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Original poster

Top bar advertising

488 replies

TalkinBoutWhat · 23/10/2017 13:17

MN, PLEASE fix this advertising bar at the top of the computer screen.

It is so large, that I can't actually click on any of the MN links that are at the top of the page. (eg, active, I'm on, etc).

Right now, on Site Stuff, I can't even click 'Site Stuff' to get other threads in this section. It's hidden by the ad, which is NOT scrolling up and away the way I've seen others do. It's just sitting there. The ONLY threads I can get onto are the active ones on the right hand side of the screen, and only the ones lower down the list as the top ones are hidden by the Ad. (Experian and Marks and Spencers, are the two so far....)

You did this before, we all complained, you apologised and said it shouldn't have been loaded on as you were testing something new. I really hope this was a mistake, because it is IMPOSSIBLE to navigate the site.

OP posts:
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21
Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/10/2017 18:41

If in future posters are expected to pay for an ad free experience, I wonder what will happen to those who don't wish to pay but are using an ad blocker?

It's one thing if this is just a personal preference, but quite another when so many posters are saying the site's unusable if the ads aren't blocked ...

Laiste · 27/10/2017 18:26

Clicking the header link doesn't make it go away for me even for the page i'm on. It literally just shoots me up to the top of the thread Confused

Still got the 16 second drop down white box. I guess that comes under the we'll have to wait as it's a 'bill board'.

WaxOnFeckOff · 27/10/2017 17:58

Nope, I wont be paying a subscription either, I'm really not sure what the thinking behind that is?

Bucketsandspoons · 27/10/2017 17:55

It looks like currently 'remove header' turns off the header on the page you're currently on, but you have to manually turn it off on every page you open?

I certainly think the contents are worth a subscription, but would be very wary indeed of signing up as was here through the last massive security breach when the site was hacked.

clownfaces · 27/10/2017 17:48

It hasn't made the slightest bit of difference.
I really, really cannot stand it. No mn for me again this evening.

WaxOnFeckOff · 27/10/2017 17:45

This is positively the most annoying thing MN has done. Just get rid of it altogether FFS

They can't because companies have paid for a certain size of Ad.

DressedCrab · 27/10/2017 17:34

Remove header isn't working. This is positively the most annoying thing MN has done. Just get rid of it altogether FFS.

ToadTheVampireThreadKiller · 27/10/2017 17:28

I also clicked remove header but it is back, the page scrolls up under the top where it says menu so no access to any of the useful bits at all.

I am really sick of it now, I keep popping back to see if it has improved but it hasn't.

WaxOnFeckOff · 27/10/2017 17:22

Sounds good but doesn't work. I clicked remove header and it did - sort off. Went away, came back (still logged in) and as the header was sitting with the spinny thing, I allowed ads back and they came back. The remove header hadn't stayed on. Clicked it again and I still have the banner adds. The whole page freezes for a second every time you refresh the screen for the posts your are on etc. It's a pile of shite and ruining the experience for me. I'll give it a couple of days and then i'm off. i don't mind the adverts being there but this is annoying and frustrating.

Laiste · 27/10/2017 17:19

I've clicked the remove header link and nothing is changing. I'm just taken back to the OP of this thread ....

Is the 'header' the permanent strap with mumsnet and then the search bar, my mumsnet and menu up there? 'Cos that's not going away.

hiddley · 27/10/2017 16:22

Sounds good.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 27/10/2017 16:16

Hi all,
To update you, the changes we've made now since this thread started are as follows:

We've sorted the original issue whereby the ad was obscuring links at the top of page and we've removed the "lights on" message at the top of the screen in favour of just the word advertisement. We've also introduced a "Remove header" link - you can find that link right at the bottom of the page. It only works if you're logged in and once clicked will stay on for 24 hours unless you re-click on Show Header.

Other things we are still currently working on: cutting right back on the number of Billboards shown (those are the very big ones at the top of the page) - we have some agreements in place so we can't do this overnight - plus seeing if we can load the ad more quickly/ hold it for less time at the top of the page. The other things is a premium version of Mumsnet (cf Reddit Gold) for those who'd rather subscribe than have any display ads. (This is in scoping out phase so will take a wee while but we'll give you an update on our progress as soon as we can).

Thanks, as ever, for all the input we do appreciate it - we are committed to making Mumsnet as usable as possible while also, dare I say it, keeping the lights on.

Bucketsandspoons · 27/10/2017 15:29

Yes, it does look like this is a 'get used to it' situation Sad

Sorry, but I just installed the ad blocker here on the laptop. That's now as well as the adblocker I had to install some months back on the ipad when too much advertising made the site unusable on it.

I'm afraid I don't regard it as 'free riding' as MNHQ have made the choice to make the site unusable for me without it.

WaxOnFeckOff · 27/10/2017 12:27

Yes, funny that...

Still hacked off. I suspect it will be a case of just waiting until we get used to the change. Hmm

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/10/2017 12:21

Okay, so it was Monday afternoon when MNHQ said "The tech team have found the issue with the large ad covering the links" and that they were "working on a fix right now"

Given that this was four days ago, it makes you wonder why users are still finding the site eaten by ads. It almost seems that MN don't actually wish to moderate the ad content at all ...

Laiste · 27/10/2017 10:34

reflexfaith - Maybe we should ask Mumsnet headquarters for an adblocker board on here we could discuss which are the best ones to use etc?

The irony if that becoming a thing as a result of trying to force too many ads down our throat the current situation is beautiful :)

tiggytape · 27/10/2017 10:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LazyDailyMailJournos · 27/10/2017 10:07

I would be happy to whitelist MN if they could get appropriate and controlled adverts. Sidebar - fine. Top bar - ideally not to big (the massive lump that is currently at the top is ridiculous). And I don't want page-takeovers or auto-play/animations - if I want to see something then I'll click on it.

As for popping up in the middle of threads - no. It's horrendously intrusive and you cannot effectively control where they appear. Do MN's advertisers really think it's appropriate product placement to have their wares slap bang in the middle of a thread about DV?

If they truly rely on advertising to "keep the lights on" then they need to get better at it.

I understand the underlying threat of only being able to keep MN free to use if MNHQ can run adverts. But as others have said, they rely on users to do quite a lot already - we do a lot of the moderating work for them (by thread/post reporting). We generate content which MNHQ use on Twitter and FB to promote the site. The content is also invariably lifted by media outlets and whilst MNHQ claim that they don't like this, it generates further FREE publicity and clicks for MN so I can't help but wonder if this explains the rather lack-lustre approach to the Daily Mail, the Wright Stuff, HuffPost etc., all lifting threads and content from here.

So I presume the threat of making the site subscription only, is largely an empty one, because MNHQ know that if they did then users would expect all of this to be sorted out for them. And that's before you take into account the number of people who would desert the site because they don't want to pay. Or people like me who think it would be a cold day in hell before I gave MN my bank details after all of the security issues they've had...

I like MN. It's funny, engaging, helpful and a great resource. If you need a way to monetise your offering - which is fine because at the end of the day we all have bills to pay - then why not ask posters to give input? Run polls? Ask for suggestions? Engage with the people who use the site?

reflexfaith · 27/10/2017 09:55

Maybe we should ask Mumsnet headquarters for an adblocker board on here
we could discuss which are the best ones to use etc?

LazyDailyMailJournos · 27/10/2017 09:46

Toothfairy - download the AdBlock extension for Chrome. I use a Chromebook as well and MN was completely unusable for me until I installed AdBlock.

thetoothfairywhoforgot · 27/10/2017 09:21

I'm on a chromebook and the ads are covering 3/4 or my screen and appear every time I go to new pages. Tis driving me crazy.

Laiste · 27/10/2017 08:10

relax i've got uBlock, Adblock, Disconect, NoScript and Yahoo Hide Ad Panel. The only problem i get sometimes is watching the 'on air' videos on the QVC website. (no massive loss) Everything else works fine.

This addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ is a link to the firefox smorgasbord of ad ons. Grin

If you're new to ad ons don't be afraid. Google the one's for your platform and just download them. You can just turn them off again with a click.

GladAllOver · 26/10/2017 22:17

For those using Firefox, the first step is to go into the settings and check 'block popups'. You might find that does enough for you. But you can still use an add blocker as well to improve things further.

yawning801 · 26/10/2017 21:39

This problem has resulted in me using MN a lot less in the last few days. With every page I click there comes a little drop-down advert, blank, which buffers for a few seconds and then as soon as I want to click on something it explodes into a massive Lullabella/John Lewis/other stupid advert that takes up about a quarter of the page! Annoying is an understatement. Said advert also results in the page jumping around so that my finger/mouse clicks on the advert, rather than the Active/TIO button.

Listen to the MNetters, MNHQ!

ssd · 26/10/2017 21:29

brasty, I dont think of all these comments I'm being the rude one.

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