/conversation, not below like it used to be (I understand ad content is how forums exist). It is trying to be part of the conversation in a way that is distracting.
2) There is the 'quote' button above it, as if someone would ever want to quote an ad and add it to the conversation. No one will want to quote an ad except by accident, let's be real.

Ads are a necessary form of paying for the forum. I think all of us notice when they encroach too much, though.

Agreed. I have the MMM forums whitelisted in uBlock because I do know it keeps the lights on and I really appreciate having this forum.

However, the new ads-as-the-last-post-in-every-thread ones which turned on today definitely are much more intrusive that the previous ads below the last post of each thread. Like shinplaster I am sometimes seeing both styles of ads and sometimes only the ones actually inserted as posts.

For reference, I tried turning my adblocker back on and it hides the banner, but you still see an empty "The Money Mustache Community" post as the most recent one in every thread.

[RetiredAt63]

It's an empty post on my desktop.  I am sure most of us here know about adblockers - after all, one of the ways to avoid spending money on "stuff" / tenets of mustachianism is to avoid ads.  Even empty, it messes up the flow of communication.

It has the quote button but is missing the report to moderator button, which was my first desired action.

[Shinplaster]

For the last few pages it's been an empty box for me too.  Maybe it's a bug, and not a feature?  I hope so.  I'm trying to avoid annoying websites - I'd hate for this to be added to my list.

[Kwill]

I'm glad you started this thread. I didn't realise this was a new thing. I thought the site had been hacked. It's just really weird.

[ender]

It looks really wonky on my laptop:



I'm hoping it looks better on mobile or something?

[oldladystache]

I sure don't like it.

[Indexer]

To quote MMM:
"In the long run, the biggest fundraiser for this blog will probably be the MMM Recommends Page and the Commission-paying Rewards Credit Cards list. I like that method, because those things are tucked out of the way, useful, and non-spammy."

Fake posts feel spammy.

source of quote: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/03/16/get-rich-with-blogging/

[neo von retorch]

It's gross. I don't mind that there are ads. I usually find them funny because they are for Corvettes and other ridiculous un-mustachian pursuits. But this looks like a post. Really decreases the quality of the vibe in the forums.

[Indexer]

I just saw a post from "The Money Mustache Community" encouraging me to buy Bitcoin...

[terran]

I just saw a post from "The Money Mustache Community" ...

 I came in here wondering what that was all about. I guess my ad blocker must be working, so I just see a blank post from "The Money Mustache Community" at the bottom of every thread.

[Sailor Sam]

I don't mind that ads exist. I assume that they pay for us to play. But the new format is weird and gross.

Agreed. The placement feels like a betrayal.

[Trifle]

Agreed.  I don't mind ads, but this format is bad . . .

[seattlecyclone]

Yep, not a fan. Especially as "The Money Mustache Community" is currently encouraging me to go to a Toyota dealership and buy a new car. Doesn't exactly seem on message...

[Dollar Slice]

Yep, not a fan. Especially as "The Money Mustache Community" is currently encouraging me to go to a Toyota dealership and buy a new car. Doesn't exactly seem on message...

The Money Mustache Community thinks I should buy tickets to a $100+ Broadway show! Great advice, thanks guys.

[Tass]

For reference, I tried turning my adblocker back on and it hides the banner, but you still see an empty "The Money Mustache Community" post as the most recent one in every thread.

Is that what that is? I've been confused all day.

Perhaps we should have a thread specifically for mocking the ads that appear on it.

[HappierAtHome]

Yep, not a fan. Especially as "The Money Mustache Community" is currently encouraging me to go to a Toyota dealership and buy a new car. Doesn't exactly seem on message...

The Money Mustache Community thinks I should buy tickets to a $100+ Broadway show! Great advice, thanks guys.

It's telling me to retire to Portugal in 2018, which actually seems like a cool idea!

[sol]

I had to turn off my add blocker to see what all the fuss is about.  The ad on this page?  An all-inclusive LUXURY resort vacation!  How fabulous!  I'd better rush right out and buy a membership!

Blah.  You might as well advertise Oreos on a fitness website, or steaks on a vegan website.  WTF, MMM?  Please tell me this is an early April fool's joke gone awry.

[seattlecyclone]

Here, have a userscript:

Code: [Select]

// ==UserScript==
// @name         "Money Mustache Community"
// @namespace    http://seattlecyclone.com/
// @version      0.1
// @description  Hide the annoying ads
// @author       seattlecyclone
// @match        https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/*
// @grant        none
// ==/UserScript==

(function() {
    'use strict';
    var targNode = document.querySelector ("div[id=forumposts] > form > div:nth-last-child(2)");
    if(targNode.innerHTML.indexOf("The Money Mustache Community") !== -1) {
        targNode.style.display = "none";
    }
})();

[sol]

Here, have a userscript:

I don't know what a userscript is, or what to do with it.

[seattlecyclone]

Here, have a userscript:

I don't know what a userscript is, or what to do with it.

Install Tampermonkey in your browser and then paste the script in it.

[HPstache]

I guess Pete needs some extra money.  Ha!

[neo von retorch]

Here, have a userscript:

I don't know what a userscript is, or what to do with it.

Install Tampermonkey in your browser and then paste the script in it.

You have to use the Tampermonkey app as your browser app?

[Joel]

For someone who doesn’t need money, I don’t understand why these ads are necessary.

[Dollar Slice]

You have to use the Tampermonkey app as your browser app?

It's a plug-in for your existing browser, assuming you use a fairly mainstream browser. (Firefox, Chrome, etc.)

[nnls]

Yep, not a fan. Especially as "The Money Mustache Community" is currently encouraging me to go to a Toyota dealership and buy a new car. Doesn't exactly seem on message...

The Money Mustache Community thinks I should buy tickets to a $100+ Broadway show! Great advice, thanks guys.

It's telling me to retire to Portugal in 2018, which actually seems like a cool idea!

@HappierAtHome  I am heading to Portugal Thursday, will scope it out for you

[HappierAtHome]

Yep, not a fan. Especially as "The Money Mustache Community" is currently encouraging me to go to a Toyota dealership and buy a new car. Doesn't exactly seem on message...

The Money Mustache Community thinks I should buy tickets to a $100+ Broadway show! Great advice, thanks guys.

It's telling me to retire to Portugal in 2018, which actually seems like a cool idea!

@HappierAtHome  I am heading to Portugal Thursday, will scope it out for you

Can't wait to hear your report!

[sol]

I guess Pete needs some extra money.  Ha!

I'm not at all convinced Pete even still owns the blog.  What we're seeing now is exactly the kind of thing you expect to see when a blogger sells.

[I'm a red panda]

I guess Pete needs some extra money.  Ha!

I'm not at all convinced Pete even still owns the blog.  What we're seeing now is exactly the kind of thing you expect to see when a blogger sells.

Agree. These ads are so contrary to his views. It seems like he'd be upset they were running under his "name" if he still owned.

[neo von retorch]

You have to use the Tampermonkey app as your browser app?

It's a plug-in for your existing browser, assuming you use a fairly mainstream browser. (Firefox, Chrome, etc.)

I'm a computer whiz but so far I have not been able to figure out how to get the script to function on Android. I installed Tampermonkey, installed the user script and enabled it, but there's no change to behavior in Chrome on Android.

[ShoulderThingThatGoesUp]

I really don’t see a reason to get worked up over this.

[CowboyAndIndian]

I'm a computer whiz but so far I have not been able to figure out how to get the script to function on Android. I installed Tampermonkey, installed the user script and enabled it, but there's no change to behavior in Chrome on Android.

This works great on a Chromebook.

These are javascript need the cache to be reloaded in the browser before they work.

To reload the cache:
Internet Explorer : Ctrl-F5 on windows will reload the cache on IE.
Chrome: Turn on developer tools (Settings -> More tools -> Developer Tools) and then press and keep holding Ctrl-Reload. You will see an "Empty cache and hard reload". Click on that.

[Thegoblinchief]

They’re annoying but not particularly worked up by it. That said, I’d happily pay a small amount per month to get an ad free site, rather than get it via an adblocker route. I can’t imagine the revenue is very large from these syndicated ad network placements.

[Linea_Norway]

Here, have a userscript:

Code: [Select]

// ==UserScript==
// @name         "Money Mustache Community"
// @namespace    http://seattlecyclone.com/
// @version      0.1
// @description  Hide the annoying ads
// @author       seattlecyclone
// @match        https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/*
// @grant        none
// ==/UserScript==

(function() {
    'use strict';
    var targNode = document.querySelector ("div[id=forumposts] > form > div:nth-last-child(2)");
    if(targNode.innerHTML.indexOf("The Money Mustache Community") !== -1) {
        targNode.style.display = "none";
    }
})();

Thanks, this works on my Chrome browser.

[aetherie]

Here, have a userscript:

Code: [Select]

// ==UserScript==
// @name         "Money Mustache Community"
// @namespace    http://seattlecyclone.com/
// @version      0.1
// @description  Hide the annoying ads
// @author       seattlecyclone
// @match        https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/*
// @grant        none
// ==/UserScript==

(function() {
    'use strict';
    var targNode = document.querySelector ("div[id=forumposts] > form > div:nth-last-child(2)");
    if(targNode.innerHTML.indexOf("The Money Mustache Community") !== -1) {
        targNode.style.display = "none";
    }
})();

+1000 Internet Points to you, friend

[turketron]

Any word from a moderator about this? It's possible there was an update or something pushed out inadvertently? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[GuitarStv]

Ugh.  These ad posts suck.

[NoStacheOhio]

Agree with the general sentiment above. Display/banner ads are expected and don't bother me. Making ads look like posts is unexpected and does bother me.

[FrugalToque]

I'm looking into it, yes.

I'll let you know when I find out what happened.

Toque.

[sol]

I’d happily pay a small amount per month to get an ad free site, rather than get it via an adblocker route.

MMM reports this site makes something like $400,000 per year.  And that he's retired and doesn't need the money.  I'm pretty sure those profits could float the forum year to year.

[Kyle B]

Ghostery (free) also blocks the ads. (Block the Google Adsense tracker.)

[NoStacheOhio]

So my current ad is for Audible and includes cover art for the book "Thong on Fire."

I can't even.

[seattlecyclone]

Agree with the general sentiment above. Display/banner ads are expected and don't bother me. Making ads look like posts is unexpected and does bother me.

Yep, I agree. I don't even use an ad blocker normally. The ads that have always appeared on the bottom of the page are relatively unobtrusive and I don't mind them. But when they masquerade as an actual forum post that crosses a line and I will happily take action to suppress them.

[CowboyAndIndian]

This has been fixed. Looks like the admin (FrugalToque) contacted MMM and got it fixed.

If you would like details
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/forum-information-faqs/messages-from-the-community/msg1938720/#msg1938720

Thanks MMM

[GuitarStv]

Thanks!