I’m with you @Lukki Irish! I was looking for something the other day and most of the “hits” were so far off of my search terms and were ads!

I agree. If I'm searching for DIY ideas I avoid all Pinterest hits.

It seems whenever I pop the picture to get more info, I instead get more random pictures, not what I am looking for.

I recently returned to Pinterest after a lengthy hiatus, and know what you mean. Too, I cannot seem to figure out why my searches for subjects such as southwestern decor and short hairstyles was turning up so many hits for Korean boy bands at one time not long ago. So weird, but um, wrong for me.

I've learned Pinterest throws a bunch of random stuff at me if I don't regularly choose to pin something. Also it helps to 'follow' someone (or at least that specific board) who has saved something that you like and pin. For the most part what I see relates heavily to my interests and prior pins.

From the beginning, there were so many duplications and it took so long to get to a root post that I was never able to use it successfully. I always ignore any search results listing Pinterest.

I’ve never done Pinterest, but can’t stand it for how its ruined Google searches.

If I look up anything for inspiration or whatever, I get pages upon pages of Pinterest pages — usually with no relevant information (such as a paint color). It’s so frustrating.

When I google for something that I know will turn up a bunch of pinterest hits that I don't want, I just include -pinterest (and also -houzz). That will filter out most pinterest hits and houzz hits if I think they will show up, too.

Thanks, Oly! I’ll try that.

Any given platform should probably be expected to start being more visibly "monetized" at some point. Even if in some instances that may not have been the plan from the start.

Ditto. The pros of Pinterest is I can always find a particular antique or furniture I'm searching for, and I find blogs right up my alley, and I generally don't do blogs.\

Cons - Ads and how there's less of what we should be seeing. Today I was talking to someone about how I hate the color of orange but I really like it used as accessories. Normally P. would have a lot of ideas how to use orange but now it's decor that isn't used by the normal person.

I have never been a fan of Pinterest.

Yep! have not gone there for the same reason. Drives me nuts!

I have never been a fan. I hate when I google and get Pinterest..it's always been annoying to even try and look.

I still enjoy it but it has gotten like everything else. Facebook is bad about ads also. Nothing like the old days.

Pinterest is like scrolling through magazines for me. I like to look at pretty pictures. I used to keep a Cool Stuff File with tear sheets. Pinterest is my new Cool Stuff File.

When I buy magazines, I get ads. When I review Pinterest, it's free so I get more ads.

You can alter your settings to improve the experience and I don't tie any accounts to FB.

The problem I've seen with Pinterest is language. Someone will post a nice picture but put vulgarities with it. I haven't found a way to block language of from companies that I will never do business with.

Gee, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen vulgar language on Pinterest.

I never have either.

I never read the comments.

Well, I was just searching for something on google and lo and behold, what I wanted came up as a hit on Pinterest. When I clicked on it, the original post was houzz, lol. Didn't follow my own advice above.

It's funny, but I used to hate it, and now I use it often - but not for the things mentioned above. I use it for arts & crafts ideas for my work. It's helpful to have boards of ideas I can refer to for inspiration, though I rarely do things exactly the same as the pin.

If you want to search and avoid the big P collection, you can enter your search terms in Google, followed by -pinterest

If you are searching images and get a page of pinteresr results, right click and open in new tab (I think this is right). The image will open in a new window without that obnoxious banner. You can R click to save photo. Later you may be able to discern the normal url of blog name.

I've been using Pinterest for many years; started back when there wasn't a lot of members and have watched it grow. I still love it, even though I don't visit it quite as often as I used to. I like to look at pretty pictures, too, and I can find such wonderful inspiration for decorating, etc. There are instruction, patterns, recipes on there for about anything make, build or cook. I guess it's just a matter of taking the time to learn how it works.