Remove some Ads

Ripps818 · Post by **Ripps818** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:27 pm

I've been seeing a recent increase in the number of Mormon ads on the top of my comic's page. I don't want them there.

Now, I have nothing against Mormons and their religion, but I don't want my comic to be associated with any religion, whatsoever. Some readers might take offense, and they don't know what level of control I have over my ads. Maybe there should be a control panel where we can pick and choose which ads we want to support or not.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:15 pm

It's an interesting idea; it'd be up to Kisai and Redwolf to determine if it's feasable or not. I'm going to suspect not, since CG is getting an advertising feed, and the company they contract through probably has rules against filtering out their advertisements.

If your concern is really just that your readers might associate your comic with a religion, you could put a small disclaimer on your website that says, "The author has no control over the contents of the above advertising".

Ripps818 · Post by **Ripps818** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:31 pm

That's a good idea. I'll do that.
But I'd still like some control over ads are on my site.
I think we should have a choice over who's sponsoring our content.

Adamiani · Post by **Adamiani** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 9:45 pm

ripps818 wrote:That's a good idea. I'll do that.
But I'd still like some control over ads are on my site.
I think we should have a choice over who's sponsoring our content.

While I share your concern, the logistics on this might be difficult.

Ripps818 · Post by **Ripps818** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:08 pm

I don't really know how the ad system works, it seems that a random ad is simply pulled from reservoir of ads that are randomly picked when the page is loaded. All that should need to be implemented is a blacklist. If an ad that is randomly picked is on that page's blacklist, then randomly pick another.

Dr Neo Lao · Post by **Dr Neo Lao** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:14 am

Sounds good in theory, but you need to keep in mind the sheer volume of ads being served every day by the server. I'm sure it would be great for people to pick and choose which ads they have on thier comic site, but I can see problems such as someone blacklisting nearly all the available ads and the server sitting there picking and rejecting random ads...

As suggested above, if it really bugs you then the easiest way would be to simply have some sort f notice pointing out that you don't have any control over the ads.

c.w. has a nifty little idea on his comic, which is just an arrow with "ad" on it.

Data Chasers has "Please note that I have no control over which ads are displayed and do not specifically endorse or condone any of them" under the ad. Something like that is probably more than enough.

If the ads bugged me, on my site I'd put "Ads supplied by Comic Genesis. I have no control over which ads are displayed."

But really - how many people are going to see your comic, see an ad on your comic and then assume that your comic has something to do with what is being advertised? I can't speak for anyone else, but I certainly don't think that.

Spqrblues · Post by **Spqrblues** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:51 am

Yeah, I did the "no control over the content of the ad above" thing during the heavy rotation of T&A banners showing disembodied crotch and boob shots, so it's still up there for the religious adverts. I understand how some people would have personal objections to certain religious prosletysing associated with their creative work; I guess I'd suggest making the disclaimer text nice and large, so your readers will see it and sympathise. The most definitive solution is to move off ComicGenesis, of course, but until you're able to do that, you're pretty stuck with whatever advertising comes through.

I suppose I could change my current disclaimer to Great Mother Goddess Isis absolves the creator of this comic from blame for the advertisement above....

Adobedragon · Post by **Adobedragon** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:15 am

I suppose I could change my current disclaimer to Great Mother Goddess Isis absolves the creator of this comic from blame for the advertisement above....

Heh. Cool. I think mine might read "His Noodley Goodness, <a href="http://www.venganza.org/">The Flying Spaghetti Monster</a>, absolves the creator of this comic from blame for the advertisement above...."

VIIStar · Post by **VIIStar** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:16 am

spqrblues wrote:I suppose I could change my current disclaimer to Great Mother Goddess Isis absolves the creator of this comic from blame for the advertisement above....

heh ...add it to the negative confession in the Book of the Dead?

I have not quenched a needed fire.
I have not neglected the days of meat offerings,
I have not detained cattle belonging to the god,
I have not stopped a god in his procession.
I have not chosen religious or porn ads on my comicgen site.
I am pure I am pure I am pure!

Spqrblues · Post by **Spqrblues** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:20 pm

VIIStar wrote:I have not chosen religious or porn ads on my comicgen site.
I am pure I am pure I am pure!

My heart feels light as a feather! Until I notice that my comic's site is still down, then my heart pretty quickly fills up with uncharitable thoughts about the server.

Right into a lake of fiery crocodile-related doom for me, I am sure.

Robin Pierce · Post by **Robin Pierce** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:33 pm

ripps818 wrote:I don't really know how the ad system works, it seems that a random ad is simply pulled from reservoir of ads that are randomly picked when the page is loaded. All that should need to be implemented is a blacklist. If an ad that is randomly picked is on that page's blacklist, then randomly pick another.

now don't quote me on this because I may not be 100% correct, but the reason that this isn't possible is because it's keenspot who gets/places the ads. they're all from burstnet and it's not controllable. the most we can do is to give a disclaimer - OR if you're willing to have MA ads, then you can switch it to that setting, and you'll mostly get the JList ads.

Kirb · Post by **Kirb** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:37 pm

But really - how many people are going to see your comic, see an ad on your comic and then assume that your comic has something to do with what is being advertised? I can't speak for anyone else, but I certainly don't think that.

My sediments exactly.

I think you're making too big a deal out of this.

Porn and those horrible Singles ads, I can agree with. But an otherwise non-distracting Mormon ad?

Jameslong · Post by **Jameslong** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:45 pm

ripps818 wrote: I think we should have a choice over who's sponsoring our content.

You do have a choice. If you don't like mormon ads, then you don't have to host your comic with CG. Viola!

I actually had a reader get upset and contact me via PM in regard to that same advert. Once i explained that it wasn't my add, he was alright (although still a little offended, I guess). The way I see it: you can work your whole life doing your best not to step on anybody's toes and the only thing you'll likely get for it is an early grave.

p.s. i put a dislcaimer in small size font directly below my banner ad. There's nothing in the hosting agreement that states we're restricted from doing that.

VIIStar · Post by **VIIStar** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:08 pm

spqrblues wrote: My heart feels light as a feather! Until I notice that my comic's site is still down, then my heart pretty quickly fills up with uncharitable thoughts about the server.

Right into a lake of fiery crocodile-related doom for me, I am sure.

heh the croc beast has to feed too sometimes... if i go before you i'll leave a good word with the weigher of the heart. maybe Anpu'll lend a finger to the feather, which would allow for a few uncharitable thoughts...

You really should look into a mirror site... or spqrblues.com or something. make it obvious for people who are looking.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:30 pm

i wasn't even aware people paid attention to those ads.

Ezra · Post by **Ezra** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:38 pm

legostargalactica wrote:i wasn't even aware people paid attention to those ads.

Same here. I thought most everyone was programmed to ignore it all by now. I know I am and my readers seem to be.

NakedElf · Post by **NakedElf** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:35 pm

I'll take your ads. For some reason, no one seems to want to advertise on my comic.

Seriously, though, if you have concerns about the ads, I think the easiest thing to do is put up a disclaimer which says 'The ads are randomly placed by CG (or whomever), I have nothing to do with them.'

While I wouldn't get offended by a random ad, I can understand that some people might. People are odd, finicky creatures. I'm pretty sure that some of the people who read my comic because they know me personally weren't too fond of the porn ads it used to have, heh, but they did understand *why* the ads were there.

It seems unreasonable to me to ask CG to do extra work which would basically make the basic funding-portion of the site not work as well when you could just put up a disclaimer. If you really, really hate the ads, then maybe you could do the work to find your own advertisers and send CG the profits?

Rhys · Post by **Rhys** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:02 am

Kirb wrote:
Porn and those horrible Singles ads, I can agree with. But an otherwise non-distracting Mormon ad?

Frankly, I think I'd rather have the porn ads!

The Mormon ones creep me the hell out.

Freaked my readers out, too, although they know I don't have any say in what shows up so I got commiserating and snickering rather than people taking offense. But I'm certainly not complaining to CG; rather, I've now realized it's actually pretty funny...

I mean, think of the money they're wasting advertising on our webcomics. The irony makes me snicker...although the ads themselves are still bloody creepy, mind you!

Spqrblues · Post by **Spqrblues** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:23 pm

Hey, can I put a banner ad for the "Mount Vesuvius Temple: Twelve gods, no waiting" right under the advert tag on my pages, or would that violate any CG policies? I haven't created a good fake banner in ages.

Waitaminnit... I think I still that old banner for "Charon's Travel Agency" I could use...

(Hmm... that "Mundane Nirvana" comic looks kinda good... I think I'll go read it

)

Tetsuo75 · Post by **Tetsuo75** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:08 pm

I would *LOVE* to get those mormon ads! I'm sure anyone who reads my comic would get a kick out of the irony!

@spqrblues: That fake banner is awesome!!! Hahaha! and yes, Mundane Nirvana is pretty darn cool...