Video ads

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I've encountered three video ads at the bottom of the screen in the last two minutes.

What the hell is happening to this place?

They are awefully annoying.

Please have them removed.

Well, I don't think Plank will remove them (as Mr Moneybags earns dollars from those annoying and noisy ads), but we can counteract those with installing ad blocking browser apps. That way, we can shut those noisy ads up, and post in the forums at peace. How does that sound?

Don't think that option is available on iPod touch:-( anybody know better?
Every few minutes the video advert takes over full-screen. EXTREMELY distracting!! I don't tolerate anyone who keeps putting something in my face. I'll make a point of not buying anything advertised like that.

You mean Plank, the guy that can't afford a car that's more than $3000. The guy whose car actually spontaneously *caught on fire* before he went out and spent money on a (admittedly awesome) decent car?

Next time, try not to make statements that you can't actually back up with fact.

Facts, eh?

• You are calling out "the Big D" (aka. theimperiousdork) for calling Alex "Mr Moneybags"
• The Big D lives in the Philippines, this is clearly visible in the location field next to his post
• The 2011 GDP per capita in the Philippines was estimated at $2,255 USD according to the International Monetary Fund [ http://tiny.cc/4rnabw ]
• Wikipedia says "the daily income for 45% of the population of the Philippines remains less than $2" [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines#Economy ]

@The Big D: I hope this above does not offend (if it does please PM me and I'll change / remove it)

Not at all,

I'm calling out anyone and everyone who is jumping on a guy who is able to live off something he started when he was a teenager. Not many people can say that they've done that, and I know from first-hand experience how much it sucks being in that position when the money *isn't* flowing.

Quite frankly, it pisses me off that people paint Plank as "the bad guy" just because he happens to make money off this thing he started. Frankly, that he's able to pay the bill that keeps this place online is a small miracle.

I don't think Alex's choice to allow the video ads is keeping this website "in the black", but it is making slightly more money for Alex.

The site is evidently successful enough that this is a choice Alex has made presumably knowing it would aggravate "his" online community. The fact that many members of the community understand this, and have posted that they do not like the video ads knowing that Alex has the power to remove them, is neither equivalent to them painting Alex as "the bad guy" (as you have put it) nor is it "tall poppy syndrome" (as you have insinuated).

To be clear: It's great that Alex has made this site, and continues to keep it up for all of us to use. But when the site's own mods are suggesting members install ad block software to deal with the ads the owner has decided are suitable, I don't think you should attack those that maintain that something is wrong

I could care less about the ad choices alex has (or has not) made. For whatever reason, I don't actually see any video/audio ads - so I have no opinion on the matter.

As a matter of fact, nothing about the choice in ad content provider has changed - so what you're accusing Alex of is not *allowing* video ads, but rather of not getting rid of them when they started popping up. This is an important distinction, because it allows for a multitude of alternative explanations - it may (and probably is) as simple as it being one of those things he hasn't gotten around to doing yet. His choice in ad networks may also be due to technical reasons - as I know AdChoices is one of very few networks that actually allow site owners to sell their own ad spots on their site directly.

Calling him "Mr Moneybags" is clearly a personal attack based on nothing but presumption. *That* is what I object to.

It just so happens that this is what the thread is about, as the posts you are responding to. If you admit to having no opinion and not being able to care less, then honestly I must question what you feel you are adding to this thread.


It is well documented that AdChoices allows a site owner to choose their ad "inventory" and also to choose what types of ads are suitable or not suitable, including whether to allow video ads. I suspect that you are well aware of this. My understanding is that the owner of this site has allowed video ads to appear when they are available for a user, even if you feel that I am wrong in this regard, I would ask that you refrain from accusing me of something I am not doing, Sir.


Please don't take us around in circles. When I provided you "facts" for why the Big D might reasonably consider Alex to be well off, you argued that you were "calling out anyone and everyone", once you play that card I do not feel you can go back to making an example out of him specifically*, at least without going back to at least comment on the relevance of the "facts" I presented in his defence.

Finally, personal attacks are against the rules here, but the proper protocol if you feel a member is in breach of these rules is not to call them out yourself, but to contact a moderator. I feel this is what you should do if you are concerned about the post made by the Big D.

*this is assuming you have no other sources of people referring to Alex as "Mr Moneybags"

We don't allow audio or video ads.

I have not received any information about these ads via email or PM.

I cannot blacklist these ads without knowing the domain of the advertiser. I have not seen any of these alleged video ads and have not seen any screenshots either. Consequently I cannot block then ads from appearing.

You clearly do not understand AdChoices because it has nothing to do with site owners choosing ads. And we don't have the ability to completely control the ads that are served by 3rd party networks.

And if you think my only intent is to make money, it is foolish to conclude that I would purposely run ads that would result in users leaving the site or blocking ads which would decrease revenue.

Whew. I didn't see this coming. An innocuous post would invoke ire among some "loyalists," but that is something I expect.

As far as I know, I haven't heard of an ad-block plugin for Safari on iOS. I might do a lookup myself, and will let you know if I see one. And yes, those types of ads really can drive anyone nuts.



(Those were just select quotes.)

Sir, I could see that your statements reflect a loyalist stance toward Plank. But based on testimonies from fellow long-time users (about the ads, as well as that Autism Talk TV, which turned those users, myself included, off), I have enough reason to call him such. And c'mon, "Mr Moneybags" is an endearment, considering the wealth he has amassed from Wrong Planet and his "alleged" partnerships with Autism Speaks, which by itself is extremely tasteless in the autistic community.

But those points are not the points of this discussion, so I'm not going to elaborate on them. As for the ads, I agree with nat4200, and as far as I know, Plank or anyone hosting ads have control on what ads are being shown. I have worked on the online marketing industry, so I clearly understand how online ads work.

Nat4200, not at all, that doesn't offend me a bit. Those are facts, and I agree with you on most of them.

As for you, Mr Plank, here's an advise from a regular user: You might consider visiting the site more, since you own it in the first place, and listen to what your customers are feeling about the user experience. Because the less you speak about it, the more negative perceptions will spawn out from the issue.

If AdChoices (or whatever ad provider you use) is the problem, why not consult their customer support about it? Because if this forum doesn't allow audio or video ads, why is it otherwise?

In my perspective, it's useless if I PM or e-mail you, since I receive no responses. So sorry if I have caused a firestorm, but you had it coming. Thank you.

I'm not loyal to Plank in any particular way. You want to criticize him for anything, that's fine by me. However, if you're going to characterize him as something he is not (ie. wealthy), then you better have something to back it up with. I've provided tons of anecdotal evidence that refutes your claim, so the ball is in your court.

I'm well aware of all the controversy surrounding Autism Speaks, and I've actually had conversations with Plank - at some length - about the situation (one of them involving a particularly tasty Wendy's trip involving laser pointers shot into someone's pool, and surviving a trip through a field in Alex's deathtrap of a car). Unlike you, I didn't presume anything was fact until I had some kind of basis for what I thought. My conclusion, based on everything I've heard, seen, and done research on, is that Plank happily takes their money - which, by the way, pretty much just covers his costs to shoot the tv series and travel to autism conferences, and doesn't really touch the site itself - but he wouldn't have done so if there were strings attached. And, I think the result of what he's done sofar has affirmed that Autism Speaks doesn't have any serious impact on what he does.



Well, the problem is that that was the part that I take issue with. You'll notice that every other thread about this, and every other person pissed at Alex, has been left alone by me. This is not an accident. I don't take issue with people being pissed at video ads. If I were seeing video ads, I would probably be pissed too. But that doesn't give you the right to call Alex *anything*.



This is entirely contrary to how most ad networks operate. I'll admit I have no experience with AdChoices or how they operate in great detail, but I'm familiar with some other ad networks - and there is absolutely no control for the site owner as to which ads get shown. The ad network places ads on sites based on perceived relevance, based on criteria that the advertiser chooses.

Alex, a sincere thank you for clarifying this.

I PMed you that the main video ad members have complained about was the trailer for the upcoming Dr Seuss Lorax movie from Universal Pictures, as per threads http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt190843.html and http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt191070.html

Which I see that that you have since read

Sliqua-jcooter, everyone has a right to their own opinion. Whatever happened to Plank in the past (like you said, his car exploded) or whether you worship Plank like a brainwashed North Korean who reveres Kim Jong-il as if he were a god, is none of my business. But that doesn't give you any right to tell me what I can say or what I cannot say about your "Dear Leader."

Sweetie, you saying that Plank has bought cars (and multiple ones at it -- I didn't say at the same time, but still the same case nonetheless) is one way of proving his wealth. No ordinary citizen, much less a single American person, can buy multiple cars without the money, right? Second, his association with Autism Speaks is by itself a contradiction of his principles. He used to be against them -- now he is for them. Your words alone are proof that he works with those Aktion-T4 bigots.

But then again, it's not about you or me or Plank personally. It's about the ads, and Plank's inaction on that issue. And again, I'd like to repeat this in boldface, and please don't imitate this. It only makes things worse. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. Whether you worship Plank like a brainwashed North Korean who reveres Kim Jong-il as if he were a god is none of my business. But that doesn't give you any right to tell me what I can say or what I cannot say about your "Dear Leader." That part is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

Enough has been said about Plank and opinions. Back to topic please. Sliqua-jcooter, if you have any more problems, there is a tool called "Personal Message." I'd recommend you bring your diatribes there, sweetie.