WTH? Does the Linux Mint Forum support "scientology"?

[parsma]

For personal reasons, I cannot stay on as a member if the ads for the cult "scientology" will keep starring me in the face as I visit the forum!

For further reading:
http://www.google.com/support/adsense/b ... cientology

"pzzd-off"

[Aging Technogeek]

Linux Mint gets a great deal of its funding from selling ad space on the forum. Selling ad space in no way implies support of any of the advertisers who buy space.

If the ads offend you there are means to remove them from your sight. If you are using Firefox, install Adblock Plus. In Google Chrome or Chromium, Ad Block or Ad Thwart will do the same thing. There are also ad blockers for Epiphany and most other browsers.

[Carl]

Linux Mint gets a great deal of its funding from selling ad space on the forum. Selling ad space in no way implies support of any of the advertisers who buy space.

If the ads offend you there are means to remove them from your sight. If you are using Firefox, install Adblock Plus. In Google Chrome or Chromium, Ad Block or Ad Thwart will do the same thing. There are also ad blockers for Epiphany and most other browsers.

I would of thought that it would be better for Linux Mint to get that specific ad removed rather then to reccomened that people who don't like that ad install adblock-plus

[GSXR750L]

Yes adsense does have tools to filter ads

[Aging Technogeek]

Carl,

If The Mint forum started removing paid advertisements whenever someone complained about the advertiser, we would rapidly lose all income from advertising.

The Mint forum also sells ad space to Microsoft. We get complaints about that and they are answered in the same way.

[Elisa]

Carl,
If The Mint forum started removing paid advertisements whenever someone complained about the advertiser, we would rapidly lose all income from advertising.
The Mint forum also sells ad space to Microsoft. We get complaints about that and they are answered in the same way.

Sorry, A. T. but it sounds a bit silly IMO due 'scientology dump' ad is probably one and the only which I'd block in any way...

[BubbaBlues]

Adblock plus is the first thing I install when opening Firefox for the first time, and I seriously didn't even know the forum had ads.
I've never seen one.

[Jix]

Ikey took the words out of my mouth. Adsense looks at each user's browsing history and displays ads according to that visitor's interest, i.e., similar site's you've visited lately. If you're seeing Scientology ads it's probably because you've been surfing related topics online. And judging by how passionately you feel about this, parsma, it looks like you have a vested interest in the topic and might have searched it online (or other religions for that matter) in the last few days/weeks.

[Habitual]

Adsense looks at each user's browsing history and displays ads according to that visitor's interest,

Thank you Captain Obvious!
I don't mean that as a slam either.
Sometime plain English just gets lost in translation.

Personally, I never see them and I don't use AdBlock or whatever is being touted.

127.0.0.1 pagead.googlesyndication.com #Remove Google Ads.
127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com #Remove Google Ads.
127.0.0.1 googleads.g.doubleclick.net #Remove Google Ads.

in your /etc/hosts file will do the job nicely.

Sorry, forum. I know you are ad supported. but I'll just send ca$h.

[exploder]

parsma, we do not have control over the ads that appear on our sites. We do not support sceintology, we stay neutral on these kinds of things. You see these kinds of ads all over the web. I just ignore ads like this and concentrate on what I am really looking for on the site. No one here wants you or anyone else to be offended in any way.

[Elisa]

parsma, we do not have control over the ads that appear on our sites...

But I am sure that as the owner of this site I must have the right to make the choice what adds I do not wash to be showed...
Don't try to make me or whoever else there is no way how to have my (like mine, as an example of course ) site under control as for 3rd side advertiser...
Simply, there must a space if I - as the owner would express some conditions...
I am sure there is.

[GSXR750L]

Actually you could install "ad blocking" add-ons and set them to let all advertising show EXCEPT the ones you don't agree with, which you select the 'block that particular ad' button, SO AS it will not show up again on any other site you visit in the future. This way you can only get offended once per new site visited. After a while you won't know which sites are offending you. So this way you win in the long run.

[randomizer]

But I am sure that as the owner of this site I must have the right to make the choice what adds I do not wash to be showed...

Perhaps the choice has been made to just leave things as they are, which is the most neutral option. To take action against this one ad sets a precedent. The next time someone finds an ad offensive they will point to this thread and demand that the same action be taken. Despite the fact that "majority rules" is considered the norm, it is nearly always the minority that is the most influential group as soon as their voice is heard. Minorities lead; majorities follow. The only way to avoid setting a precedent is to keep a tight leash on the minorities and keep yourself from giving in to their demands. FYI, I have nothing against minority opinions, but I know how carefully one in authority must tread around them to avoid precedents.

Now if 80% of the forum comes in here and demands that the ad be blocked that's a different story.

[Elisa]

So let's start again ab ovo => scientology is just dump of brain washers, so wake up, finally !

[randomizer]

So let's start again ab ovo => scientology is just dump of brain washers, so wake up, finally !

You've completely missed the point. Do you think that all those diet and "get ripped in 10 days" ads are promoting legitimate and working products/services as well? An ad is an ad. It doesn't matter where it comes from, it always has the same purpose: to influence your behaviour or state of mind so that you are more likely to be attracted to something you generally don't need. This ad is no more harmful than any other, and as such it need not be individually singled out.

[Elisa]

...This ad is no more harmful than any other.

I am afraid there is big difference among them...
When someone will manipulate u and u r losing yourself... or just using a silly diet when feelin' very bad there is still a place'n'time that a Doc can save u...
As I told - if doing one exception of accepted ads on my site, it would be scientology and similar dump...

[randomizer]

When someone will manipulate u and u r losing yourself...

What part of this ad is going to cause you to lose yourself? If you think you're being brainwashed by an ad banner then the problem is likely with you and not the ad.

or just using a silly diet when feelin' very bad there is still a place'n'time that a Doc can save u...

You'd be surprised how badly some people can react to failing diet after diet. It's not an issue you should take lightly.

[tinca]

For personal reasons, I cannot stay on as a member if the ads for the cult "scientology" will keep starring me in the face as I visit the forum!

For further reading:
http://www.google.com/support/adsense/b ... cientology

"pzzd-off"

I notice that you have been a forum member since August 22nd 2010 and this appears to be your first and only post.

Your personal views should NOT in any way be able to change the forums advertising policy.

Best regards Keith