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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 101. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
Hi, everyone,
I seem to be seeing those little Ads by Google everywhere. The text versions don't seem too distracting, and because they come from Google, the potential influence of advertisers seems to be minimized.
So I'm considering giving them a try here. Every little bit helps, but it wouldn't be out of financial necessity. Anyway, here's an example of how they might look:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/ad-test/babble.html
Let me know what you think,
Bob
Posted by muffled on October 2, 2006, at 12:14:57
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
Well, I think those ads kinda make the site seem more not so special. Like its just another signboard. I dunno, like it cheapens it somehow....
I don't think I'm expressing myself very well.....
I also always feel like a site endorses the product it advertises. Is this so?
Why do it if you don't need to?
But I dunno what your situation is, so I dunno.
Don't really like it anyhow...
Muffled
Posted by zenhussy on October 2, 2006, at 12:21:59
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
nah. targeted advertising can be helpful for some folks but more often than not the methods used to "target" the ad mis-guess or misread the key words.
imagine a thread about the death of someone and what ads might come up then?
we could send you a screen shot of CNN.com or AP.com with an article about a family massacre.........and to the right of this horrible tragedy was an advert. for life insurance for dad. it was uncomfortable just looking at the page knowing how inappropriate the ad was given the subject matter.
poor taste? random mistake? or just the program written for the computer to search key words doing its job?
Ads by Google allows one to filter out certain key words such that ads won't come up for those phrases or words. Something to think about given the nature of support and education of your site Dr. Hsiung.
happy to provide requested feedback as our years here have given us much in the opinion arena....
Posted by madeline on October 2, 2006, at 17:27:43
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
It might seem as though you are endorsing the product on your site, or at least that is how is seems to me.
Sort of like:
"Oh! someone posted about inositol, and there's an ad for how I can buy it. Must be good, it's on Dr. Bob's site."
Next thing you know there will be an add for an online pharmacy in canada.It's your site - just my two cents.
Posted by alexandra_k on October 2, 2006, at 17:29:28
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
snort.
you have to be kidding. I can just see:
> Natural Remedies
to relieve depression & anxiety; panic attack & insomnia.popping up on the bottom of someones post when they are replying to a post by someone who really struggling with those things.
or this, which has gotta be false.
> serotonin
Gets rid of serotonin fast! Easy. Safe. Guaranteed. Free CD.Sure, they are text adds. Much better than big pictures of puppies and people frolicking through fields.
Although... Maybe just a teensy tiny little bit more authoratative because of it...
Even the other ones... One of them was advertising something fairly dangerous, wasn't it?
I think adds would make it look as though the site (i.e., *you*) are endorsing the products. I know doc john doesn't see it that way, but I point it out to him every now and then...
Posted by Deneb on October 2, 2006, at 17:57:23
In reply to Re: text ads » Dr. Bob, posted by alexandra_k on October 2, 2006, at 17:29:28
I agree that ads would make it seem like you were endorsing the products and that ads would "cheapen" the site somehow. I think one of the things that makes Babble special is the lack of advertisements.
It's your site though and I think you should do whatever you need to do.
Personally I would rather pay a membership fee than have advertisements, but that's just me.
Deneb*
Posted by Racer on October 2, 2006, at 22:19:43
In reply to Re: text ads » Dr. Bob, posted by muffled on October 2, 2006, at 12:14:57
> Well, I think those ads kinda make the site seem more not so special. Like its just another signboard. I dunno, like it cheapens it somehow....
> I don't think I'm expressing myself very well.....
>You're expressing yourself quite well. Take credit for it... :-)
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 2, 2006, at 22:33:45
In reply to Re: text ads » muffled, posted by Racer on October 2, 2006, at 22:19:43
I think there is a lot of potential for ads to contain triggering material, especially boards related to eating disorders, withdrawal, and substance abuse.
In addition, it might be hard to have an open conversation on the faith board when an ad contains material that proclaims to have the solution to life's great questions (and coincidentally happens to endorse one faith to the detriment of others)
Perhaps on the social/main/alternative/health/psychology/ relationships/work/parents/self-esttem/ students/politics/newbies boards I do not see so much of a potential for triggering materials, except that withdrawal, ED, and substance abuse issues may be discussed in many different contexts.
An additional problem is that we of little hope, and everlasting despair (depression, etc) may be more desparate and vulnerable to advertising than the average savvy consumer you know.
Those of us prone to commit sins of retail therapy and manic shopping binges may come to psycho-babble because it a refuge from materialism, and deals with the substance of life-- real people, communicating with each other in a meaningful (or purposely silly) fashion.
Posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2006, at 22:48:56
In reply to Re: text ads, posted by Lindenblüte on October 2, 2006, at 22:33:45
I don't like it at all. Love Phillipa. Just like TV. We fastforward the commercials.
Posted by 10derHeart on October 3, 2006, at 14:52:24
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
No, please if you can possibly avoid it.
For all the excellent reasons everyone stated above.
Or, to put it another way, "no! yuk."
Posted by sunnydays on October 3, 2006, at 18:29:22
In reply to Re: text ads » Dr. Bob, posted by 10derHeart on October 3, 2006, at 14:52:24
Posted by notfred on October 3, 2006, at 20:55:10
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
So, Dr Bob is expected to pay for the hosting of this site out of pocket ? I would guess that runs
$300-400 a month. crazymeds does ads and covers the costs and them some, which is nice as the owner often cannot work due to complex medical issues.
Posted by fayeroe on October 3, 2006, at 21:50:14
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
"Every little bit helps, but it wouldn't be out of financial necessity."
as someone who reads here occasionally, i agree with the other posters. the potential for some really bizarre happenings is there.
and i'm puzzled over your statement as to why you would do it. if you are okay financially, why does every little bit help?
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 3, 2006, at 22:41:15
In reply to Re: text ads, posted by fayeroe on October 3, 2006, at 21:50:14
Hmm, howabout hosting ads on the admin page only, since it's not intended for support. If it's only for administrative issues, maybe financial aid is an administrative issue?
just a thought?
-best,
Li
Posted by sunnydays on October 4, 2006, at 7:41:47
In reply to Re: text ads » fayeroe, posted by Lindenblüte on October 3, 2006, at 22:41:15
I think that would be a really good idea, if it's feasible.
sunnydays
Posted by Dinah on October 4, 2006, at 9:40:06
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
FWIW, I think taking donations would be preferable.
Posted by Tabitha on October 4, 2006, at 10:52:56
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
I find the google ads a little distracting, but not overly so.
I use another board (on ezboard) where you can only post 3 times a day unless you pay to be a 'supporter', which is $7 per year. That seems to work well. I don't know how hard it would be to set something like that up here-- google ads are probably easier.
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 4, 2006, at 22:09:37
In reply to Re: text ads » fayeroe, posted by Lindenblüte on October 3, 2006, at 22:41:15
> I also always feel like a site endorses the product it advertises. Is this so?
>
> Muffled> imagine a thread about the death of someone and what ads might come up then?
>
> Ads by Google allows one to filter out certain key words such that ads won't come up for those phrases or words.
>
> zenhussy> Just like TV. We fastforward the commercials.
>
> Phillipa> Hmm, howabout hosting ads on the admin page only, since it's not intended for support.
>
> LiThanks for all the input, it doesn't sound like you all feel a great need for more ads in your lives...
I think it's generally understood that ads don't imply endorsement. But I could be explicit about that, too.
And I think it's easy to imagine bad scenarios, but I'm not sure how likely they'd actually be. Having a filter sounds like it might help, though. What phrases or words might be problematic?
You wouldn't need to fast forward through these ads. Since they'd be at the bottom of the page, they wouldn't stand between you and anything else. Or, can't Tivo be programmed not even to record ads? It might be possible to let people opt out, though that would be more work for the server...
And that's another good idea, trying it out just on this board.
Bob
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on October 6, 2006, at 13:12:04
In reply to Re: text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 4, 2006, at 22:09:37
Yeah I think they're a bad idea. I think it would put new people off abit - it would definately make the site seem 'less authentic' or for me anyway, alarm bells would go ringing that it was one of those infomerical sites or something. I have some kind of automatic mental filter - I never ever click on those type of google adverts, ever. I never even click on the 'sponsered links' bit in blue in google even. Its like I want unbiased information.
So, I think it might make this site seem abit phoney or something. Of course, I know this isn't the case. But imagine you were looking at a university website and they had all those google ads on it...it wouldn't really reflect well.
But, I understand the world revolves around money...sooo.... if we need money Bob, then do it.
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by alexandra_k on October 8, 2006, at 22:48:55
In reply to text ads, posted by Dr. Bob on October 2, 2006, at 11:56:14
IMHO they degrade the site.
Posted by alexandra_k on October 8, 2006, at 22:55:38
In reply to they are horrible, posted by alexandra_k on October 8, 2006, at 22:48:55
Posted by notfred on October 8, 2006, at 23:08:52
In reply to how much money do you make off them? (nm), posted by alexandra_k on October 8, 2006, at 22:55:38
It depends on the site size and number of visitors, but $1,000 to $2,000 a month is not hard to do on a well visited site.
Posted by Dinah on October 9, 2006, at 0:09:49
In reply to Re: how much money do you make off them?, posted by notfred on October 8, 2006, at 23:08:52
In addition to being rather awful.
Posted by alexandra_k on October 9, 2006, at 0:13:27
In reply to Slowing down the site something awful, posted by Dinah on October 9, 2006, at 0:09:49
Interesting how Bob asked us a question then proceeded to ignore us...
I wonder why he asked us?
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 9, 2006, at 0:19:43
In reply to Slowing down the site something awful, posted by Dinah on October 9, 2006, at 0:09:49
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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