Hi, I was thinking that the link thing on the right is being complained about so much, I know there's some ads which can be closed by clicking an X like in a window in Windows. Could you do that for the link column TechGuy? What do you think? Oh, also (just thought of this) for those who donated and get an ad free environment, instead of just having no ads, why don't you put an X thing on both ad sections for donors, that way if they decide to keep supporting you and want to keep the ads they can, or they can close them by clicking the X. Then they could always turn the ads back on in the User Panel. But only non-donors can't terminate the top ad banner - only the link banner on the right. Or maybe you'd like only donors to be able to terminate the ads (both). What do you think TechGuy and others?

HexStar

[Gary R]

The ads on top & bottom are annoying enough without roughly 1.25" of the side of the screen being devoted to them also.
Hopefully, the screen strip will be done away with!

LOL, here's a suggestion: try running your own site on your own budget with no ads or other financial support. It's impossible. See where I'm coming from? I support these ads because I know how it's VERY costly to run just such a site. We're all lucky it's even free. But what do you think of my idea?

HexStar

P.S. If the ads were removed do you have any other good ideas of how to get money besides donations?

[RandyG]

Now hexstar, this is a good suggestion.

I don't know if Mike could implement it, but I like the idea of donors having the ability to turn ads off and on. I know there have been many times when someone on the site has referred to an ad on the site, and I log out and revisit the site just so I can see what's going on.

As to doing away with the side ad bar, Gary R, donate and you'll never see it again, or any ad.

[jakoval]

Originally posted by RandyG:
As to doing away with the side ad bar, Gary R, donate and you'll never see it again, or any ad.

I think Rhett - in his inimitable style, said it best:

Originally posted by Rhettman5.1:
ummm....I don't see no adds ...so lets start another poll....why do I have a $1000 dollar puter and yet am to cheap to donate to the site I hang at all the time ?

1 I'm just cheap !
2 Mom/Dad/spouse won't let me
3 I'd have to get a job!
4 I like the adds, they are cool !

BTW the site is great WITH the adds....but it's AWSOME without them...so pony up ppl !!!

[TechGuy]

It's certainly an interesting idea, Hex, but using DHTML and JavaScript like that isn't supported perfectly across all browsers -- and heavens knows that we have a lot of people using old browsers! Also, if you close it, what will happen? Will it just be a white box behind it? Otherwise, to have table go the whole way across, you'd probably have to have the ads cover it to begin with... neither seem worth the trouble or and extra loading time.

However, as always, keep the suggestions coming. It's good to have fresh thoughts and ideas. You never know where they may lead.

Yeah. But you know how some ads have the Xs? I just thought that maybe you could have it so that when you click the X it goes to a PHP page (would that be easier) which perhaps could either put something in the DB or add something to the cookie saying that the ads are to be off if the user has sufficient privilages. Then the user would just be directed back to the page with no banner (which ever one they clicked). It could be really easy as I see you have the images loaded in a frame or something, you'd just have one layout which would contain a javascript or PHP which would either check for an entry in a cookie or DB and if it found the entree, the banner chosen to be closed would be omitted, whereas if the entree was not found it would load the banners as normal. Although the scripting might be tough or the pages might load slower, it would benefit everyone enough to make the wait difference worth while. What do you think now TechGuy?

HexStar

[TechGuy]

Hmm... I'm afraid I don't understand. When would who be able to press the X? Maybe I'm tired, but I really don't get it...

K, when people donate they get a different template right? While why not forget about the different template and just have a DB entry that is used to define whether that user donated and can remove and/or turn them back on instead. That way, people could click the X which would lead to a PHP page or something that would check the DB under their username and password to see if they donated, if they did the page the X leads to would add something to that users cookie on their computer. Then since you'd have only one template you'd just make a JavaScript or PHP script whichever which would check for that entry in the users cookie. (The same cookie that contains the users hash value would be used) If the script found the entry, it would omitt the slected ad, or both if both selected for the rest of the time. Then, say if the user wanted to have the ads again to support you some more, they could goto the User Panel check a box to have one or both ads back up. That checkbox would have a drop down list contain the following options: Display top banner, Display side banner, Display both ads. Which ever is selected would cause the entry in the cookie saying that that ads to be omitted would be removed making that ad or ads appear again. (Each ad would have a specific entry that would be entered into the users cookie which would define which ad(s) would be shown and/or not shown. This would again be in the same cookie that the users hash (user information showing they're logged in) information is stored in). Hoep you understand now.

HexStar