Targeted advertising driving me crazy

Onkel Neal · 08-29-19, 05:18 AM

Some time a few weeks ago, I did some looking online for Simpson Model 30 helmets. I had one back in the 80s and thought, "Are they still making them?". They are indeed, and they still look awesome. I read some reviews, checked prices, but they are made for rounder heads, I'm more oval (the more common head shape). So I decided to put off buying one, I don't really need it.

But man, that helmet is following me across the internet. For weeks, most every site I visited, there's that helmet, taunting me, with his friends, some similarly styled helmets. That helmet still looks great but it still won't fit me, either.

Does that stop the targeted advertising? No, it acts as if it doesn't matter. I try to ignore these ads, but they appear everywhere, shuffling the helmets around like a casino dealer, making them blink...like some kind of evil psych experiment. Could it be that I've been targeted by some malfeasant marketing group.

Man, I just am so sick of this wonderful helmet following me around. When I click on a link even before I get a chance to read the article, the helmet is already there, waiting for me....

I've decided to adopt a strategy: this morning I googled "duck decoys". I visited 6 different websites with duck decoy reviews, placed a few mallards into the shopping carts at random sporting good websites (let's see how they like that, "is he ever gonna buy these things?! Does he have commitment issues?!"), and generally roved the web in search of duck decoy articles.

Hopefully, soon the helmets will be replaced with peaceful, placid images of wooden ducks that won't have any effect on me. Either that, or I'll have the strong urge to begin duck hunting.

Jimbuna · 08-29-19, 05:32 AM

Haha, serves ya right

Happened to me on a few occasions over the years, I clean out the cookies/registry files and immediately after, before accessing the internet I also change the VPN settings.

Pisces · 08-29-19, 10:45 AM

It won't even help if you did buy the helm. ... Do you want more?

Schroeder · 08-29-19, 12:43 PM

Just delete your cookies and internet history and they will stop haunting you.

Kptlt. Neuerburg · 08-29-19, 02:17 PM

I don't care about ads anyways, I'm sick and tired of going to YouTube to watch something and then AD IN 5 SECONDS. I've had stuff like this after I bought some new parts for my compy and within minutes I was getting ads about this, that and the other thing from the place I bought it from. Maybe there should be sites that are totally ad free but that's just wishful thinking.

Rockstar · 08-29-19, 04:36 PM

Try using DuckDuckGo as your search engine.

Sean C · 08-29-19, 11:31 PM

I use Disconnect and Ad Blocker Ultimate along with Firefox's built-in anti-tracking features. I don't get targeted ads. Or many ads at all for that matter. Trouble is: I do get some ads for things I'm not even remotely interested in. And most websites still seem to know roughly where I'm located.

Skybird · 08-30-19, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Just delete your cookies and internet history and they will stop haunting you.

No, there are certain super-cookies that have been designed and tailored by the industry to evade right these ordinary measures. You need special cleaners and preventive cookie blocking in the first. Script blockers also are needed. Just deleting cookies and cache and history does not kill these buggers, and they are hard to the unknowing mind to become aware of even just their presence.

It affects smartphones as well.

The more comfortable your computer handing and surfing experience is, the more unsafe it is. The more automatci stuff and default settings you use, the more unsafe you are..

---

Platapus · 08-30-19, 05:40 AM

My gripe is with those small video ads that run in the margins of webpages.

I can normally ignore ads, but when I am trying to read something important, I can't stand a video playing at the edge of my sight. I find that so distracting.

Often I think about contacting the company and saying

"I will never buy your product solely because of your ads"

And it is true.

STEED · 08-30-19, 05:50 AM

Internet is bad for your physical and mental health stay off as much as possible.

Platapus · 08-30-19, 06:33 AM

Beware of mouse-over tagging.

In the old days, you had to click on an ad in order to trigger targeted advertisement. But these days, even if you drag your cursor over an ad, that can be enough to trigger the marketing. Yikes!

Clearly targeted marketing works as companies spend a lot of money developing it.

vienna · 08-31-19, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

Internet is bad for your physical and mental health stay off as much as possible.

...and we know that's true...

...we saw it on the Internet...

<O>

STEED · 08-31-19, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vienna

...and we know that's true...

...we saw it on the Internet...

<O>

08-29-19, 05:18 AM	#1
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Targeted advertising driving me crazy Some time a few weeks ago, I did some looking online for Simpson Model 30 helmets. I had one back in the 80s and thought, "Are they still making them?". They are indeed, and they still look awesome. I read some reviews, checked prices, but they are made for rounder heads, I'm more oval (the more common head shape). So I decided to put off buying one, I don't really need it. But man, that helmet is following me across the internet. For weeks, most every site I visited, there's that helmet, taunting me, with his friends, some similarly styled helmets. That helmet still looks great but it still won't fit me, either. Does that stop the targeted advertising? No, it acts as if it doesn't matter. I try to ignore these ads, but they appear everywhere, shuffling the helmets around like a casino dealer, making them blink...like some kind of evil psych experiment. Could it be that I've been targeted by some malfeasant marketing group. Man, I just am so sick of this wonderful helmet following me around. When I click on a link even before I get a chance to read the article, the helmet is already there, waiting for me.... I've decided to adopt a strategy: this morning I googled "duck decoys". I visited 6 different websites with duck decoy reviews, placed a few mallards into the shopping carts at random sporting good websites (let's see how they like that, "is he ever gonna buy these things?! Does he have commitment issues?!"), and generally roved the web in search of duck decoy articles. Hopefully, soon the helmets will be replaced with peaceful, placid images of wooden ducks that won't have any effect on me. Either that, or I'll have the strong urge to begin duck hunting. __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

08-29-19, 05:32 AM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Haha, serves ya right Happened to me on a few occasions over the years, I clean out the cookies/registry files and immediately after, before accessing the internet I also change the VPN settings. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

08-29-19, 10:45 AM	#3
Pisces Silent Hunter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: AN9771 Posts: 4,904 Downloads: 304 Uploads: 0	It won't even help if you did buy the helm. ... Do you want more? __________________ My site downloads: https://ricojansen.nl/downloads

08-29-19, 12:43 PM	#4
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	Just delete your cookies and internet history and they will stop haunting you. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

08-29-19, 02:17 PM	#5
Kptlt. Neuerburg Admiral Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,279 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	I don't care about ads anyways, I'm sick and tired of going to YouTube to watch something and then AD IN 5 SECONDS. I've had stuff like this after I bought some new parts for my compy and within minutes I was getting ads about this, that and the other thing from the place I bought it from. Maybe there should be sites that are totally ad free but that's just wishful thinking. __________________ "When you're born into this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show. If you're born in America you get a front row seat." - George Carlin

08-29-19, 04:36 PM	#6
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Try using DuckDuckGo as your search engine.

08-29-19, 11:31 PM	#7
Sean C Grey Wolf Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 984 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 2	I use Disconnect and Ad Blocker Ultimate along with Firefox's built-in anti-tracking features. I don't get targeted ads. Or many ads at all for that matter. Trouble is: I do get some ads for things I'm not even remotely interested in. And most websites still seem to know roughly where I'm located. __________________ If you have a question about celestial navigation ... ask me! Celestial Navigation Spreadsheet

08-30-19, 05:40 AM	#9
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	My gripe is with those small video ads that run in the margins of webpages. I can normally ignore ads, but when I am trying to read something important, I can't stand a video playing at the edge of my sight. I find that so distracting. Often I think about contacting the company and saying "I will never buy your product solely because of your ads" And it is true. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-30-19, 05:50 AM	#10
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	Internet is bad for your physical and mental health stay off as much as possible. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

08-30-19, 06:33 AM	#11
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Beware of mouse-over tagging. In the old days, you had to click on an ad in order to trigger targeted advertisement. But these days, even if you drag your cursor over an ad, that can be enough to trigger the marketing. Yikes! Clearly targeted marketing works as companies spend a lot of money developing it. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.