Poll: These Obnoxious Half-Screen ads

[Susan Arendt]

While I'm probably late to this (what a surprise), I will say that those ads are quite annoying to me. However, they would not be nearly as annoying if I knew when they would come up or have an indication that an ad is below. Smaller, banner ads that expand when you click/hover on them I think would have sufficed, but instead we get a large banner that pops out of nowhere. I'm not saying to get rid of these ads as you do need the revenue, but more thought behind their implementation would have been nice.

As has been addressed elsewhere, ours is not the final decision when it comes to ad design. The people paying for the ad make those choices.

 

[Jumplion]

While I'm probably late to this (what a surprise), I will say that those ads are quite annoying to me. However, they would not be nearly as annoying if I knew when they would come up or have an indication that an ad is below. Smaller, banner ads that expand when you click/hover on them I think would have sufficed, but instead we get a large banner that pops out of nowhere. I'm not saying to get rid of these ads as you do need the revenue, but more thought behind their implementation would have been nice.

As has been addressed elsewhere, ours is not the final decision when it comes to ad design. The people paying for the ad make those choices.

Don't you have any guidelines for advertisers? You're the ones with the ad space that they desperately want, set up some ground rules or something. Did they really think that a big, half-page, intrusive, flash ad was the best possible way to advertise on this site? And did you really think that they should have done that? C'mon, a simple roll-over add would be much better for everyone, would barely take that much more time to make.

 

[beema]

You seem to feel that you're entitled to a free product.

You seem to have completely misinterpreted my post(s).

I think on a news/entertainment site, where most of the purpose of the site is to be able to read and view things, it's incredibly stupid to use an ad system that pops up in front of all your content, in the middle of people trying to read it.

But also, why shouldn't it be free?

Edit:
Would firing Jim Sterling save the Escapist any money?

 

[teknoarcanist]

You seem to feel that you're entitled to a free product.

You seem to have completely misinterpreted my post(s).

I think on a news/entertainment site, where most of the purpose of the site is to be able to read and view things, it's incredibly stupid to use an ad system that pops up in front of all your content, in the middle of people trying to read it.

But also, why shouldn't it be free?

Edit:
Would firing Jim Sterling save the Escapist any money?

It can't be free because it's a product that takes time and energy to create. In order to entice competent people to create such a product, you've gotta pay them. In order to pay people to make a site that users don't have to shell out cash for, we have to sell a small window in which advertisers can captivate the attention of users.

 

[KefkaCultist]

I haven't seen a single one of these pop up ads honestly. I don't have any form of ad blocker whatsoever. I still see the normal ads that I'm used too, but nothing like whats being talked about...

 

[teknoarcanist]

Hey guys, after reading through the responses on this thread I've spoken to our ad guys and some changes have been made. It was the intention of this campaign for you to see these ads sparingly. Due to issues with the advertisements showing too frequently in particular browsers this campaign has been paused. Thanks and have a nice day!

The size of the ads and frequency has now been decreased. They will resume shortly, but hopefully in a way that's more agreeable to you all. Cheers!

Fantastic. They're much more palatable now.

You know what, I appreciate the quick response and attention to the community so much that I'm going to go sign up for the Publisher's Club right now. Well done guys. Thanks for listening.

 

[beema]

It can't be free because it's a product that takes time and energy to create. In order to entice competent people to create such a product, you've gotta pay them. In order to pay people to make a site that users don't have to shell out cash for, we have to sell a small window in which advertisers can captivate the attention of users.

Well, yes I know that.
I thought you meant free to the users. I know it's not free to the content providers.

 

[superbatranger]

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5494/hehp.png

Seems appropriate.

Anyways, if they REALLY annoy you, join pub-club. They don't get ads. They don't annoy me too bad (I thought the above pics were hilarious).

Oh dear lord that made me laugh so hard.

Anyways, if I had to deal with those ads, I'd be miffed as well if it was constant.