Beth -- I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary lately, but when I do, I figure my browser has somehow cleaned out the cookies that stopped such things, and I redo the opt-out process. Go to this link and try it (again) on your computer.

Then put the link in your favorites and/or bookmarks for the next time you need it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Optout link

I hadn't been around for a while; it's kind of awful.

I use Firefox, so I added an add-on called Noscript. That works very well.

"It was annoying enough when they started doing the mini ads when you roll over the highlighted words and phrases" ...

YES, I wish they'd stop with that! Otherwise, I don't mind if the odd advertisement pops up, as it's a free site and revenue must be generated for them in some manner.

Kathy I just did the Optout thing, but it didn't change anything.

I do have Firefox, so maybe I'll see if I can add on that Noscript thing. Thanks Meredith!

Twrosz, I do understand they need to advertise to pay for this website, but I never had this problem before about a week ago. I mean, I'd see a few odd ads at the top once in awhile, but this is really bad now. Just like when you aren't signed in. Firefox does actually block a lot, because every time I go from one page to another, it blocks a pop-up. Even that's getting annoying. I don't understand why it happened all of a sudden.

I'm getting ads galore - and I hadn't seen one since we had the option of paid membership way back....Spike days. Has anyone accidentally rolled over the sausage ad and had a bushel of chopped vegetables cascade down the entire page? Almost frightening.

I've got log in issues, my zone won't show if I don't manually add it each time I post, I'm opted out and underlining is still there. My cookies are saved. GW says they are still working on it....would be nice to see things fixed. If I had a slower connection speed, I wouldn't be coming here.

Recently I had a problem with logging in. I complained and all of a sudden I was able to log in, BUT then I had all those ads. Perhaps there has been a need to increase revenue but I'm really suspicious that it was more greed than need.

I really used to enjoy coming here. Altho I don't post a lot other than on the Rose Gallery, it's been interesting reading others' posts. But this is just too much. Getting on here this morning, one of the stupid video ads was loading and stalled me. It took several seconds before I could even get the page to scroll at all. I guess I'll just quit coming here, because this is really just way too annoying. It's just not enjoyable anymore.

I realize they have to have ads because they don't charge us to come here, but surely they don't need this much advertising. It's overkill. I'm surprised the video ads don't have sound with them. That may come next.

Firefox + AdblockPlus = Happy Ending

Seriously

No ads popping up here, and I don't use Foxfire. Just follow the directions given above, and you too will have no pop-ups.

On the other hand, I do get the underlined words--which are mildly irritating. I try to remember to keep my mouse cursor over in the scrollbar space--that way I don't trigger off any underlined ads.

Don't complain about pop-ups. Follow directions and get rid of them.

Kate

I don't get the underlined words. I used this link and opted out of them, and haven't seen any for ages. And I use Explorer for my browser.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vibrant intext ad optout link

Firefox + AdblockPlus = Happy Ending

Seriously

Amen! Add FlashBlock and opt out of the intext ads, and it's even happier.

I opted out of the in-text ads in the very beginning, and they haven't been a problem for me since then.

I'm usually careful not to mouse over anything that will explode vegetables all over the screen ... though I did get that once.

The animated bundle of wires and crap at the top of the screen over the text is annoying, but it goes away and doesn't affect functionality so I ignore it.

My biggest problem is with those banner ads at the top of the pages that auto-expand as soon as the page loads and shifts everything downward while the ad plays. In my defense, I scroll down the page so I don't see the ad, and I vow to boycott anyone who has an ad that does this. (There's a Pepsid ad at the top of this page that is sitting there quietly minding its own business ... I may do business with them since they have such a polite ad.)

Hey, kstrong, thanks for the Vibrant intext ad optout link. I clicked on disable and poof--all intext ads disappeared. Easiest "fix" I've ever run across. LOL

Kate

I don't know if a good idea so would hate to advise it - usually I ask on computer help forum first, but

I installed adblock for ie8 from cnet site and my ads are gone. I don't know how I began getting them, but at least they are gone again now.

My pop up blocker had been working right along, it was the displayed ads annoying me no end - admitting I'm less than patient this time of year :)

And probably unrelated but my zone is back above, that's been gone at least two weeks or more - but look at the form !

OMG you guys! Thanks so much. I did the opting out of the intext ads, and downloaded the AdBlock Plus. I almost did that this morning, but I couldn't remember the password my son set up for the Ubuntu Admin sign-on. NICE!! No more ads!! Yay! Thank you all again!! Nice to be back to normal viewing.

Glad you're sticking around!! We wuv you :D

Awwww... thanks Meredith! You're too sweet.

Firefox + AdblockPlus = Happy Ending

Seriously

YES, Bye Bye Adverts!

Beth, I'm just seeing this now and got nervous when I started reading. So very glad you followed the good advice to fix the problem and didn't leave us, 'cause we really can't do without you!

(I've got the Firefox ad blocker, which works for me.)

Well, it's weird how it just started all of a sudden one day. I never had problems before. But another weird thing is how the first update for my Firefox was for the AdBlock Plus just a few days later. And thanks Petaloid. What a nice thing to say. It's nice to feel wanted. I guess you'll be stuck with me still... lol

They changed something. I used to get no ads if I was logged in (also going back to my paid membership when Spike was around). Would see the crazy ads if I wasn't logged in but they would completely disappear after I logged in. As of Jan 1, no matter how many times I log in I am getting the stupid ads. It just makes things slower and me less wanting to visit GW. I worry about viruses too with all that stuff flying around. I got a nasty virus on my old computer that I'm sure was picked up on GW a few months ago.

I must have more patience than most. The ads are bothersome but not so much as to cause me to give up something I enjoy. I make a game out of trying to collapse the expandable ads at the top of the page before they collapse automatically.
My brother-in-law doesn't have an e-mail address because he won't put up with the spam. I just use my delete button, don't open any unsolicited e-mails, and never any attachments.
My anti-virus catches most all the junk and allows me to tag things I don't want, as junk mail, so it automatically goes to the junk mail file.
All in all, I relax and use the computer for my enjoyment and never let the computer use me.

Karl you have to stay here. You are part of the group we rely on.
It drove me batty to look at the forum today and there were actually ads right there where the posts are supposed to be. At first I thought I'd try to remember the brand in the ad so I would never buy it, but then I realized that brand recognition is part of their game.