Forestry Forum Website

[cblewis]

Is it just me or are the "pop-up ads" on the site over the top?  Every time I go to a new page, another pop-up shows. 

Haven't been on the site in a while but it almost makes it unusable. Don't remember it being this bad. 

On a mobile device. Does that make a difference?

[thecfarm]

It's kinda like watching TV.
Without them you would not be here.
There would be no TV or FF.

[doc henderson]

most have been ok, but the past 2 days, I am getting "featured video" stuff at the top.  no audio but as I scroll down past, it pops up over the text of the thread and I have to hit the X, takes a few steps for each thread.  more intrusive than before, I agree.  past 2 days.  it says powered by primis.  I am on a laptop

[cblewis]

It's kinda like watching TV.
Without them you would not be here.
There would be no TV or FF.

I completely get that. We have a website and I understand the ad revenue but it looks like a setting has been changed to include more ads than in the past. It's just really annoying. Revenue generating but annoying. 

The "sponsors" should be getting a break in rates. Their banners are being covered by the pop-ups. 

[doc henderson]

It is mostly Bloomberg and European news one after the other, like the ads on a plane screen on the seat in front of you.  not really adds.  the sponsors links are still scrolling at the bottom.

[B.C.C. Lapp]

Doc I'm getting the same thing.   Never had that before, just started lately.  Its not like a standard ad. It moves to the right of my screen and plays itself.  I just keep xing it out.

[Jeff]

The changes were made by the ad company. I've put in a complaint.

Now for my complaint. I dont appreciate the sponsor comment one little bit.  The desertion of sponsors is what has forced this.

You dont want any ads? Ill set you up. 10 bucks a month, no ads. Sorry for my website causing yall such trauma.

[Oth]

It's 2024, if you're not using a browser with a popup blocker you're about 20 years behind.

[Magicman]

AdBlock, etc. defeats the purpose of Jeff attempting to keep the Forestry Forum "fee free" to the members. 

My AdBlock Plus is selective and I have it turned off on this site.

[fluidpowerpro]

I understand the reason for adds but I agree. Something has changed in the past few days and the number of pop ups has increased greatly. It really changes the feel of the experience. It doesn't have that down home, welcoming feel anymore.

[CCCLLC]

So much distraction to eye focus when  reading a post. Constant movement. 

[Jeff]

Do I need to quote myself? The ad company made a change. They do that. I have made a complaint to them. I think I know how to run this place and I can guarantee I am the first to be concerned when made aware something is up. It is the weekend. I suspect my complaint will not be addressed until Monday afternoon as the company is in Utah.

Now, go ahead and tell me some more how aggravating it is, I can take it. Can you?

[rusticretreater]

The ad company does this every now and then to get more "views" for a particular client.  They play a constant game with their site customers while trying to meet contractural agreements with their ad clients.

They don't have the clout of FB or google, so they have to force it upon you to get the views and revenue they need to give the revenue website customers want.  A vicious circle.

Or they could simply be knuckleheads who can't provide consistently good service, unlike an overworked, aggravated, harried and beset upon site owner we all know. 

[doc henderson]

It is a reflex now to just hit the X.  We will survive and glad we have no fee to pay as that would limit some from use of the site.  At first, I think we were not sure if it was a "my computer thing" or a site thing.  That has been established.  I think we should all know that the concern is in Jeffs hands and will be addressed.  thanks Jeff.

[Southside]

On most sites I do everything I can to block ads, close ads, etc - but here I know why they are here and how important they are, so I let it be.  It's not free to run this place and those big companies have changed the rules so the spandex sawyers and some who don't know which end of a saw cuts get the sponsors.  Unfortunately it's not about knowledge on the web too often these days, it's just numbers. 

Tell me another site, in any industry, where you can find world class knowledge, ask a question, and pretty much end up with a phone number to talk to whomever by just asking, all for nothing.  The ads are really not a big deal.

[melezefarmer]

(...)

You dont want any ads? Ill set you up. 10 bucks a month, no ads. Sorry for my website causing yall such trauma.

This is a pretty good idea actually. Many freemium sites and apps use this model. Don't want to pay, you get ads. Don't want ads, you can pay x$ per month.

[moodnacreek]

It's 2024, if you're not using a browser with a popup blocker you're about 20 years behind.

What is a browser?

[Dave Shepard]

Deer are browsers, cows are grazers.

[47sawdust]

I mostly use my laptop to view  the forum.No ads

Just curious why the  ads  show  up on the phone.

[21incher]

I got a message on my android tablet right after the full screen videos started that Java is trying to redirect something do you want  to disable it? I said yes and now no adds but all the notification and text features no longer work after it changed something. Seems like the add server got too intrusive for my system  monitor. My win 11 PC still is pounded with stupid video adds though I just x out.

[rusticretreater]

Vendors have gotten really creative in the way they get the ads in front of you. Almost to the level of folks who create viruses and trojans.  There is the conventional way which is you load a page and the code in the page pulls the ads down.  Once the connection is made it is then usually a push method where the ad servers keep pushing the ads downstream.

Then there is the more insidious way of storing the code in the website cookies that are downloaded.  This method caused a lot of furor and its now why you have those annoying cookies being downloaded warnings.  Those messages are actually a form of security.  Some websites will download multiple cookies and these things do all sorts of reporting.  Its another way of tracking your interests.  All this info is sold and the vendors then know what ads to throw up on the screen.  I routinely go through and delete the whole pile of them when my browser starts acting funky.

The last method is quite curious. Apparently, they can send some ad info along in video streams which then acts like one of the former methods once processed.  I may have some of this wrong, but its what my computer experience and observations are telling me.  

[21incher]

Yea, I was getting a lot of strange cookies I had to clear on the tablet.  I just went into  the Crome settings on my pc and found a switch to turn  off Java. No more pop-up videos or adds on any sites anymore.  From a search  I just did it seems to be a backdoor into your privacy that can be exploited.  Some  sites don't function properly now but I will use Vivaldi for them. It just started  getting  so annoying the last week everywhere.

[Andries]

Well, somethings changed this morning. The ad flow has increased in a big way. There are two or three ads floating across the screen at any given time. Some even disappear when I go to X them out, only to re-appear at the bottom of the screen.
I completely agree with Jeff's initiative to keep the cash flow going, to support the forum. And also with Southside's comment about the Spandex Sawyers luring away our sponsors to fluff sites, is at the heart of it. Welcome to business competition in the digital age.
Thank you Jeff for all you do. I also hope your complaint to the ad company in Utah makes a difference soon.
You're at the Project this weekend, you should have a great time - you deserve it.

[SawyerTed]

It is a catch 22 and I understand the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.  Without the ads the forum struggles to exist or ceases to do so.

With that said, the ads are interfering with the usability of the forum.  That's tragic because decreased usability will decrease use.

The ads are cookie driven.  I blocked all cookies on my iPad - NO ADS.  BUT, I can't log in to the forum without cookies enabled.  

That's too bad.

[beenthere]

Read reply #6 and #11. Jeff is on it,  

[Chuck White]

Something happened since yesterday, I haven't seen any pop-ups on the right side of my screen this morning!

Nice

[Texas Ranger]

still got some

[moodnacreek]

This is the reason I don't watch TV.

[Peter Drouin]

I don't have a TV

[Chuck White]

Shouldn't have said anything, they're back, only not quite as bad as they were yesterday!

[Don P]

I don't have a TV

And don't miss it. Every year or two we end up in a motel, turn on the tube "Yup, still nothing on"

[moodnacreek]

Looks like reading books may come back.

[chet]

We also spent da last couple of days in a motel waiting on Doc appointments. First time in a mighty long time I tried watchin' da tube. Yer right, a zillion channels of absolutely nuttin'.
Left it on da weather channel ta block out da highway noise, but 2 days of that got really old too. 

[Don P]

We had the dish on a pole in the front garden when her Mom was living with us so she could watch okra. We kept it for another year or so but there was a big boom one night and just the pole in the garden the next morning. 
At some point a nice lady called and tried to talk me into getting it hooked back up.
 Ma'm that pole is perfect for the rain gauge. 
"We'll hook it back up for free. What do you do for entertainment?" 
We have the rain gauge  .

[chet]

DanG it Don, now I gotta try ta get da beer out of my keyboard. 

[DennisK]

Left it on da weather channel ta block out da highway noise, but 2 days of that got really old too. 

Switch to Weather Nation, less drama.

[Southside]

We haven't had a TV for a long, long time. Long enough that when I was visiting my In laws we were watching The Final Countdown one night and my MIL went to bed before the movie was over.  Well I watched the whole thing, then tried to que up another movie - that was a complete failure so I decided to just shut the TV off - well I could not figure out how to do that so I took General Berringer's advice to just "unplug the DanG thing" - War Games for those who don't know the reference - and went to bed.  The next morning the entire family was gathered around the tube frantically pushing buttons and doing some high falootin tech moves when I meandered into the living room.  They all looked at me and said "It won't turn on, WHAT DID YOU DO?" So I explained how I stopped the current from coming into it as a way to make it turn off and was hastily ushered out of the way as the frantic youngins resumed watching whatever drivel that kept them quiet.  

[Jeff]

Hi Jeremy and Jeff,

Good afternoon! I wanted to let you know that our team did disable Mobile Video float. Let us know if you have any questions!

[Corley5]

Thank you Jeff  !!

[Stephen1]

Thanks Jeff, The floaters almost disappeared . I still have the odd one but easier to handle now. 

[Magicman]

I am seeing the normal adds between the boards but no pop-ups. 

[moodnacreek]

Always 3 pop ups here.

[TimW]

Thanks Jeff.

[Don P]

No change here 

[Andries]

ditto here, no change.

[beenthere]

Let's give Jeff a break for a bit here. Read his reply (pleading) #6 and #13 in this thread. Think he is trying to do some R&R at the Sawing party put on by Jake (customsawyer) at the moment. Our patience will help him take that break if we quit nipping at his heals. 

[Jim_Rogers]

is there an add blocker i can download and use to stop these pop up ads?

[Andries]

Some of the posts have shown the level of annoyance that people feel at these chaotic ads. 
None have been of the 'heel nipping' kind - they have been and are intended as useful feedback only.

Jeff has his hands full with website management most of the time. No one doubts that and I don't feel that anyone is chasing him to do more or better.
See my post number 22, it sums up much of the various posts so far.

Jim Rogers, please see MagicMan's earlier comment about him (MM) not turning on his ad blocker, because it denies Forum revenue stream.

[moodnacreek]

Getting worse for sure.

[maineshops]

Dont the add company realize the negative response from too many adds?  I Will never buy another dominos pizza again 😂

[TimW]

I'm not getting pop up ads now.  I don't know if this helps, but I run Firefox as my browser and only go to Edge or whatever Mircosoft has for a brower now, when what I am viewing on Firefox doesn't open the whole window.

[Jeff]

Ya'll are not getting anything I am not getting. I am sure my level of toleration for them is not much greater than anyone elses. I suggest you all find a way to tolerate what ever level the ads might currently be at any given time as Jeremy and I work through this.   And the heal nipping is accurate if you see it from my side.  You only see these posts.  Would you like me to share all the emails and texts here as well so you can get a better idea of what this is doing to my psyche?

When I get home Ill start work on a subscription system that will allow you to view the forum ad free if you so desire. Otherwise, welcome to today's internet. I kept ads away for as many years as I could, and I have NEVER asked anything of any of you to be here.

[Ianab]

Not trying to hassle you Jeff, as it's not your adverts, and as you say, it's Today's Internet. But the advertisers need to hear the negative feedback to know when they are pushing the line of people's tolerance. If not, "well lets launch a few more adverts $$", and you then have 3 popups. Plenty of sites have gone down that hole and are now more adverts than content.

It's a balancing game, and unfortunately you are in the crossfire 

[Jeff]

[woodroe]

Not seeing any pop ups here

[B.C.C. Lapp]

 Yeah woodroe that might help but its been explained to us that the  trouble with that is that the adblocker prevents the very thing the ads are here and necessary for. And of course that's revenue.     In a perfect world all would be free. But it ain't. Only alternative I've heard of is we all kick in to cover the tab.   One way or another gotta have cash flow to have the site.   

[woodroe]

So should I delete that post ?
edit: Link deleted

[B.C.C. Lapp]

Well, I don't think your post is a problem. Your just trying to help. Its just that that solution is counter productive in our situation.   There's always more than one way.   It will get worked out in time.

[moodnacreek]

" I never asked any of you to be here"  Well that says it all.

[Jeff]

This is what i said!

I have NEVER asked anything of any of you to be here

@moodnacreek you better learn to read

[Southside]

Ian - the ad company does not care at all about any of our opinions, so the griping is hitting Jeff and only Jeff.  Folks really have no idea how valuable this resource is.  There is one other forum sort of thing that I use and it's in the ag world for part of the specialized component of our farm business.  The information, comradery, interactions, aren't 10% of the value here - and many times I NEED that information, so it only reinforces how much is on the FF.  I could not have built my sawmill business like I did without the resources here, heck I even have a farming resource that I turn to on a regular basis that I met through the FF, and that component has turned into 5% of our monthly sales according the report in front of me.  So folks - just deal with it, we are adults, learn to ignore things that annoy you and appreciate what we have. 

[Peter Drouin]

[ Subscription ] If you want to do that Boss I'm 100% with you. Just add it to the web listing $$ billing you have for me.
Might be the best way to go. Will stop a lot of crying.

[Mooseherder]

Yup and nothing would make me happier than Jeff securing financial security for his family.  We just all as his friend help him get there, as he deserves. This is only the beginning. it's just going to take a little time.  Everybody chill.

[Percy]

I dont post here much anymore, but I do come everyday to read whats happening. Its an excellent data source for folks like us.  A while back,youtube began with ads. At first I didnt like it but decided I would work on my "mouse skills". I AM the Mouse Jedi.   I can X them fast, but Im learning that they(the ads) are getting to know me, and some of the ads have been actually quite useful. I assume that may happen here as well over time. Im good with it. Privacy concerns in this context dont worry me. I try to keep my computer tuned up as good as my LT70 with appropriate protection......oh I just thought of a bad joke

[LeeB]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong because I'm ignorant of how these ad things work. Does the entity putting the ads up get paid by the number of times the ad comes up? If the ad frequency or display method drives people away isn't that counterproductive? I guess they don't care as long as the get as much as they can while they can. Be clear , I'm not referring to Jeff when I say entity.

[TimW]

I would be glad to pay for being here.  When I click on something from the UK, the page is so overwhelmed  with ads, I can not see what I opened it to read and find another page where I can actually read the content. 

[Mooseherder]

The whole point to the ads was so it would not go that route.  Finding solutions is the task moving forward.  

[Nebraska]

I mostly use my phone and or tablet, in fact it's been years since I was on here on a pc. I don't have any issues with adds.  I just this resource to keep going. No issues with a subscription fee here if you need to Jeff. 

[Jeff]

Copy of post from another complaint topic.

I have not been on a desktop for 2 weeks, so I have not witnessed what the add company had done with changes there. I was on mobile in the u.p. and at Jakes projects.  I saw the mobile issue and it was mostly resolved.  This morning I see the desktop issue and for me it is intolerable.  I will make sure that is taken care of now too.  When you guys make remarks about ownership and stuff, you know who the f takes care of this forum .    Just say it, Jeff will do anything for a buck.  Those that really know me and that are my friends know that is bullchit.  I'm a simple man with simple needs and have never ever been driven by the money.  If not fopr the generosity of a member, allowing me to travel to Georgia this last weekend with him to meet with a gathering of Forum members, I would of had to sit home.

I'll figure it out, but I am getting real tired of the ridicule and comments coming from every direction. The next thing you may see is a sold sign. Then see what you get.


My email reply to the ad company this morning.

Thats great, and I appreciate it, but we have one more issue that is causing a mutiny on our site, and that is that relentless pop up video player on desktop that comes near the bottom,. off to the side and covers up content. Half the time you can not see the x on it to close it.  The video players that appear in the breaks of the content as you scroll are great, I love to se what might come up next, but when they cover partial areas of content and keep coming and coming, that is a real issue.   Please see what you can do.  Thankyou
Jeff

YUP Anything for a buck. Screw it.

[teakwood]

I will also be happy to pay for the site and hopefully the adds go away

[LeeB]

I hadn't noticed a whole lot of issues on my laptop. The ads were becoming overwhelming on my phone though.

[Jeff]

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for sharing! Let me see if we can remove video float from Desktop and I'll follow up with you.

[thecfarm]

I'm on a desk top, this computer is 3-4 years old. I do very little on this desktop. I view you tube, check the weather and spend hours on the FF. 

I don't get the ads others are getting. 
I know I never down loaded anything to block ads. 
I did get some ads on the side, but able to close them out.
The way the ads came to me, was when I viewed a topic, an ad would appear on the side. I would close that out and none would appear again until I would click onto another page and then the add would appear again on the side and I would close it out.
There are no pop up now.
No reason to come down on Jeff.
You don't like it, be nice or just leave.
I could say more, but won't at this time. 
Kinda like when I left my last job that I was not happy with. I just smiled and tried to work the 2 week notice. But I was asked to leave in a week. 
Good thing no one was in front of me as I almost ran out the door all smiles!!!!!!

[Ianab]

@Southside  I agree, once I get rid of the popup that was 1/2 covering your post. 


I'm not Trying to hassle Jeff, he's caught in the middle. The banner ads and autoplay videos that are embedded in the page as you scroll down are fine, they don't interfere with the functionality of the site and I don't even try and block that sort of stuff. But if there is no feedback the ad company is going to assume that what they are doing is fine, and they can increase the ad load a bit more. But at some point all they are actually doing is discouraging traffic on the site, and encouraging ad blockers. 

[Jeff]

Ian, that is the one that is pissing me off! They hopefully will remove it soon. It's probably a change in the custom javascript they use. 

[Larry]

I hate phones for web stuff so I'm usually on a laptop or PC. While at the project I used my phone for a hotspot to wifi to my laptop. Used way more data than normal and feel like it may have been video adds running on the side. One time they had a side popup video with another at the bottom. If your on a metered connection I would be cautious.

[tacks Y]

Jeff,

Thank you for all you do. I am still glad you and this site are here.

Tom

[tacks Y]

Jeff,

Thank you for all you do. I am still glad you and this site are here.

Tom

To show my thanks I sent a couple bucks by Paypal.  Please buy an ice cream cone to help you chill your way through this.

[melezefarmer]

You can prevent videos from auto playing in Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

For Edge (Taken from the Microsoft website):

How to turn off video autoplay in Microsoft Edge
Autoplay can be distracting and infuriating, but there is a way to disable it, or at least limit its ability to interrupt you.
If you choose to limit autoplay in Microsoft Edge, the embedded media will still automatically start playing, but you won't hear the audio until you select the tab and make it active. This can help limit the surprise factor, since sound will only be on the webpage you're actively viewing. Here's how to enable this option.

• In your Microsoft Edge browser, open the Settings and more menu by selecting the three dots in the top right.
• Choose Settings.
• In the menu on the left, choose Cookies and site permissions, then scroll down on the right and select Media autoplay.
• On the right, there's a drop-down arrow that gives you the options to Allow, Limit, or Block autoplay.
• Choose the option that works best for you.

[Jeff]

Thanks Tom much appreciated. 

[Jeff]

I hope the video float is taken care of expediently.  Everything is custom scripted, you do it, you see if it works, if it doesn't, it needs to be adjusted.  By the way, the video ads are far smaller in size than just one of those drag and drop photos people are sticking in just under the one meg limit. I think blaming those for using extra data use is not accurate.

[Jeff]

I am not seeing the video float on my pc this morning. You may want to consider deleting forum temp files if you do. If your cache does not pick up the new javascript when it is edited, you may not experience changes. That is a guess if you are still experiencing things that may have now changed for the better.

I'll be away from a desktop for a few days. I'm sure someone will let me know in some way what ever happens.

[doc henderson]

I get the video at the top, but it no longer populates over the thread when I try to read.  It is fine if it is there at the onset of looking at a thread, the pain was when it popped later and shifted everything down as I started to read.  nice work.

[Andries]

Well, something changed today, and for the better. 
Financial & market information video at the top of the page.
Lingerie and makeup ads at the bottom of the page.
. to sum up:  Bloomberg at the top and bloomers at the bottom.
Works for me.

[TroyC]

I'm on the desktop today and the sponsor ads are scrolling on the bottom but no pop-ups so far! Nice change!!!!

[Ianab]

I've occasional seen a different pop-up banner, but it's located at the bottom of the screen, and closes itself after a few seconds. Much less annoying as it doesn't actually interfere with the forum use. 

[Percy]

Well, something changed today, and for the better.
Financial & market information video at the top of the page.
Lingerie and makeup ads at the bottom of the page.
. to sum up:  Bloomberg at the top and bloomers at the bottom.
Works for me.

Im dyin here

[Stephen1]

I get a popup on the side of the screen, its long and does not interfere too much. Think are much better now. Thank you !