Top bar advertising

[TalkinBoutWhat]

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.

Except the remove header link doesn't work consistently? It says "show header" even though I'm seeing the annoying moving bar again.

Remove header button behaves differently in different browsers. Looks like its been developed on IE/Edge rather than against Open Standards to work with all browsers.

That said, its not operating as described on Edge either - the big ugly banner adverts still continue to dominate space and time.

Some trackers are reporting insecure - combined with the slow loading you may wish to look at your CDN hosting.

I've just tried MN on Edge, without an ad blocker. It's appalling! How could anyone possibly use that?
Back to Firefox in a hurry. Pop-ups blocked and ABP installed. That 'mumsnet' banner still takes up too much screen, but at least it's usable like this.

'Remove Header' does not work at all on Edge.

Works on chrome on desktop for me but I mean like what is the point, of all the things that need doing (the 1px border that follows you down the screen on mobile is still there, ad issues) to spend time putting in a link to remove the top branding because one person at work wants to mumsnet at without being caught at work, bizarre.

I came on to complain about this blasted header that keeps covering up half the screen. Makes for some unpleasant browsing on MN and encouraged me to spend time elsewhere as I couldn't cope with the stupid header anymore.

I've found the "remove header" and am hoping it will work for awhile. Even so, I don't want to have to keep clicking the button to remove the header. Very annoying.

Shooting yourselves in the foot on this one, MN. (IMO)

And the page refreshes after I post - and even though I've clicked "remove header" I still get the header blocking the page. Button shows "show header" so it's supposedly still in effect.

I can see my MN time decreasing over this...

We've sorted the original issue whereby the ad was obscuring links at the top of page
This hasn't made any difference to me. I have no ads at the top of the page (Firefox) and have always had to go to the top of the page to see the links there. If I want to click 'TIO' for instance, I have to scroll up.

and we've removed the "lights on" message at the top of the screen in favour of just the word advertisement.
How can this be any sort of improvement? The white space is still large, and it takes several seconds to retreat. I am still left 'looking through a letterbox'

I don't think anyone was complaining about the content of the message in the space per se. It was the use of the space itself and the obscuring of part of the thread.

Is this it now? A third of the screen taken up with a static white-space header and a 'remove header' function that doesn't? I'm guessing this is what I'm stuck with.

Lovely.

Please. I'm asking nicely. Make. It. Stop.

I understand the revenue from advertising is a lovely treat but it is fine as long as it isn't this drop down rubbish.

Please sort it. Don't make my inner core of cow emerge.

It is really, really awful, HQ.

Not only does the 'remove header' not work at all, but the ads are really annoying. Just dropping down there and jumping about it.

You're not going to make the dosh out of advertising if we all come on here less because we can't bear it, are you?

Haha - the remove header just removes the text, not the huge area of white space! Obviously just a piss-take now.

I use ad block because MN is unusable without it. I am not a free-rider because MN make money out of its posters. All of the product testing and reviews are advertising - they may give away a fridge freezer or a £50 voucher but they are receiving huge amounts from the advertisers. Advertisers who only use MN to plug their products because of all the people using the site.

I think the "accept it or fuck off" attitude is very funny. If my boss wasn't so self aware as to get me to moderate his outgoing messages then he would write howlers like the ones seen on here. Not the greatest business model.

I also fail to see why you feel the need to push Bryan Adams and his sunglasses so much.

I bear the man no malice. It just makes me want to cry softly into a pillow.

I'm not arsed about Sam Smith either.

I like John Lewis. Just as well he doesn't bloody sing or else he'd be on all the time too. Ah. Wait...

The clicky off header thing isn't much of a solution for me. I want it the way it was before.

Don't make me beg. Just please, please sort it.

I don't think that the cheerleaders singing 'accept it or fuck off' are doing MNHQ any favours. Quite the opposite really, in business strategy terms. All very odd.

Nothing has changed. I'm afraid it is good bye from me.

I guess you are having a dig at me there Liney

if you dont like it do what clownfaces is doing and dont use it

yes its annoying but in the grand scheme of things, if its worth cutting off your nose to spite your face then go ahead

its no big deal if people leave or stay over this, dig and hole and get over it

I'm sure MNHQ will see the number of users and the corresponding income from adverts, continue to grow.
The number of people sufficiently pissed off with the adverts to leave the site will be insignificant.
And when like many popular websites it is eventually 'monetised' it will raise tens of millions for the founders.
I'd be surprised if someone like www.internetbrands.com/ hasn't been watching for the opportunity.
Good luck to them, they have worked hard for it.
It just won't be the same forum that long term users remember.

No idea what their 2017 accounts say, but the profitability of MN fell between 2015 and 2016. Any corporation interested in acquiring MN would want to see what is happening in 2017, and whether this was a downward trend.

It isn't just numbers of users the advertisers are bothered about, it is their demographic, which is changing. Treating users with contempt ("those people", "free-riders") will only tip the balance further in the "wrong" direction.

I installed an adblocker just a few days ago and have been on MN loads (I mean hours a day) as have been laid up and bored and my blocker tells me I've blocked thousands of ads and saved quite a lot of data just in these few days.

'The number of people sufficiently pissed off with the adverts to leave the site will be insignificant.'

Yes that seems likely, but to say it means you're a crawly MN bum licker apparently. I'd imagine profitability fell for many other reasons rather than a few ads.

'Treating users with contempt ("those people", "free-riders") will only tip the balance further in the "wrong" direction.'

But 'these people' was about a shitstirring now banned person, what was wrong with that? she could have said 'these arseholes' so was quite restrained really. If that 'tips the balance ' and some whingers have to join 'splinter groups' to spend all day going 'waaah MN is shit we hate it!! but can't stop analysing it!' well who cares really? I doubt it's any great loss.

The banned poster was not a shit stirrer, but then it must be quite difficult for you to see Myrtle with your head stuck so far MNHQs arse

I used to think like that that Myrtle. And I hugely supported MNHQ to the point I was accused of being a sock puppet of Justine on one thread under a different name!

There was a phase either last year or the year before (I can't remember exactly when and I NC and dereg regularly since the hacking) when in my view, a lot of MNetters did go over the top and felt that as (often) long-term members, they should have a large say in how the site was run.

There were lots of 'demands' around trans issues and disablism when in my view, a lot of posters were really out of order in the way they spoke to and about MNHQ and the 'demands' they made. Even legal action was threatened if certain threads weren't removed or threatened flouncing if MNHQ didn't publically make certain statements. And to be honest, the gender critical posters did railroad MN into letting a lot of things stand that weren't acceptable previously. And I am gender critical and have huge concerns but I wasn't Spartacus for a variety of reasons and I didn't like some of the content of the threads.

A lot of posters got carried away with their perceived 'ownership' of the site at the time so Justine and MNHQ made a few statements at the time which I widely agreed with.

However, when it comes to matters that aren't just whether one group of people thinks one (or several) attitudes are acceptable or not... but valid concerns about ads ruining use, trolls massively infiltrating the site, people being banned for troll hunting when MN moderation does not seem to be doing the job - the 'well if you don't like it, off you fuck' kind of attitude just doesn't seem good enough really.

Though I also see that all the crap MNHQ put up with during the times I mentioned led to the sea change that occured with good reason. But now I think they're throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

No idea what their 2017 accounts say, but the profitability of MN fell between 2015 and 2016

No. Published accounts do not show 'profitability' . They show bottom line profits only. There may have been investments out of income that will actually improve future profits. A prospective buyer will scrutinise the detailed balance sheet over several years.

'but then it must be quite difficult for you to see Myrtle with your head stuck so far MNHQs arse'
see what I mean?

I could equally say it must be difficult for you to see with your head so far up a few pbps arses but then I'm not a childish arsehole.