Can someone please explain online ads to me? - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people coming out

MusicIsLife · 11th Aug 2012, 02:13 PM

I wanna know why I keep getting so much "christian dating" ads on my facebook/other sites i visit as well as tons of christian dating spam.

I'm PAGAN. wtf internetz? I think some internet robot is trying to convert me.

Given To Fly · 11th Aug 2012, 02:35 PM

Targeted advertising is one of my biggest internet hates. It really bugs me that websites are able to track what I've been looking at, and I don't mean just the naughty stuff. In my mind it's worse than email spam.

11th Aug 2012, 02:39 PM

If you are using Internet Explorer go to Tools on your menu bar, click on Internet Options and Delete Cookies and History. This will usually help eliminate all of the unwanted ads.

Lance · 11th Aug 2012, 02:52 PM

Installing the add-on Ad Block for google chrome or firefox also helps cut down on ads A LOT.

Given To Fly · 11th Aug 2012, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance

Installing the add-on Ad Block for google chrome or firefox also helps cut down on ads A LOT.

Wow! I never knew that existed -it makes a huge difference, thanks

Vesper · 11th Aug 2012, 04:19 PM

Get the HOSTS file from this website: Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File and learn about what it does as well as how to use it (you can skip straight to the download links near the "Donate" button to download it directly, as it comes with a Readme that will explain how to use it). It helps block essentially ALL of the banner ads and Google ads, as well as malicious websites.

As for why you as a pagan get Christian dating ads, perhaps Christian dating sites deliberately target you because your Internet activity suggests that you're pagan.

Tetraquark · 11th Aug 2012, 05:02 PM

Targeted advertising does fail pretty badly at times*, though when it comes to religion, it can be hard to tell what is intentional proselytizing, as Chouchou suggested, and what is a failed algorithm.

I suspect that it's mostly just messed up algorithms. The browser sees you doing something related to religion, and, because most Americans are Christian, it assumes you're Christian. There wouldn't be a huge amount of pressure to change it, either. The non-religious, if not non-Christians in general, find it more amusing than anything else.

*My favorite: This one dating site has ads all over the place for men seeking girlfriends. I know that they got my gender from the site (the browser thinks I'm male), so why didn't they also get my orientation?

Ridiculous · 11th Aug 2012, 05:57 PM

Advertisements can be served based on your geographical location - does your area have a large Christian population?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chouchou

Get the HOSTS file from this website: Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File and learn about what it does as well as how to use it (you can skip straight to the download links near the "Donate" button to download it directly, as it comes with a Readme that will explain how to use it). It helps block essentially ALL of the banner ads and Google ads, as well as malicious websites.

I haven't looked at the one they have available on that site, but a large hosts file will lead to slowdown as Windows must iterate through the entire thing for every outgoing request and attempt a match for the address.
I add things to my hosts file manually when I need to, to keep it small.

Revan · 11th Aug 2012, 06:07 PM

Well better than getting links to male underwear sites like Aussiebu....wait never mind, that's a good thing

MusicIsLife · 11th Aug 2012, 07:17 PM

xD thanks guys. And if it was related to my location, i'd probably get more greek orthodox or jewish dating site ads if that were the case. Outside of my family I don't know a lot of christians.

11th Aug 2012, 02:13 PM	#1
MusicIsLife EC Addict Full Member Gender: Trans Male Orientation: I like girls :) Out Status: Some people Location: Montréal, QC Age: 24 Posts: 1,792 Join Date: Dec 2007	Can someone please explain online ads to me? I wanna know why I keep getting so much "christian dating" ads on my facebook/other sites i visit as well as tons of christian dating spam. I'm PAGAN. wtf internetz? I think some internet robot is trying to convert me.

11th Aug 2012, 02:35 PM	#2
Given To Fly A wave came crashing... Full Member Gender: Dude Orientation: Other dudes Out Status: Out to all, except ex and her family Location: Birmingham, UK Age: 31 Posts: 2,787 Join Date: Jul 2012	Re: Can someone please explain online ads to me? Targeted advertising is one of my biggest internet hates. It really bugs me that websites are able to track what I've been looking at, and I don't mean just the naughty stuff. In my mind it's worse than email spam. __________________ Lord Of The Dense

11th Aug 2012, 02:39 PM	#3
solost44 Guest Posts: n/a Tournaments Won: 15	Re: Can someone please explain online ads to me? If you are using Internet Explorer go to Tools on your menu bar, click on Internet Options and Delete Cookies and History. This will usually help eliminate all of the unwanted ads.

11th Aug 2012, 02:52 PM	#4
Lance So gay I can't even drive straight! Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Completely Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Age: 25 Posts: 2,079 Join Date: Jul 2012	Re: Can someone please explain online ads to me? Installing the add-on Ad Block for google chrome or firefox also helps cut down on ads A LOT.

11th Aug 2012, 04:19 PM	#6
Vesper Female Gorilla Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Probably asexual/mostly homoromantic. Out Status: To some friends, but not to family Location: Wisconsin, USA Age: 27 Posts: 1,787 Join Date: Oct 2011	Re: Can someone please explain online ads to me? Get the HOSTS file from this website: Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File and learn about what it does as well as how to use it (you can skip straight to the download links near the "Donate" button to download it directly, as it comes with a Readme that will explain how to use it). It helps block essentially ALL of the banner ads and Google ads, as well as malicious websites. As for why you as a pagan get Christian dating ads, perhaps Christian dating sites deliberately target you because your Internet activity suggests that you're pagan. __________________ --- “But evil cannot be made good by revelation, and good cannot be made evil by persecution.” - Helen H. Gardener Last edited by Vesper; 11th Aug 2012 at 04:23 PM..

11th Aug 2012, 05:02 PM	#7
Tetraquark Apprentice Programmer Full Member Gender: Genderfluid (demigirl /androgyne) Orientation: Queer & Fluid Out Status: Anyone who asks (except grandparents) Location: Inside my own head Age: 20 Posts: 852 Join Date: Feb 2012	Re: Can someone please explain online ads to me? Targeted advertising does fail pretty badly at times, though when it comes to religion, it can be hard to tell what is intentional proselytizing, as Chouchou suggested, and what is a failed algorithm. I suspect that it's mostly just messed up algorithms. The browser sees you doing something related to religion, and, because most Americans are Christian, it assumes you're Christian. There wouldn't be a huge amount of pressure to change it, either. The non-religious, if not non-Christians in general, find it more amusing than anything else. My favorite: This one dating site has ads all over the place for men seeking girlfriends. I know that they got my gender from the site (the browser thinks I'm male), so why didn't they also get my orientation? __________________ "I believe our future depends powerfully on how well we understand this Cosmos in which we float like a mote of dust in the morning sky." -- Carl Sagan

11th Aug 2012, 06:07 PM	#9
Revan EC Addict Full Member Gender: Dick Orientation: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Windsor, Ontario Age: 25 Posts: 7,611 Join Date: Jun 2005	Re: Can someone please explain online ads to me? Well better than getting links to male underwear sites like Aussiebu....wait never mind, that's a good thing __________________ "Is there some reason my coffee isn't here? Has she died or something?" - Miranda Priestly. Strength is not defined by physical capacity, but by indomitable will. ~ Mahatma Gandhi Procrastination is like masturbation, in the end you just wind up screwing yourself.

11th Aug 2012, 07:17 PM	#10
MusicIsLife EC Addict Full Member Gender: Trans Male Orientation: I like girls :) Out Status: Some people Location: Montréal, QC Age: 24 Posts: 1,792 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: Can someone please explain online ads to me? xD thanks guys. And if it was related to my location, i'd probably get more greek orthodox or jewish dating site ads if that were the case. Outside of my family I don't know a lot of christians.

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