About those crazy ads.. in Site Updates (Josh)

  • March 20, 2024, 10:28 p.m.
  • |
  • Public

Hey everyone,

First, thanks for all of your help with the initial testing of the beta site! We still have a lot of work ahead of us to iron out the bugs, but it’s really promising to have made so much progress in such a short amount of time. A breath of fresh air, truly. More to come on that front soon.

Anyway, let’s talk about that craziness with the ads that was affecting those of you that don’t subscribe. A week or two back I started getting emails from users telling me “enough with the ads!!”. I had no clue what was going on, so I hit up Buffy. Here’s a little peek behind the curtain:

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Okay, it wasn’t either of us. So uh.. what could it be? I dug into it, and it turns out that for some reason Google Adsense (the platform we use to run ads on the site) decided to start running experiments on its own. Like, it just went for it. This included ads in the middle of entries, in comment lists, basically anywhere it felt like shoving them. The feature is called “Auto Ads” and yeah — it’s a lot! I went in and turned it off, and, well.. it then turned itself back on. Multiple times! As a sanity check Buffy went in to try turning it off himself, and I guess it likes him better or something because it stuck after that. Whew.

The funny thing about all this is that despite the frankly horrible user experience, revenue did go up by 15% during the experiment. So, in Google’s eyes that was a total success. Me? Not so much. Yeesh.

Anywho, that’s that. We’re busy bees behind the scenes working on the beta, more to come on that very soon.

A story in three parts:
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<3,
-J


Last updated March 20, 2024


Pretend Mulling March 20, 2024

There are extensions that should block the worst of the ads. I'm on Firefox and use AdGuard AdBlocker and Privacy Badger. Both are free, and they work really well. (I don't use Chrome or Safari, so I don't know what extensions they have.)

josh Pretend Mulling ⋅ March 20, 2024

Those extensions are great and I use them myself, but I'd politely urge you to turn them off on Prosebox (or subscribe if you want to get rid of the ads completely), as our already pretty meager ad revenue has been steadily declining year over year.

Jodie March 20, 2024

I wonder why I have never seen an dde here? Maybe they like canadoians better and maybe we have different laws? Just so you and Buffy both know I really appreciate everything you do for us.

Shattered March 20, 2024

I am also noticing the spam is making a comeback…

gypsy spirit March 20, 2024

thank you. Yes those ads were a nuisance for sure but I was finally able to alter some settings and that helped. I knew it wasn't you guys...google takes on a life of its own too often...cheeky lot!
Thanks p

TellTaleHeart March 20, 2024

Thanks for fixing that!

NorthernSeeker March 21, 2024

Bedtime for Moki, that's the story I see. Thanks for your work.

Mr. Mofo March 22, 2024

Is Mochi preparing for their opera debut?

Oswego March 23, 2024

How do we donate to Prosebox. I’ve been here ten years now, and it’s a vital part of my daily life! Thank you!!

synapse March 30, 2024

thanks for the update (and explaining why it is worth it to Google). glad you don't share their priorities. sorry I'm too broke to hold up my end. I'm no developer but if my time is needed please do HMU.

SambucaofDoom April 03, 2024

Mochi is so cute!!! ^^

Charlotte, Light and Dark April 12, 2024 (edited April 12, 2024)

Edited

DISGUSTED to see snti-Biden merchandise being advised here. I thought you were better than that. Damn.

josh Charlotte, Light and Dark ⋅ April 16, 2024

The process by which ads are chosen by Google to show up on the site is opaque and automated. I don't go out and hand pick them, and I certainly don't "partner" with the companies that pay for ad impressions. An ad being shown on Prosebox in no way implies endorsement. That said, the tasteless t-shirt ads have all been blocked. If you see other ads like that show up please shoot me a screencap. I assume it's only going to get worse as we get closer to Nov

Charlotte, Light and Dark josh ⋅ April 25, 2024

Thank you! The stakes have never been higher!

sparklespeterson April 14, 2024

I cannot find my account information
I've looked under settings, and there is nothing there

Could someone please help me?
I was told that I was no longer subscribed, but when I put in my email address, it tells me that I already have an account.

Thank you :)

Gilbert653 April 30, 2024

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At Davy Jones's Locker May 12, 2024

Hello, I understand the spam conditions. But I am a new user wasn't warned, wrote out a new entry and the entire thing was deleted because I am unable to make public entries for three weeks. Now I am unsure what to do. My writing is lost, and I realise there is no point in even joining because I need to wait three weeks to even share?

Cat Mommy At Davy Jones's Locker ⋅ May 15, 2024 (edited May 15, 2024)

Edited

It's ridiculous. And I'm so sorry you are being treated so unkindly here. We need new members, please don't give up yet.

Deleted user At Davy Jones's Locker ⋅ May 27, 2024

This site is dying. 🤷🏼‍♀️

sparklespeterson May 25, 2024

I'm seeing ads like I'm not a paying member, and the $5 a month is still coming out of my account.

Help please:)

Deleted user sparklespeterson ⋅ May 27, 2024

Did someone help you?

sparklespeterson Deleted user ⋅ May 27, 2024

No, I've gotten nothing
thank you for asking.
That was nice:)

Deleted user sparklespeterson ⋅ May 27, 2024

😊

Deleted user May 27, 2024

The ads are becoming huge. Is this okay? I have also heard that's some people paying members are getting ads also. What's going on?

Assignment Help UK May 31, 2024

Nice! I'm grateful to read it.

https://no1assignmenthelp.co.uk/

woman in the moon June 01, 2024

I pay so I don't get ads - right? I pay because I understand the effort that goes into this place. Generally ads don't bother me. So anyway.
Something that does bother me is the warning when editing comments. Have you changed the wording on that recently? I can't remember how it was exactly but it seems a bit different now.

sparklespeterson June 01, 2024

I'm being charged each month to see ads.
According to prosebox I do have an account.
My email and request for help have all gone unanswered.

I'm giving you $60 a year.
For nothing.

I want to cancel my subscription

Deleted user sparklespeterson ⋅ June 05, 2024

Still didn't email or anything? Oh my God. I am sorry. That's why I stopped my own because it didn't get it. 😔 This place is dying, I hope there's something else we can go or someone who really would like you work of this place every day.

sparklespeterson Deleted user ⋅ June 05, 2024

Nope a big fat nothing
It's ok I like paying for a service and getting nothing in return😆

You are the only one that seems to have noticed my notes. Thank you

Deleted user sparklespeterson ⋅ June 05, 2024

🫶🏼

Deleted user June 06, 2024

I am scared that no one works this anymore. 😧 The only really thing that comes are SPAM and other things, not people. Also people are giving you money and it looks like it's not working. I only get it for one month, I even I saw that things are going very bad about here.

Camdengirl June 09, 2024 (edited June 09, 2024)

Edited

Hi Josh

I wondered if there was merit in sharing how many users and how many subscribers the site has?
Basically the assumption is “oh there’s loads of people, someone else will do it” and not understanding how much developers cost plus how long it takes them to fix glitches….

Deleted user June 18, 2024

BRUCE?

sparklespeterson Deleted user ⋅ June 18, 2024

😆😆😆😆

Deleted user sparklespeterson ⋅ June 18, 2024

He's the 🐄🐮DAIRY MASTER 🐄🐮!! LoL 😂

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