Ads: a compromise.

[JacksonCougAr]

The ads being displayed on the forums are drastically affecting my browsing experience on this forum. I am a user of Google Chrome so direct ad-blocking is not available to me, nor is it desirable. I understand that ads pay for part of the server fee's and I wholly support the use of ads for that end. I also realize that people who do not like the ads, who have no interest in what they advertise, often choose to block the ads with third party-plugins for their browsers. However, I want to help support the site so that it can continue to function, so what I am proposing is that a mod be made to the phpbb3 install so that users may be 'flagged' and the ads are not loaded for them. In order to become "flagged" for this ads-removal I propose that the user should make a small donation to the website through paypal.

Simply put: I would be willing to donate $5-10 a month in order to not view the ads.

Thank you for taking your time to read this proposition.

[grimdoomer]

The ads being displayed on the forums are drastically affecting my browsing experience on this forum. I am a user of Google Chrome so direct ad-blocking is not available to me, nor is it desirable. I understand that ads pay for part of the server fee's and I wholly support the use of ads for that end. I also realize that people who do not like the ads, who have no interest in what they advertise, often choose to block the ads with third party-plugins for their browsers. However, I want to help support the site so that it can continue to function, so what I am proposing is that a mod be made to the phpbb3 install so that users may be 'flagged' and the ads are not loaded for them. In order to become "flagged" for this ads-removal I propose that the user should make a small donation to the website through paypal.

Simply put: I would be willing to donate $5-10 a month in order to not view the ads.

Thank you for taking your time to read this proposition.

As much as I like that idea, I shouldn't have to pay to not view adds when I'm not even going to click them if they are visible.

[WaeV]

It's not about the right to not have ads, it's about supporting HM. if you've paid $5-10, you've done your share.

[JacksonCougAr]

From a practical standpoint I disagree with you Grim. Ads are a necessary evil when you cannot afford to pay for server fees out of pocket. By browsing this forum without paying for it, without contributing financial aid you are not helping pay for the forum. But when ads are forced onto you so you must view them, and potentially click on ads that interest you you become a potential contributer to the financial standing of this site. I am simply suggesting that to avoid the inconvenience of ads, users could become dedicated financial contributers.

[RaVNzCRoFT]

It's a good idea in theory; however, I don't know how well it would work.

I think it's fair to compare this to software/music piracy:

It's morally sound to purchase software or music because the developer(s)/musician(s) receive the money that they rightfully deserve. On the other hand, so many people pirate software and music because...well, because they can. It's not the right thing to do, but they do it because it works.

Paying money to eliminate ads on HaloMods would be the right thing to do. However, I'm sure most of the users here take HaloMods' existence for granted. Understand that when I say "most of the users here," I don't mean most of the users who post and are well known. I mean every single person who accesses this site. Anyway: I'm sure most of them take the site for granted, don't fully respect the amount of money it takes to sustain such a large site, and would claim they don't need to pay because surely other people have paid. Using an ad-blocker is like piracy in this example. Sure, it gets rid of the ads. But getting rid of the ads and benefiting the forum you cherish in the process would be the better thing to do.

Am I making my point? I'm not sure if I explained it too well. Anyway, those are my thoughts.

[grimdoomer]

It's a good idea in theory; however, I don't know how well it would work.

I think it's fair to compare this to software/music piracy:

It's morally sound to purchase software or music because the developer(s)/musician(s) receive the money that they rightfully deserve. On the other hand, so many people pirate software and music because...well, because they can. It's not the right thing to do, but they do it because it works.

Paying money to eliminate ads on HaloMods would be the right thing to do. However, I'm sure most of the users here take HaloMods' existence for granted. Understand that when I say "most of the users here," I don't mean most of the users who post and are well known. I mean every single person who accesses this site. Anyway: I'm sure most of them take the site for granted, don't fully respect the amount of money it takes to sustain such a large site, and would claim they don't need to pay because surely other people have paid. Using an ad-blocker is like piracy in this example. Sure, it gets rid of the ads. But getting rid of the ads and benefiting the forum you cherish in the process would be the better thing to do.

Am I making my point? I'm not sure if I explained it too well. Anyway, those are my thoughts.

I get your point. But since not much has been done about the numerous complaints, I don't even feel like visiting the site period. I have noticed some changes start to take effect so we'll see what happens.

[Cuda]

The only problem with this, is one briefed before. Theres little if any people that can and will contribute financially to these boards. So if you make this a viable option, and nobody does this, no ads are eliminated because no one donated. This is going to a slow process here, people. SG is not Barrack Obama. There is no SG Girl. There is no big T-Shirt Hope campaign or misguided teens wheat pasting SG all over metropolitan areas. It's a slow process. Deal wid it.

[Geo]

Advertising/Revenue isn't something that I'm in control of, or can do anything about.

[Phil]

-_-
I know I've suggested this a lot, but make them for guests only. Honestly, I do it on my website and I have seen absolutely no difference in income from the ads.

[Eaton]

Or just get Adblock... I was unaware of the add issue until I turned it off. If you are bothered by the ads, get Adblock.

[RaVNzCRoFT]

Or just get Adblock... I was unaware of the add issue until I turned it off. If you are bothered by the ads, get Adblock.

That's not the point of this thread.

[JacksonCougAr]

Seriously if only two or three people donate money in the 5-10 dollar range a month because you took a day out of your time to create a mod and setup a Paypal account for the site, it would be worth doing. So I really do not get why you wouldn't just go with it? You could add other donation perks as well to entice others into donating to help the site.

[WaeV]

I've been coming here for five years. $5 would be a $1 a year subscription. I think i can manage that. Maybe even more! Set up a paypal account.

[DemonicSandwich]

I understand that ads are neccessary. I can live with the high resource-using flash ads. I can even live with the 1,200% increase in loading time. But popups?! What the hell, are you begging people to block the ads?

I loaded Halomods, disabled adblock so that I can open 2 or 3 ads to get some credits. I reloaded the page to show the ads and 12 seconds later, a popup appears then the page loads.

[DeadHamster]

Does Source really think that shoving ads in people's faces is going to make said people click them?

[JK-47]

I've been seeing a lot of people complaining. If you disagree with them so much, think of a constructive solution, rather than pointing out the obvious fact that they are annoying.
Yes, thank you, we all get it now.

Open up a Pay Pal account (I'm sure someone's suggested this already), maybe some people will donate. If they don't, then at least you tried it, it couldn't hurt. A few people-like Jackson-have already offered. I'm personally broke right now until I can get a job, but I might donate some money once I get some if the website is still having problems.

[Tural]

Obviously a site that has had minimal ads until now, suddenly getting three types of ads, all of them shoved in the users' faces, means people need to donate or shut up. It's clearly something the users had any choice about. That's fair and all. Good game dude.

Can I punch you in the face, then say you should have ducked or you need to stop complaining? Does that make it acceptable for me to have punched you in the face?
The answer is no, that's a horrible way to defend such an action.

[JK-47]

Can I punch you in the face, then say you should have ducked or you need to stop complaining? Does that make it acceptable for me to have punched you in the face?

If someone complains enough without providing a sensible suggestion, I think they should be punched in the face to be honest. What does it do for productivity to whine and not pitch in, it's not very hard to use your mind. I realize it may hurt for some people to do that, and if that's the case, then I truly feel for them.

Another suggestion that has been said a few times now is cut off some of the website's services. If you can't pay for all the hosting services this website has, then cut that off. No one's submitting mods anymore, no one's even really modding anymore (not on this website at least). And even if they do, what's stopping them from using File Front, or some other file hosting service? Plenty of websites do this rather than providing a hosting service, and they get by just fine. This way you could at least get rid of some of the ads, if not all of them. Generic hosting isn't that expensive.
Action should be taken on reducing the cost of this website. I would like to see something be tried before I donate anything.

[Tural]

If someone complains enough without providing a sensible suggestion, I think they should be punched in the face to be honest.

Did you even read what I said, or did you just see "punched" and "face" and start typing?
The ads, in that metaphor, are the punch in the face.
Users are complaining about them. They are the people being punched.
They're being told to stop complaining, even though the source of the problem is not their fault, and is being forced upon them and all they're getting is told is to shut up about it.

[JK-47]

If someone complains enough without providing a sensible suggestion, I think they should be punched in the face to be honest.

Did you even read what I said, or did you just see "punched" and "face" and start typing?
The ads, in that metaphor, are the punch in the face.
Users are complaining about them. They are the people being punched.
They're being told to stop complaining, even though the source of the problem is not their fault, and is being forced upon them and all they're getting is told is to shut up about it.

No, I understood what you said.
If they want to bitch, there's a rant thread. These threads are designed for people who have actual ideas, not "OOH BAAAW". If they really care enough about the ads, they'd use their minds and come up with a compromise to help get rid of them. All their complaining does is frustrate people, and that doesn't do anyone any good.
People in government (or every day scenarios, take your pick) approach an idea with a rebuttal rather than going "Ooh, but sir, we shouldn't have to stop spending that much money! It's just not fair!". The moment SG sees the ideas and refuses all of them is when I stop caring about whether people complain senselessly or not. Because the solution is very simple, just go to basic hosting if you can't afford all the hosting needs this website needs right now.