Sorry guys – we have to pay the bills. We want to put all our effort into the site, and make it something much, much more. (We want it to grow up and stuff)
You are always welcome to contact me and pass on your thoughts.
Damned bills, damned consumer capitalist system! If only it were all like Star Trek where everyone just did what they are really good at and nobody actually seemed to need money for anything! (At least on the Enterprise. In Deep Space 9 it was a different story.)
Luke and Adrian have made a really neat system. I think they deserve a chance to pay the bills, too.
We put them in the old spot as the google ads. Give it a couple of days. If they’re still annoying, tell me. You’ll probably get ad blindness – I always do.
Ah, I didn’t notice they had been added to the actual map as well, that’s a bit rubbish. However, if keeps the site going then I suppose it must be done.
We tried to avoid the stealth ads in the collage. If you rollover it, you can see the rollover label is a different colour. When we were developing it we had a border around it, the idea being that regulars could avoid the ads. But Luke didn’t like it because it looked ugly. If it still bugs you, tell me, we’ll see if we can work something else out.
Waiting and seeing is fine, I guess, but my first reaction is still a bit less generous than Aimee’s.
If the collage no longer represents what people are actually voting for, that significantly decreases my motive for being here. I can also say with certainty that if there had been ads here when I first showed up, I wouldn’t have stuck around—they make the site seem like something of a scam.
Dang this is so sad.
this site was so cool too. One of the main reasons I spend so much time on this site is because it was so different from all the other ones since it wasn’t filled with dumb ads..
all good things always get ruined. :o (
And why does the site need to become “something much much more” if it was perfect before?
Nimble, it’s not the ads - I consider ads a given on most sites too - it’s the idea of ads being embedded IN the front page collage/map thing—like the ads for Fructis and Coke Zero which are masquerading as actual things people like. I see four at the moment, all taking up big squares, like a lot of people had voted on them. Ads in and of themselves I take no issue with; it’s just when I see ads pretending to be content that I get turned off.
Indeed, having them in the collage is a bit too much, I think. I can live with it, but I don’t particularly like it.
But I must certainly wouldn’t say “ruined”, electronchelle. I find that fairly insulting! Adrian and Luke are doing a good job, and all of this work they do shouldn’t be thrown aside because of some ads.
All the other ads are just fine. Rather unobtrusive for todays standards. Adrian and Luke really deserve to get some food on the table for the great job they’re doing with TBSITW .
The stealth ads in the collage, nah, not such a good idea. But they surely don’t ruin the site, that’s a bit exaggerated. Why not have them positioned in the right/left borders? They’d be on the frontpage but wouldn’t make the slightly sneaky impression they do now.
I understand the idea of adds in the collage area, but like most of the others I agree it sucks a little if it no longer represents 100% what people are actually voting for.
Maybe creating a new collage in the bottom of the current one for adds, same width and (way) smaller height. Those who will pay more could have a bigger add, just like the most voted bests have. It will have a bigger importance and that’s maybe not your idea but at least it won’t interfere with the collage of bests.
Thanks for all the feedback. Of course we’re listening.
We’ve made a few changes. On the front page collage you can now turn off the ads from your profile. Follow your “Edit Profile” link – you will see it above the update profile button. We turned it off by default for you. When you are not logged in, they will come up. This shouldn’t be a problem for members.
We will put up a blog post soon, to explain what is going on, and keep you all in the loop.
Please comment in my profile or email me if you have any further questions or concerns. Thank-you so much for your patience.
Comments
Sorry guys – we have to pay the bills. We want to put all our effort into the site, and make it something much, much more. (We want it to grow up and stuff)
You are always welcome to contact me and pass on your thoughts.
Damned bills, damned consumer capitalist system! If only it were all like Star Trek where everyone just did what they are really good at and nobody actually seemed to need money for anything! (At least on the Enterprise. In Deep Space 9 it was a different story.)
Luke and Adrian have made a really neat system. I think they deserve a chance to pay the bills, too.
I understand, but I wonder if there is another way. Putting the ads at the bottom of the page would be an improvement already…
We put them in the old spot as the google ads. Give it a couple of days. If they’re still annoying, tell me. You’ll probably get ad blindness – I always do.
They’re biiig :-P
The kids gots to eat!
They will become fat. They will grow older and be cheeky and ungrateful. :(
Like all of us. ;)
Ads are good. Ads placed on the Best Stuff In the World map are a lot less good. Bad, even.
I would strongly prefer even regular, annoying, blinky banner ads to stealth ads which subvert the point of the main page/map. :(
Ah, I didn’t notice they had been added to the actual map as well, that’s a bit rubbish. However, if keeps the site going then I suppose it must be done.
*if it
We tried to avoid the stealth ads in the collage. If you rollover it, you can see the rollover label is a different colour. When we were developing it we had a border around it, the idea being that regulars could avoid the ads. But Luke didn’t like it because it looked ugly. If it still bugs you, tell me, we’ll see if we can work something else out.
So does this mean Harry Potter is supporting TBSITW ? I’m glad he’s putting all those galleons in Gringotts to good use. ;)
Waiting and seeing is fine, I guess, but my first reaction is still a bit less generous than Aimee’s.
If the collage no longer represents what people are actually voting for, that significantly decreases my motive for being here. I can also say with certainty that if there had been ads here when I first showed up, I wouldn’t have stuck around—they make the site seem like something of a scam.
You really would have thought that? Hm. I tend to think ads are pretty much a given for websites that are run by individuals..
Yeah, sorry guys… not too crazy about the stealth ads in the collage. :(
Dang this is so sad. this site was so cool too. One of the main reasons I spend so much time on this site is because it was so different from all the other ones since it wasn’t filled with dumb ads..
all good things always get ruined. :o (
And why does the site need to become “something much much more” if it was perfect before?
::sigh::
I totally agree with bailey btw
“Ruined”?! That is ridiculous.
Nimble, it’s not the ads
- I consider ads a given on most sites too -it’s the idea of ads being embedded IN the front page collage/map thing—like the ads for Fructis and Coke Zero which are masquerading as actual things people like. I see four at the moment, all taking up big squares, like a lot of people had voted on them. Ads in and of themselves I take no issue with; it’s just when I see ads pretending to be content that I get turned off.^ The crossed off part of the above comment was not supposed to be crossed off—sorry.
Indeed, having them in the collage is a bit too much, I think. I can live with it, but I don’t particularly like it.
But I must certainly wouldn’t say “ruined”, electronchelle. I find that fairly insulting! Adrian and Luke are doing a good job, and all of this work they do shouldn’t be thrown aside because of some ads.
it’s just when I see ads pretending to be content that I get turned off agree!
All the other ads are just fine. Rather unobtrusive for todays standards. Adrian and Luke really deserve to get some food on the table for the great job they’re doing with TBSITW .
The stealth ads in the collage, nah, not such a good idea. But they surely don’t ruin the site, that’s a bit exaggerated. Why not have them positioned in the right/left borders? They’d be on the frontpage but wouldn’t make the slightly sneaky impression they do now.
I understand the idea of adds in the collage area, but like most of the others I agree it sucks a little if it no longer represents 100% what people are actually voting for.
Maybe creating a new collage in the bottom of the current one for adds, same width and (way) smaller height. Those who will pay more could have a bigger add, just like the most voted bests have. It will have a bigger importance and that’s maybe not your idea but at least it won’t interfere with the collage of bests.
I like adn’s idea. It’s a pretty good compromise.
I have no issue with it. It’s highlighted in purple. Maybe it should also say it’s an ad when the purple pops up.
It’s just ads, not such a big deal.
Hi guys.
Thanks for all the feedback. Of course we’re listening.
We’ve made a few changes. On the front page collage you can now turn off the ads from your profile. Follow your “Edit Profile” link – you will see it above the update profile button. We turned it off by default for you. When you are not logged in, they will come up. This shouldn’t be a problem for members.
We will put up a blog post soon, to explain what is going on, and keep you all in the loop.
Please comment in my profile or email me if you have any further questions or concerns. Thank-you so much for your patience.
Excellent compromise.