Hi Folks,
Just under 1 year ago, we explained how different adverts are shown on StatCounter in different parts of the world. This means that here in StatCounter HQ, we don’t actually get to see every single advert shown to our members.
We like to think of StatCounter as a “family show” so we do our best to screen out any nasty adverts. Despite our efforts, however, we had a report last night of another nasty advert being shown on our site to a member in the United States… so now we are asking for your help to eliminate these offensive ads!
If you spot a nasty advert on StatCounter here’s what to do:
- Right click on the advert and select either Copy Shortcut (IE) or Copy Link Location (Netscape) to capture the URL of the advert.
(Please make sure only to RIGHT CLICK on the advert – left clicking would result in you inadvertently supporting the ad.)
- Paste this link or URL into a text editor (e.g. Word or Notepad) to keep it safe until you’re ready to paste it in our blog.
- Please then come here to our blog and post a comment and tell us:
- The type of advert i.e. what’s offensive about it.
- Where the advert was on the StatCounter site e.g. on the left hand side of the homepage.
- Paste the URL info you captured earlier into the comment also. (This allows us to block the advert)
As we explained last year, StatCounter advertising revenue is used to fund our free service – but we only want the nicest, best behaved ads on our site…
Many thanks for your help folks – together let’s stamp out these nasty ads!
By the way, when we say “nasty” adverts we mean any adverts that contain nudity, suggestive poses, sex, sex phonelines, escort services etc. All the kind of things that WE don’t want and YOU don’t expect to stumble upon when you are looking at StatCounter!
Update August 2008
Hi all,
Due to the amount of spam comments we’re receiving on this post, we’re now closing off the comments.
If you spot any nasty adverts, please post the details in the comments to any of our latest blog posts and we will be happy to take care of them.
Thank you!
I dont see any offensive ads around here, but if I see one, I’ll report it.
I’m delighted that you are going after those nasty Adverts…….we support you …….great job guys !
This is an awesome addition to the SC features but you guys surely need to make a good revenue too so as long as both parties are happy… its great!
Thats a start! Will report offensive ads here ..
Keep up the great work, guys. But FYI, Netscape is dead:
http://blog.netscape.com/2007/12/28/end-of-support-for-netscape-web-browsers/
So for future instructions maybe “Copy Link Location (Firefox) to capture the URL of the advert” 🙂
i also have no problem with viewing any type of ads, but if the statcounter team decided to make a clean-up here i go:
The ad said something like: “i’m looking for young girls”, or “are you looking for young girls” i don’t really remember
the bottom line is that it’s dating/sex related
http://pagead2.googlesyndication…<< offensive URL removed >>
cheers,
Tom
StatCounter Team Response:
Many thanks for this report Tom – we appreciate it!
This URL has now been blocked.
I have no problem with any kind of ads, because I am more than eighteen years old and have parental permission to see any kind of porn 😉 I don’t really understand what’s the problem with these kind of ads, so the only responsability of clicking or not clicking at them is that of the user… And, in the case of minor-aged people, parental advisory is the only way, if any needed… Anyway, I love Statcounter and, if do you think there is a motive of doing so, it-‘s OK then. I haven’t seen any “nasty” adverts, but I’ll keep on an eye (I live in Spain)… 😉
Greetings for your lovely service.
This is an awesome addition to the SC features but you guys surely need to make a good revenue too so as long as both parties are happy… its great!
Don’t use adblockers – they’re dangerous for your system and will eventually crash your computer.
On the other hand: the more ads you click the more safe your computer will be.
I LOVE ADS!
I use AdBlock Plus. If you’re getting unwanted adverts, remove the ads, and tell the advertisement companies (eg Google Adsense Team). I don’t have any adverts in my browser when I view StatCounter.
I think that advertisements hinder the trustworthyness of sites, making people think they are going to be conned into a scam or something.
StatCounter Team Response:
Hi World 9,
As we explain above, StatCounter advertising revenue is used to fund our free service. Without this revenue we simply couldn’t provide the free service we do! So getting removing the ads is really not an option. 😉 Most of our members, however, understand this and don’t have a problem with the majority of the ads we show.
Thanks for your comment!
Only major issue I have with them is super slow ad loading at times. Usually just ignore them though, so I haven’t noticed any bad ones.
forget about conspiracy theories… this is a total an absolute failure from the guys over at google.
One mistake by someone who reviews ads that are submitted to show as google ads could lead to a big loss in revenue to some sites.
You are right in saying that there are other ways of getting the info on the site that is being displayed, but… the information that is gathered from a right cilck and copy shortcut is greater than any screen snapshot. The revenue gathered from “accidental” clicks is a tiny fraction of normal subscriptions.
You might say after reading this post that “this guy must work for statcounter”… but, armed with more knowledge than you I can defend the service that these guys have given for FREE to us for so many years,
regards
Paul
StatCounter Team Response:
Thanks for your support Paul!
Craig, if an ad isn’t nasty, people needn’t right-click. If the ad -is- nasty, any website administrator would agree that such content is not desirable for websites that prefer to have an image of decency and taking steps against such ads is no more than appropriate.
Referring to methods for preventing advertisements is all fine and dandy, but you must understand that most of the people that visit your website are not are tech-savvy and just work with Internet Explorer and its rubbish-rendering goodness (let alone security issues).
One out of three people visiting my website still use Internet Explorer, I wouldn’t want to show them porn.
I think this is very sneaky, and a bit cheeky StatCounter team. By people right clicking, you are bound to get some “accidental” clicks, and I’m pretty disappointed. You don’t need to copy and paste it, look at it, and type it… take a screenshot… or if you’re using FF there’s Ad Block Plus for those that don’t want to see “nasty” ads.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for monetizing a service with ads, but asking users to do this is blatantly just trying to increase your income in an underhand way. For once I disapprove SC team.
StatCounter Team Response:
Craig,
We’re not being sneaky at all! We genuinely need your help. Let me explain:
If you take a screenshot and send it to us then we can see the advert and any displayed URL. BUT we can’t see the internal or destination URL. We confirmed yesterday with our account manager that it is the internal URL (not the visible one) that we must block in order to ban the ad from our site. The only way of getting the internal link is to follow the instructions above.
We categorically, 100% do not want ANY accidental clicks on these ads – we want them GONE! (Note that I’ve edited the blog post to ensure people only RIGHT CLICK)
While Ad Block might work for some people…it doesn’t solve the root problem – we want these nasty ads GONE! The only way to do this is with your help.
I hope that explains Craig!
Didn’t see any bad advertisements around here, but if I see one, I’ll report it for sure.
@PAyDayLoan – They are talking about the ads on the statcounter website!
Warm geeky regards
Ads? What ads! I don’t get statcounter ads on my site with the free service.
StatCounter Team Response:
Hi Payday,
As Karl explains, we are referring to the adverts we show on StatCounter. No adverts are EVER put on your site.
Hope that clears things up!
A nice way to tackle nasty ads. Since ads are nowadays region based it is best to let the ad viewers report about them. It will be then easy for you to monitor or check the ads.
Hope this will reduce the number of those nasty ads.
Thats a start! Will report offensive ads here!
Good initiation by SC.
Will post here whenever I get to see them.
SC Rocks!!
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