Author Topic: What has happened to GB's!!!!! (Read 1764 times)

MSP Ret · « **on:** February 02, 2008, 01:38:03 AM »

What the heck, I just saw this on the front forum page of GB's. It is in the "Ad's by Google" section, this is a shame on this site...

"Meet Gay Hikers
View Photo Profiles. Local Singles into Hiking. Join Now for Free."

I always felt this place was decent and old fashioned Americana with the values we all all grew up with and could be proud of. Hopefully this is an anomaly that snuck in and will be corrected....<><....

Brett · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:29:23 AM »

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:28:07 AM »

Calm down Andy. When GB and Matt become aware of it I am sure it will be removed. If you remember we even had adds for Hickory Canton here until they found out about it. Dale

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:35:35 AM »

I haven't seen it but the only way we can have Google remove an ad is if we know the URL it goes to. If you'll provide that to me or Matt in a PM we can make it go away. Google is a bit of a pain in that regard as they don't seem as concerned as I'd like about matching their ads to the site contents. Still last year they provided over half of the total income to the site so are too valuable to dump as much as we'd like to do so.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2008, 05:37:52 AM »

I understand GB, I will be willing to forward you the URL (?) if you tell me how to get it. I do not however want to somehow click on the link and get on their perverted alternative life style mailing list. I am sure you can understand that, I know that you do not appreciate "forwards" (FW:) or SPAM yourself. Now imagine if they were coming from a gay lifestyle or group that promotes meeting others n gay hiking and camping trips in the woods!!!!!....<><....

P.S. - G.B., thanks again for the fine site and for all you put into it. If this is what we have to suffer to keep the site open I say so be it, the site and it's members are bigger than any pop up ad....<><....

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2008, 12:03:25 PM »

Some times you can just mouse over and see the URL and other times you can right click and look at the properties to get it. Some times there really is no option that clicking it.

Clicking a link on the internet does not give them your e-mail address or any other access to your computer as a general rule. Now if you have no virus protection and no other malware protection it might but if you are running such programs they should not be able to get any access to your computer just by clicking a link.

Sadly with Google there is no human you can call and speak with and they really don't even respond well to e-mail. There is a procedure Matt can use to block any given URL from being displayed but we do have to know the URL.

They sell keywords thru their adsense program and if the words someone buys are used on a page then their ads show up if they have outbid others for it. So when the words like g@y and ho mo and such appear on a page then it is entirely possible you'll see ads catering to what they perceive as your interests based on the words that show. To prevent that here you can see how I altered the words. But Google only knows what the computer reads and if the key words that make the computer think the audience wants those shows on the page then the ads are entirely likely to follow. Sadly that's the way it works and we really can't prevent it.

That's one reason I like the new outfit we're dealing with now. I can call them up and tell them I don't want a certain genre of ads not just a URL shown and they have already been made aware no such can show here and they also don't accept ads from such. Google will soon be moved to the bottom of the page and really there is little reason you'll need to see them there unless you scroll down to look. This new company we're dealing with will take the spots where Google now appears.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2008, 12:27:53 PM »

I have to agree that Google is very unresponsive. I guess they spend all their time at the bank. I have tried on numerous occasions to contact them regarding my Google Earth Plus account and there has been zero response. Hopefully if big blue buys out Yahoo, we will see Yahoo or Big Blue planet.

NONYA · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:11:54 PM »

I have seen pro hillary adds there a few times...sad

muskeg13 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2008, 06:34:18 PM »

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/iclk?sa=l&ai=BEHjkEfKnR-2pDJy64AHO_vnDCOLBwj3esefYBcCNtwHAqQcQARgBIPqTogU4AFCW3deB-v____8BYMnmp4a0o6AXoAGQ9uj-A6oBCjA0NTYyNzI2MzWyAQ53d3cuZ28yZ2JvLmNvbboBCTcyOHg5MF9hc8gBA9oBO2h0dHA6Ly93d3cuZ28yZ2JvLmNvbS9mb3J1bXMvaW5kZXgucGhwL3RvcGljLDEzNjczMS4zMC5odG1sgAIBqQK7m4dRIIzAPqgDAcgDBegDjgPoA7AF6AMO6AM26APxBvUDAAECAPUDACACAA&num=1&adurl=http://us.singlemuslim.com/gallery.php%3FGender%3D2%26b%3Dus&client=ca-pub-5572682585717434&nm=3

Here's one for you, an ad for "Single Muslims.com" It came up on the "Obama President of the US"/Round the Ole Pot-bellied stove thread a few minutes ago. I don't see how the #1 marriage site for US Muslims fits in on a shooting site. Maybe Google is trying to poke a stick in our eye?

NONYA · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2008, 02:35:07 AM »

Seems like it,the almighty dollar at work,I guess even terrorists need love too.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2008, 03:58:39 AM »

I don't know about you guys but I look at those Mussies as being unamerican. Dale

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2008, 05:41:09 AM »

Google Adsense is the program we are on with Google. Folks who wish to advertise on the internet recognize that Google is the single largest source of ads out there. They bid hourly for key words and the highest bidders get highest priority for their ad being shown on a site displaying Google ads when those key words show up on a page.

So if you keep using words like muslim, obama, hilliary, gays and lesbians then ads that folks have bought using those key words will keep popping up. We can stop any given URL from being displayed but must do it one at a time and it takes approximately 24 hours from the time we submit a URL until it can no longer display here. Again the words you chose to use in your posts determine what shows up on the google ads. If you use the words they buy then they think it is relevant to the site. You make it relavent by using the words they buy. It is just not possible for us to sit and watch and remove one by one every possible ad you might prefer not be here. I'd have to hire someone to see and watch them all day and night and do that and can't afford such.

When you talk about politican things ads for any and all politicians are likely to show up. When you talk about any subject ads about that subject are gonna show up. Your words drive the ads.

Yes this site is about making money. Without a steady income from advertisers the site would not exist. You have no clue the number of hours Matt and I and the Moderators pour into it daily and while the Moderators do it for free because they enjoy the site Matt and I do expect some money for our efforts and to pay the high cost of keeping the site up and running.

The Google ads are now at the bottom of the page so unless you scroll down to see them you'll never know what they show. If you don't wanna see them then don't look.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2008, 08:05:56 AM »

Bill, thank-you for spelling it out for us. When the Google Ads appeared on the subject I was looking at my first thought was George Orwell 1984 was in play. But rather then ignore the AD at times I would select an AD of interest and check it out even if I had a link to the same location in my favorites. My reasoning is somewhere there is one or more counters in the system measuring how many hits come from Graybeards Outdoors. In turn those hits provide income for Graybeards Outdoors, and Google. Any issue I have with Google is minor when it comes to the big picture.

If my tracking and counting conclusion is correct I encourage others to link to sites of interest via Graybeards Outdoors to keep the count up and support the site. The goal is to keep the site in business.

Having tracked the computer and Internet news and industry for many years I compare it to the boom and bust of Western mining camps. A very few will make it big, a few will ended up with long term money, some who make it big will be in the poor house in a few years. Then there are those who put their shoulder into the opportunity, level out the peaks and ridges, and contribute to society in the long run. Many of those who made money out of the gold rushes did not turn a shovel full of dirt but filled a niche. There was a guy in San Francisco who made work pants by the name of Levi. Many of those in the supply business did far better then the miners. Levi lasted longer then 99 % of the miner because he found a niche.

I think you found your niche in the Internet rush.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2008, 08:31:21 AM »

glad ya'll make a profit ! YOU SHOULD !
now if we talk about Dallas will cheerleaders start showing up ?

NONYA · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2008, 09:16:30 AM »

Mule deer,elk,montana,antelope,walleye,photography,ducks,geese,Rebbeca Romain

Maybe that will improve the adds!

Graybeard · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2008, 12:24:38 PM »

Those might make a difference guys they just might. But remember someone out there in cyberspace has to first pay Google for that key word. If someone out there is paying for those words you chose then in time their ads will show here.

The mystery of how Google pays us is way over our heads. Yes it is some combination of how many ads are displayed and how many clicks they get but I think they count each person only once per day per ad for views and likely clicks as well. They go by IP address which makes it even tougher on site owners as thousands of AOL users have the same IP address on any given day but for each of those IP addresses Google counts them only once per day per site. Way too complicated for my poor brain to comprehend. Suffice to say I do know how to cash the monthly check from them.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2008, 08:12:10 AM »

Quote from: MSP Ret on February 02, 2008, 01:38:03 AM

What the heck, I just saw this on the front forum page of GB's. It is in the "Ad's by Google" section, this is a shame on this site...

"Meet Gay Hikers
View Photo Profiles. Local Singles into Hiking. Join Now for Free.

Oh sthop it MSP, you big thilly!!

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2008, 11:29:49 AM »

Since we moved Google to the bottom and folks are not seeing the ads they are not clicking them also. Income is down to less than half what it was when they were up at the top. Not a good thing.

NONYA · « **Reply #18 on:** February 06, 2008, 09:44:55 PM »

I look at them,lately they have been for things I have absolutely no interest in,things i doubt very few people here do,thats probably why theres fewer clicks.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2008, 02:32:08 AM »

I say we should all click a couple adds a day if it helps the site. Dale

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2008, 02:43:05 AM »

wish i had thought of that !
look out GB the money will roll !

PartsMan · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2008, 04:21:07 AM »

I usually get a chuckle when I see some obviously out of place ad on the site.
They are wasting there money paying for that ad.

Just think if Hillary new she helped fund a site for back woods hunters and gun owners.

So if we don't click on and ad the site doesn't get payed?

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2008, 04:30:01 AM »

Quote from: PartsMan on February 07, 2008, 04:21:07 AM

I usually get a chuckle when I see some obviously out of place ad on the site.
They are wasting there money paying for that ad.

Just think if Hillary new she helped fund a site for back woods hunters and gun owners.

So if we don't click on and ad the site doesn't get payed?

I am sure GBO still receives money from Google weather we click or not but they probably receive more money if we click adds. Dale

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2008, 04:34:10 AM »

I would also go back and modify your back posts on this thread. Like maybe miss spell the offending key words so we don't trigger unwanted adds. I changed my post to Mussies. Dale

Graybeard · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2008, 09:08:36 AM »

Correct Google pays for views but pays at a FAR higher rate for clicks and if clicks are too low then they don't even pay for views so it takes both clicks and views to pay off.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #25 on:** February 07, 2008, 09:34:22 AM »

Well I have done my part today. I made it a point to view a couple ads. Dale

mjbgalt · « **Reply #26 on:** February 07, 2008, 09:42:27 AM »

me too.

-Matt

JBMauser · « **Reply #27 on:** February 07, 2008, 10:09:20 AM »

Well, I might as well put my .02 in as well. Nothing to be done about it but I am still on dial up no options. All that advertising overhead takes so much time I can't bear it. I used to hang here a lot, now not so much. Do the ads have to load for each screen? Like I said, nothing to be done, progress.... but it leaves me out. JB

Graybeard · « **Reply #28 on:** February 07, 2008, 10:18:08 AM »

Most all dial up providers offer a web accelerator option either free or at a small added cost. It either only partially loads banners or loads them at a greatly reduced clarity to lower the load. Some offer an option to not load banners at all. Bellsouth did that back when I had an account with them.

Using such should make a drastic difference in your load time if you are stuck with dial up or just plain don't wanna spend the money for a high speed connection.

JBMauser · « **Reply #29 on:** February 08, 2008, 07:23:42 AM »

I'd love to pay and get high speed again. It is hard to go backwards. I did load up the accelarator and set if for the poorest graphics quality and it made a maked difference. Thanks. jB