I just read that as of this weekend there will be ads here. Let's hope these will be tasteful and not pop-ups, lest this excellent forum--one of the few places still worth visitng on the internet regularly-- will become yet another online nightmare of tacky and obtrusive advertising that diminishes the quality of the content. Personally, I'd rather pay an annual fee--let's say the cost of a typical $20 Fodors guide, and have quality content without the ads, and probably the kiddie/racist/troll posters, too.

I'm with you, SN!! I'd gladly pay as well. However, I doubt many people would as they are less frequent users.

I still support registration to help cut back on the silliness but that seems to be something fodors doesn't want to consider.

Oh come on! Imagine the advertising opportunities available. For instance: "Hurry on down to Babes-R-Us where frequent fliers earn points good for free travel! Work your way up to the Mile High Club! Fear of flying? No Problem! Enroll in Miss Kitty's remedial flight school. Lap-children at least 21 years of age welcome." Obviously travel advertising could be beneficial to some of the regulars here.

Hey, if you are so high falootin that some little ol' ad in the age of ads bothers you, then just maybe you should go somewhere's else.

Whaddaya think?

Can you do something about the font you guys use? It is hard for us old farts to read....

Yeah I hope it aint them silly, annoying, stupid sound effect pop ups like they have on the weather channel website, my second favorite place after Fodors!

I don't mind the banner ads, so long as they're not pop-ups. How irritating is it to try to read text while some airplane or car is traveling across your screen and there's no way to close it? Arrrrrgh!

I'm not thrilled either. There is nothing so annoying as those stupid pop up ads that flash, blink, play music and anything else to distract you from the information you're looking for. I would gladly register & pay a fee to keep the ads (and the trolls - today was especially bad) off this forum.

How would that help? Trolls can pay, too. (They just use little troll currency. . .)

Well, if the ads are the type of banners that spread across the top of the page, you just shift your window so that the top of the page is off the top of the screen . . . .

Author: xxx ([email protected])
Date: 09/20/2002, 03:56 pm
Message: Noads, why not just send Fodors a check for $10,000 this month? That way they could probably meet your request and not collect the income from the ads. After all, why should they worry about breaking even?


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Author: Blondie ([email protected])
Date: 09/20/2002, 03:58 pm
Message: Are the ads for tacos?


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Author: nina ([email protected])
Date: 09/20/2002, 03:59 pm
Message: NOADS = NOFODORS. Who do you think is paying for this website?


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Author: XOX ([email protected])
Date: 09/20/2002, 03:59 pm
Message: What in the world do you mean by "NO ADS NO ADS NO ADS?"


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Author: Jed ([email protected])
Date: 09/20/2002, 04:07 pm
Message: I don't like ads, but I love reading Fordors for free. I'll take the ads.

Ain't nothin perfekt.


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Author: h ([email protected])
Date: 09/20/2002, 04:10 pm
Message: to stop the ads simply go to www.downloads.com and do a search for "Pop Up Stopper". Install it and you won't have to deal with those annoying POP UP ads.

To stop banner ads do a search for webwasher, install it and you wont' ahve to view banner ads.

Ads do take up processing power of your computer, so viewing pages is much slower with them.



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Author: noads ([email protected])
Date: 09/20/2002, 04:31 pm
Message: Breaking even??? I don't understand. This web site IS Fodors advertising and certainly comes from their advertising budget. No doubt they'd like to make some profit from this web site but I doubt that was ever the real intention.
I'm sure it will come to pass and most everyone will meekly accept the barrage of yet more inane advertising but I, for one, am issuing a protest.


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Author: X ([email protected])
Date: 09/20/2002, 04:40 pm
Message:
Personally, I'm looking forward to the ads. In fact, I love travel ads. The more travel information, the better. I can sort out what travel info I want, or want to buy. In fact, I don't even care if they are "tasteful."

Congratulations, and thanks, Fodors.

Ooooohhhh - Grafting Threads, verry slick!

To "personally": If you think you're going to get interesting travel ads, I am afraid you are dead wrong. The message from Fodors reads the ads will emerge "from travel-service providers and other advertisers." Other advertisers = life insurance quotes, television promotions and Ronco Showtime ovens.

Hey, Fodors, here are the ads I want to see. Send your AEs out to:

TLC for "Trading Spaces" ads. I want to know what episodes are coming up.

Any oneline bookstore. I'd like ads with a link to bestseller list.

Nautica because the male models are so gorgeous.

Hammecher Schlemmer (yes, I know, it's spelled wrong) because I always need gift ideas.

Any resort or destination for inspiration.

Any age-defying potions and lotions; I'm losing the war on wrinkles fast!

Late Night with David Letterman for daily ads on his guests so I'll know if I should stay up late or not.

I could go on and on. Anyone else?

Question on new Fodor Ads

I personally don't have a problem with the general issue of ads appearing on the message boards, since this is a free board. (Although I will admit the constant flashing of the ad is quite irritating, but that's another topic.)

However, I notice that the ad today is from Expedia, and it got me wondering whether this will have a chilling impact on future posters abilities to make critical comments about that, or any other, advertiser. I know there were some threads a while back detailing some bitter difficulties with Travelocity, and there were plenty of negative posts about that company. Would this mean that Fodors would be inclined to pull any negative posts about an advertiser? Just a thought.

Now I'm really confused.

I posted the above message as the start of a NEW SEPARATE THREAD earlier today (and not at 1:12 pm).

Now, it appears that thread is gone, and my post has been grafted onto this thread.

I guess you could say it logically fits here, but I'm a little disoriented as to why someone is moving things around.

Anyone have any idea whats going on? :cratching my head in bewilderment::