[Doug Nelson]

RetouchPRO is non-commercial, and probably will remain so for some time, but I didn't intend for it to be. I still hope to eventually be able to expand it into commercial areas.

amazon.com is having some problems, the Honor System links don't work even from within their own site. Thanks for letting me know about that, I sent them an email.

[chrishoggy]

This works
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/pay...297929-5227105

[Kraellin]

like i said, i dont mind google ads providing the context sensitive algo is working well. in fact, i've already clicked on one here, the one for getting picasso free from google. that is helpful. the ads i hate most are the animated banner ads with idiot things on them like 'shoot the duck and win a new car!' in glaring, bright colors and constantly flashing animations. those i can live without.

but the bottom line is, if donations arent keeping the site alive, then do whatever it takes, including 'shoot the ducks' if that's necessary. we love this site. i love this site. i'm just poor is all or i'd fund the thing myself.

also, i dont have paypal. i went there once to look it over and got totally lost in the 10 pages of legal garbage i found myself reading and just ran for the hills.

now, if you had ssl and credit card pay, that might work for some of us.

craig

[Kraellin]

oh, and gary, thanks for posting the host file stuff. i do remember you posting about this before but had forgotten all about it.

craig

[patriciakay]

It would be great if we could donate with Visa...I dont have or want a Paypal account....

Patricia...

[Gary Richardson]

You're welcome Craig.

[chrishoggy]

And now we have Amazon ads too

Are things really that bad? Is there no other way that members can help in order to cut down on the ads?

[Cassidy]

Well the google ads were different, but the Amazon adds are damned annoying especially when you get an apparently orphaned one at the top of the page which shifts the whole page down the screen.

[chrishoggy]

Bottom google ads are not too bad. The side graphical ads are annoying and move the forum layout over. But to stick another ad management system on top of that is a little much, isn't it?
I'm sorry Doug, but this will drive some members away, or stop them signing up in the first place. I know it's our choice to come here, and your site to do with as you please. But I've seen forums/sites die because of this kind of thing being forced upon it's members.
Surely this can't be the way forward for RetouchPro, 12 adverts on every single page we view

[chrishoggy]

I know there is not much support for pageant photos, or dressing kids up as adults on here. So on a point about these google ads, why do I keep getting the image attached on the side ads This has shown up a few times, and has been seen while viewing one of my threads:
http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/sof...lightroom.html

Yes, I know it's virtual.
Yes I know it's aimed at kids (13 -18 year olds to be exact).
Yes I know I don't have to look.
Yes I know this ad doesn't look that bad.
Yes you may say I go on, but I don't care.
Why on earth would I want to look at virtual child dressed like a tart?
And why would I want to see an ad for IM system that is abused by adults who create adult content 3D avatars for the kids?
If you think this is an over-reaction, do some research. Try googling for (word removed to stop it being picked up) and you will see what I mean. This is the kind of junk that made me object about the google ads in the first place.
And it is now the reason why I feel like walking away from this forum .

I wouldn't be surprised if this post is deleted, but at least I had my say.

[Doug Nelson]

So now anyone that googles that term will be sent to RetouchPRO

PM me the link of any offensive ad listing and I can have it removed from the rotation (which is supposed to be context-related, but perhaps that page hadn't been spidered at the time).

[chrishoggy]

PM on it's way. But I real must say that it shouldn't be up to the users to vet the advertising shown. The filter system that google uses is about as much use as a chocolate teaspoon, so this kind of stuff will get through no matter what settings are in place.

[pavel123]

Originally Posted by patriciakay

It would be great if we could donate with Visa...I dont have or want a Paypal account....

Patricia...

Patricia,
I'm pretty sure one can use VISA through Amazon.com using RetouchPRO "donate" links.
Worked for me (at least I hope the money went to the right account).

Pavel

[patriciakay]

Thanks for the info Pavel...I will check it out..

Patricia....

[Peter S]

I don't really mind the ads but when they get in the way !!!!!!!!!
Can something be done about the positioning of them when viewing the full size images in the challenges sections???????

Peter