Why am I being forced to advertise? - Website bugs

Running Rodent

21/12/2012 at 22:44

Dear RW, I've been caught out today for the first time when a post of mine which mentioned a well known sports brand appeared with a hyperlink to their site that I hadn't put there. By the time I noticed it was too late to go back and change it (I couldn't see the HTML anyway, I would have had to change the actual word). If anything, it's likely to make pretty sure I don't mention any brand names at all in future, so a bit counter productive if it's meant to be a way of generating free advertising. I don't appreciate being made to look like a spammer. Please get rid of it.

cougie

pirate

22/12/2012 at 00:47

So if I say adidas - does it link ?

cougie

pirate

22/12/2012 at 00:48

Oh it doesn't. How odd ?

Ja5onW

22/12/2012 at 07:40

Cougie it links me to their website

Emmy H

22/12/2012 at 07:59

Same here... I get linked to the well known brand. That's Very annoying!

Mr Puffy

22/12/2012 at 08:03

Perhaps this and the aggressive new pop up ad style are an attempt to make some money for the owners of the site?

I wonder how much it costs to run, and what the income is?

I have to say, I rarely look at the rest of the site, and I never click on ads, so I make no financial contribution to the forum at all.
It has to be paid for somehow?

Running Rodent

22/12/2012 at 08:23

I don't object to adverts - I can choose to ignore them - but I do object to appearing to endorse something I haven't. Plus, as a promotional strategy it's pretty dim. Supposing the sentence had been 'I wouldn't wear Adid*s if you paid me, they made my feet bleed and my toenails drop off'? You really want your brand associated with that?

Mr Puffy

22/12/2012 at 08:57

I agree entirely, though I would say that it won't be long before everyone realises it San automated link and ignores them.

I think a warning that when you type a name it may link to that firms website would be appropriate too.

I've seen forums where random words link to bizarre unrelated ads, it undermines the credibility of the forum and makes you wonder why it's there.

cougie

pirate

22/12/2012 at 09:07

Oh that is odd. It links now but it didn't last night.

Can't say I'm that bothered to be honest.

Wilkie

22/12/2012 at 19:24

Just testing how far this goes:

Tesco

Nike

Asics

Traithlon 220

Adidas

Daily Mail

Edited: 22/12/2012 at 19:24

Wilkie

22/12/2012 at 19:25

Hmmm - only the adid*s one turns into a hyperlink.

I guess adid*s are the only ones paying for this so far!

seren nos

pirate

22/12/2012 at 19:28

So it only works for Adidas....

so now is the time to share what you all used to make up for adidas when you were young..in the 70's in the welsh valleys..the common two were

All Day I Dream about Sex

and

A Dunkey Is Dead After Sex

Mr Puffy

22/12/2012 at 19:36

It works for Craghopper

Mr Puffy

22/12/2012 at 19:37

A Dunkey? I've Been up and down the A470 a few times, but I never came across one of them...

seren nos

pirate

22/12/2012 at 19:42

It was what we called Condoms

Wilkie

22/12/2012 at 20:21

How about Sweatshop, StartFitness, Wiggle, New Balance, Saucony, Brooks....

Only New Balance - but it's only a matter of time, I guess.

Edited: 22/12/2012 at 20:23

Millsy1977

22/12/2012 at 20:37

I never buy adidas shoes anymore as they are very narrow. It's the only brand I have had this trouble with and it really puts me off buying them now.

Edited: 22/12/2012 at 20:39

goldbeetle

22/12/2012 at 22:19

Ann Summers

goldbeetle

22/12/2012 at 22:19

Tut

Run Wales

23/12/2012 at 04:19

If there is a any sort of product review for addddiddddas on this site, or in the magazine.... or indeed a review of one of their competitor's products, can we believe that it has been made objectively?