Comments on: River in Egypt for sale, must act quickly

By: Lizzie

Lizzie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:44:58 +0000

I have bought things I saw advertised and been pleased with the result, but all the same why is Facebook so sure I have a tattoo that needs removing. Is it my taste in music?

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:25:01 +0000

The ads on websites are generally paid space, like in a newspaper. If everyone used an ad blocker then the value of the space would go down. Then they sometimes pay an extra premium when you click on them. I'm talking banner ads and ad breaks here, not the ones on the right hand side of goggle (which often turn out to be useful).

@Robert: Sounds like the ads worked.

@Dougal: No, but I don't colour over them with a thick black pen (and then hypnotise myself into forgetting I ever saw them), either

By: Dougal

Dougal — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:21:06 +0000

Nick, I take it you make sure to read all the adverts in newspapers and magazines too.

By: Robert Hulme

Robert Hulme — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:20:40 +0000

The level of fail of FB adverts is legendary. When I was an atheist it only gave me adverts for ChristianConnections.com (or .co.uk, I forget), and ads for organising Christian Union house parties. Since I've become a Christian I just get ads for gay dating sites :-/

@ Nick: How does it make you a first class citizen? Ads get paid for when you click on them. If you don't click-through, then it's actually better for the people serving ads if you don't display / download them.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:00:42 +0000

I don't use them on principle. For one thing they screw with the layout of the page. More importantly, adds pay for the internet (unless you specifically pay for an add free experience), so if I used an add blocker it would seem to me that I would be declaring myself a first class passenger and expecting everyone else to pay for my ticket.

Facebook adds, though, know that I'm 26, male, straight and single. And they feel the need to constantly remind me of these things. Targeted adds don't bother me, I just wish there was a bit more variation.