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I already PM'ed admin about these two days ago.....at this stage I am getting a wee bit annoyed with them (I mean I would mind if they changed more often, or if they weren't at the top of the page already, or if they were porn)
I bet if you ponied up the cash that Alibre or Global spec is, Admin would put your (blank) ad in their place.
I for one don't mind them much, although i would prefer to get rid of those mid-post ads. Mostly, however, I prefer free to no-ad. They aren't too obtrusive - yet.
Less than two weeks ago we could expect to read through threads without weeding through ads. The only reason these companies want to advertise here is because the users of this forum have generated a powerful community of CAD users. Now we've become victims of our own expertise, in a sense.
Personally, I'm offended by the fact that the administrators of this site don't seem to give a crap about the users. If they did, they wouldn't have even entertained the notion of actually physically interrupting the learning process with these cheesy ads.
Thanks for making this so much like TV. I haven't owned a TV for 13 years now, in part because the viewer has little control over what's shoved down his/her throat at some advertiser's whim.
Soon these threads will be mostly ads. Then the pop-ups will start. Mark my words.
Isn't there something ethical about advertising a competing product in a Pro/E forum ??? Some kind of "conflict of interest" ??? Talk about "biting the hand that feeds it". Maybe Admin should decide which side their bread's buttered on... Edited by: dougr
Although I've only recently become active on the forums, I've been a member here since the beginning - back when it was 'Pro|E Central'. To me, it's always been clear that this site was here to make money for the guys running it. At one time, forum access was restricted to paid members only. Then, I assume when ad revenue picked up, it opened up to everyone for 'free'.
Take a look around - the site's peppered with ads. All the 'newsletters' that get sent out (if you subscribe to them) are not much more than press releases and marketing materials that companies pay to send to us. I don't subscribe to them because they are obviouslyads and not editorial content at all.
Frankly, the ads pay to have this site here, just like they pay to keep your TV going. If they hadn't been able to make a go at it with ad revenue, it would have ceased to exist. I think they want to provide a good place for folks ot come and talk and learn, but I bet it's gotta make money (or at least break even) to keep going.
There are adblockers you can install so you don't have to see them. The Maxthon browser has one built in. Just like for your TV you can Tivo everything and skip the commercials (that's what I do). As far as this site (and other ad sponsored sites ) I just look around them to the actual content.
Thant said, Admin ought to listen because they've got to balance the usefulness of the site with the ad content. Too many ads and the users will go away and their ads will become worthless
I PM'd the admin guys early last week on this issue (when the mid-thread advertisement, MTA's) appeared..... Still no response....
What I will say, similar to dgs, is that I don't mind the ads on the side or the top (in fact I have looked at and opened quite a few of the ones that interest me) as that is the common locationon most websites now-a-days. It is just the MTA's that bug me. I think I'll just have to develop a good mental block for them.....
As for making this a paysite, NO. The whole point here is that the contribution is volunteered byANY user, restricting access will only be detremental to the site in the long run. Advertising revenue for this site is fine by me (maybe a little bit more focused, advertising SW on the ProE side is a bit cheeky), and I think the guys who developed the site deserve any revenue benefits that that brings, but try to remember that the users do look at the advertising, we just don't want to be bombarded with it
I'm not asking that all ads be eliminated. Just give us a chance to communicate with each other without constant interruption.
I fully understand that if it weren't for salespeopleus engineering types wouldn't have any work. Just let us learn, for goodness sake, so we can produce a quality product to sell!
I actually preferred the days when it was a paid site. $10 was cheap enough that any professional could afford it. There was a lot less posting of "send me files" and "how do I turn on my computer".
I do agree that he in-post ads are the most annoying. I would like to see those go as well, but I can live with it. Didn't see the Dice ad, I think they change every time the page loads.
I never paid for access and wouldn't if it went paid again. Too many things at $10 a pop and I can get Pro|E help form the PTC|User email exploder, although I like the forum better.
How about if you discover your latest post is at the top of the page, edit it to be empty or - and then Post your actual words right below the ad so you don't have the annoying gap?
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