What has happened to the STS Forum?

[AnimalToyForum]

As mentioned up-thread, the STS admins apparently don't have any control over the ads there: https://animaltoyforum.com/index.php?topic=212.msg40997#msg40997 It could even get worse.

This issue with the STS in recent years has made me wonder about the possibility of a merger one day. The STS community could migrate over here, all their admins could become admins here, and we could become one big happy family - minus the really intrusive ads. But that seems highly unlikely.

[AnimalToyForum]

Believe it or not, the problem with ads on the STS Forum has worsened. I just went over to tell them about the new Monster Toy Blog and now, in addition to the full page pop-up ads, ads around the edges, and banner ads, there's now also a huge ad taking up the front page. Look at this screenshot of my laptop, three ads take up the entire screen:



It's unbearable, is there absolutely nothing that can be done? If not, visitors won't put up with this for long, and I fear for the future of the STS Forum. If it does die a death, everyone's welcome over here, I could even instate the STS moderators as moderators here if they are interested in joining forces!

[sbell]

I'll be honest, I often use Brave as a phone browser so I don't see a lot of that.

I do know that when I get their summary emails even those are full of ads, many of which are pretty gross and annoying.

I don't go there very often though.

[AnimalToyForum]

I'll be honest, I often use Brave as a phone browser so I don't see a lot of that.

I do know that when I get their summary emails even those are full of ads, many of which are pretty gross and annoying.

I don't go there very often though.

I really don't have a problem with ads in moderation. It's how many websites (including ATF) pay the bills, so I don't install ad blockers. Viewing an ad or two is an easy way for me to support the sites I visit for free. But if the ads get out of hand and obnoxious it becomes clear the site's primary reason for existing is to make money from ads, at the expense of the user experience and content. Then I feel pushed away and don't want to support the site.

My understanding is that the host, not the STS community, is pushing these ads. So there's nothing the admins there can do about it.

I'm serious with my merger offer to pool our communities on the ATF, if that's something the admins there would even consider.

[sbell]

I'll be honest, I often use Brave as a phone browser so I don't see a lot of that.

I do know that when I get their summary emails even those are full of ads, many of which are pretty gross and annoying.

I don't go there very often though.

I really don't have a problem with ads in moderation. It's how many websites (including ATF) pay the bills, so I don't install ad blockers. Viewing an ad or two is an easy way for me to support the sites I visit for free. But if the ads get out of hand and obnoxious it becomes clear the site's primary reason for existing is to make money from ads, at the expense of the user experience and content. Then I feel pushed away and don't want to support the site.

My understanding is that the host, not the STS community, is pushing these ads. So there's nothing the admins there can do about it.

I'm serious with my merger offer to pool our communities on the ATF, if that's something the admins there would even consider.

They must at least be aware it's a major problem, right?

[AnimalToyForum]

Well, nobody seems to be talking about it publicly over there. But @Kikimalou and @Saarlooswolfhound have replied here, and they are both STS staff, so they are aware.

[bmathison1972]

I don't see those ads on my laptop using Chrome

[AnimalToyForum]

I don't see those ads on my laptop using Chrome

Lucky you! I suppose you have ad blockers. Does that mean you don't see ads here on the ATF as well?

[bmathison1972]

I don't see those ads on my laptop using Chrome

Lucky you! I suppose you have ad blockers. Does that mean you don't see ads here on the ATF as well?

there is a small banner ad (right above Recent Topics) and one between Recent Topics and Forum Boards, but they are not obtrusive to me

[AnimalToyForum]

That's right, maybe you've set ATF as an exception.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I do the vast majority of my forum business on my mobile device- I have an android and use Chrome. Depending on the site I may toggle the "mobile view" or "desktop view", I do not employ ad blockers whatsoever. I rarely see ads on STS- and at worst its a banner style advert just under the STS banner and row of tools. See below-


On both ATF and DTF, there are more ads that show up-






But nothing "obstrusive" or very distracting. I *have* seen the STS newsletter and it does have unrelated and just generally icky ad content at the bottom of the newsletter- but as I have for my entire career on the internet I just ignore them. And as mentioned above, none of our members over there have commented on any issues with ads within recent memory (last few years).

I don't browse on the forums on a computer very often but I have never had an issue there either.

From what has been explained to me there is nothing that we can do as moderators/admins for this. The only suggestion I can make is looking into different browsers or ad blockers. There are often free ones you can try out anyway.

[AnimalToyForum]

Thanks @Saarlooswolfhound

I wouldn't mind if the layout of the STS on my screen looked like it does on yours. Like I say, I don't mind ads in principle, and I do use them myself on the ATF. I don't know why there are so many more huge ads for me on the STS.

What strikes me as unusual in the screenshots of the ATF you shared is the different font sizes - I don't know what's going on there, the fonts should be consistent, I'll investigate.

I'm the opposite to you, I nearly always access the ATF and the internet in general on my laptop - I need a keyboard to function properly on the web!

[bmathison1972]

I don't have ad-blockers, at least none I intentionally added. Maybe Windows Defender is keeping some at bay?

Back to STS, what really annoys me there are the pop-ups. There used to be a pop-up every three clicks! But it's worse now. Sometimes you don't even have to click on a link, if you spend enough time looking at a page/post, they will start popping up on their own!!!!

[AnimalToyForum]

I don't have ad-blockers, at least none I intentionally added. Maybe Windows Defender is keeping some at bay?

Back to STS, what really annoys me there are the pop-ups. There used to be a pop-up every three clicks! But it's worse now. Sometimes you don't even have to click on a link, if you spend enough time looking at a page/post, they will start popping up on their own!!!!

Me too. But again, it seems like not everyone experiences them pop-ups, so many visitors don't realise how bad it is.