Advertising On Top of H-B Content

#1: Post by **Nunas** » April 2nd, 2021, 2:54 pm

Recently, pop-up advertising has been appearing on top of the H-B content. If I click on a thread, a white box appears containing the ad. This box has to be closed to proceed further, as it obliterates the content. While I understand the need for and support advertising on the site, I do not support this. Is anyone else experiencing this, or have I inadvertently changed a setting somewhere? I have not activated my adblocker app on this site, as we've been asked not to, but if this continues, then I will do so. Such intrusive advertising has suddenly become commonplace on many websites. Maybe it's just me, but I find this extremely intrusive form of advertising offensive.

#2: Post by **ira** » April 2nd, 2021, 2:57 pm

Well, I've never seen such a thing on any web sites, is it possible you installed something that's doing this?

Ira

#3: Post by **Nate42** » April 2nd, 2021, 3:00 pm

I got one of these today too. I run a pretty clean machine, don't think its anything on my end. Its not every time, only happened once.

#4: Post by **jbviau** » April 2nd, 2021, 3:02 pm

^^^ Same. Happened to me once on my iPhone (using Safari) earlier today, and then never again.

#5: Post by **Auctor** » April 2nd, 2021, 3:03 pm

Same. Happened on my iPad.

#6: Post by **Chert** » April 2nd, 2021, 3:06 pm

+1. Targeted it was, a publication not associated with coffee.

#7: Post by HB » April 2nd, 2021, 3:24 pm

Nunas wrote:If I click on a thread, a white box appears containing the ad. This box has to be closed to proceed further, as it obliterates the content.

What you describe sounds like Google's "auto ads" or a rogue advertiser. I tried them for a day, hated them, and they're [supposed to be] disabled. I just double-checked and they're off. If it happens again, please send a screenshot to me so I can look into it.

Nunas wrote:While I understand the need for and support advertising on the site, I do not support this.

Neither do I. It's a safe bet that if you find the ads annoying, you'll either ignore them or install an ad blocker. I control the sponsor ads directly, but Google decides how to display its ads with "hints" from the site owner. That said, if Google's ads don't behave despite my efforts, you can always change ads to "Sponsor only" in your user profile.

#8: Post by HB » April 2nd, 2021, 3:33 pm

Ah, nevermind, I found the cause... Google "helpfully" enabled vignette ads today as an optimization experiment. I agree, those are really annoying! They're now disabled.

#9: Post by **Spitz.me** » April 2nd, 2021, 3:36 pm

Thanks for being on top of this. They were really experience breaking - the forums basically started to feel like a mobile game that runs an ad for you to allow you to "play for free."