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Report Inappropriate Ads Here
This thread is for the reporting of inappropriate or objectionable ads that have appeared in one of the two forum ad boxes.
Ads served by the Project Wonderful company are not individually approved by us before they appear on the site. Our ad box has been set to reject ads that contain content that is not in line with our regular standards, which means that nothing "NFSW" should appear. It is possible that some ads may be misrepresented by their owners, however, and might slip past the radar and be displayed as a result. If you see an ad that is objectionable in content, please report it on this thread. If we are aware of a bad ad, we can specifically block it from appearing again.
When making a report, please include the following pieces of information:
1.) Date and time ad was visible:
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World):
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box):
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic):
Please note that if you see that there is already a report for a given ad, it is not necessary to make another; we're not able to act faster because more than one person reported. Also, please avoid general discussion of the ad boxes. Any post that is not a report will be deleted so that we can keep it easy for us to see for actual reports.
After an administrator has examined the report and acted to block the ad (or chosen not to block, if the ad was acceptable after all), your post will be edited to reflect the results. Thank you for your help.
Edited in by Roland St. Jude:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Giant
Given that people have asked for blocks for things as harmless as depicting two people kissing, I need everyone to explain WHY they think an ad is objectionable, no matter how obvious it may seem to them.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Okay, I'm not certain if this one is strictly against the rules, but it honestly looks fishy to me, and I'm not going to risk clicking to find out if it's a legitimate offer or not.
It's 9:18 PM EST, USA, top ad. And I included a picture for convenience's sake. Worth a thousand words, right?
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Artemis97
Okay, I'm not certain if this one is strictly against the rules, but it honestly looks fishy to me, and I'm not going to risk clicking to find out if it's a legitimate offer or not.
It's 9:18 PM EST, USA, top ad. And I included a picture for convenience's sake. Worth a thousand words, right?
Ad blocked.
And please, no double reporting or chatter about reported ads. That just makes it harder to find legitimate reports. All other posts will be deleted.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
The current Ad in (apparently) all the regions seems be against the rule, here is a relevant screenshot
Taken at 9:31 GMT -6
Top Box
The ad is for a webcomic that isn't pg-13
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Ad blocked, but the bidder has been contacted and informed that a less objectionable banner would be permitted, as the site itself is far less racy than the name suggests.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
I might be getting uptight over nothing, but
1) 10:00 Sept 28 (GMT-6)
2) Canada
3) Top box
4) people.... kissing. Something called Snow by night. just... kissing. yuck. not something younger (Or just non-matured (mentally)) members would want to see.
It may be within the realms of permissible, in all reality, but I don't think it is.
Edit: wrong date. changed.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
No action taken. An image of two people kissing is well within bounds, and as pointed out by the creator, it isn't an image of two people kissing anyway.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) October 13th, 3:00 PM EST
2.) Canada
3.) Top.
4.)
A quick google search of Only4Gamers makes the company and its site appear extremely dubious. Potential scam site (or at the very least fringing on illegality):
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t...ht=game+tester
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...0193507AApHmqy
Only4Gamers was around previously as Game Tester Guide, under which name it was likewise regarded suspiciously:
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/09/...e_sucks_in.php
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Surrealistik
You probably want to give the information asked for in the first post to make it easier to deal with now and track down later, if need be.
Quote:
1.) Date and time ad was visible:
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World):
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box):
4.) Brief description of objectionable content:
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Roland St. Jude
You probably want to give the information asked for in the first post to make it easier to deal with now and track down later, if need be.
Didn't I provide that information?
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Surrealistik
Didn't I provide that information?
You didn't provide number 4. You just talked about what it (apparently, I have to assume since you didn't actually say) linked to. Nothing about the actual add.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fiery Diamond
You didn't provide number 4. You just talked about what it (apparently, I have to assume since you didn't actually say) linked to. Nothing about the actual add.
The links were there to provide some insight on what is objectionable about the company (and by extension its ads) as implied by the preceding statements.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Surrealistik
1.) October 13th, 3:00 PM EST
2.) Canada
3.) Top.
4.) (Probable scam site)
Advertiser blocked.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
October 25, 2011
8AM EST
New York
Top
Possible scam site.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Herpestidae
October 25, 2011
8AM EST
New York
Top
Possible scam site.
First, all reports should include enough of a description that I can identify them on a list of 20+ currently active bids in the event that I was not online at that time. There is no way for me to search by exact time to see what ad was displayed.
Second, assuming you are referring to the weight loss ads, advertiser has been blocked. I can't say whether or not the end products are scams (or even if they exist), but investigation reveals that the site actually linked by the ad is nothing but a series of ads for other products disguised as reviews in an attempt to earn clicks. No thanks.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
I don't see any links in that post having to do with "sun." I suspect you have spyware/malware on your computer. I would very strongly recommend you start a new thread in Random Banter about your issue, because the folks there will be able to help you by pointing out several useful (and free) anti-spyware programs that you can use to clean your PC and get rid of whatever has hijacked your browser.
Also, I believe this thread is intended solely for the Project Wonderful ads.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
29 October 8:30pm (East Australian time)
Rest of the world (Australia)
Top Box
The first frame in the photo is objectionable, seeming to have no purpose other than to be sexually suggestive.
Whether the site itself is even vaguely related, I'm not sure. I just find it mildly uncomfortable and a little too risque for this forum.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
{SCRUBBED}
The Giant: Thanks, but please don't repost the ad images for free. If they want their image to appear on the site, they need to pay for it.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
No action taken. The characters aren't actually doing anything sexual (they're just standing there) and are wearing clothing that they could wear on the street; only the placement of the camera is even remotely suggestive. So that makes it a textbook example of Male Gaze, but not something inherently objectionable.
Also, please include the NAME of the ad in your reports. As in, the text that appears next to the picture.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: Oct 20th, 2011, 1:10 PM EST
2.) Region: USA
3.) Location of ad: Top
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): Purported medical product regarding vision, labeled "Sharpen your Vision" in red that appears rather scammy.
Edit: Also of note, the advertised page makes use of tactics such as the "Wait, don't leave yet" style of pop-ups.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1. November 4th, 11:20 PM EST
2. USA
3. Top box
4. It's called Twice Blessed. The content that seemed objectionable to me was the first panel saying "Perverted Paladins" with an image of a guy leering at a woman's cleavage.
So far, there doesn't appear to be anything in the comic itself that would be board inappropriate. The worst thing was a euphemism.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: Nov 21, 2011 2.30am GMT
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World): Europe, USA, RoW
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box): bottom
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): Ad text: "Warning! Before you play any game, click here!" Link goes to "Game Copy Wizard", which seems to be a scam site. The page says that its software was ranked #1 by New York Times, CNN etc, but a quick google site search shows that neither NYT nor CNN have ever mentioned it. I didn't bother checking the other claims.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
November 20th, 8:05 PM
USA (Colorado, Mountain Time)
Bottom Box
The add itself gives off all the objectionable warnings that says that clicking the link may result in the downloading of a virus or other harmful software, or possibly leading the clicker to a scam. Signs: "exclamation point symbol" "Click Here" and the lack of any other information besides a reference to the word "games" and the link.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: Sunday, Nov. 20th, 2011; 8:29 PM, GMT -6.
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World): USA
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box): Bottom Box
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): The Ad leads to a site that advertises an incredibly suspicious product that claims to circumvent copy protection on both PC and Console games, copying them. In addition to the premise being very probably illegal or at least against the terms of service of most EULAs, the site seems to be a scam according to at least one source.
Further, it seems to have several shockingly specific domains carrying reviews that claim it works perfectly and usually encourage the reader to buy the product. In any case, it seems absurdly suspicious.
EDIT: Oh, whoops. Didn't see that someone had beaten me to it. Still, I'll leave mine up because it has citations.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cealocanth
November 20th, 8:05 PM
USA (Colorado, Mountain Time)
Bottom Box
The add itself gives off all the objectionable warnings that says that clicking the link may result in the downloading of a virus or other harmful software, or possibly leading the clicker to a scam. Signs: "exclamation point symbol" "Click Here" and the lack of any other information besides a reference to the word "games" and the link.
The ad in question further links to a product intended to bypass copy protection on digital media...
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BladeofObliviom
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): The Ad leads to a site that advertises an incredibly suspicious product that claims to circumvent copy protection on both PC and Console games, copying them. In addition to the premise being very probably illegal or at least against the terms of service of most EULAs, the site seems to be a scam
according to at least one source.
Blade, the "sinfonicapr" link also links to malware now. Hacked?
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) November 21st, 1:28 a.m. Central Standard Time (GMT -6:00)
2.) USA
3.) Bottom Box
4.) Objectionable language was used. It looks like a warning sign with a big "WARNING!" at the beginning. After the offensive language, it references illuminati.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible:
9:23, November 28, 2011
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World):
USA
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box):
Bottom box
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic):
Advertisement banner not objectionable at all. Good production values, clean lines, etc. Site that banner links to is massively skeevy. It's framed like one of those "work-at-home-mom-makes-$40,000-in-a-week" banners, and is at the very least a pyramidal marketing scheme, if not seething with viruses. When you try to leave the page, it does one of those "do you really, really wanna leave" pop-ups. The site claims to be selling a subscription service to a compendium of information on how to instantly get hired to make bajillions of dollars testing video games that you wanted to play anyway, and is so enthusiastic about how easy this is as long as you pay them money for it.
While there may technically be some legitimate advice being offered here, the whole setup reeks of scam.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuma Da
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic):
Advertisement banner not objectionable at all. Good production values, clean lines, etc. Site that banner links to is massively skeevy. It's framed like one of those "work-at-home-mom-makes-$40,000-in-a-week" banners, and is at the very least a pyramidal marketing scheme, if not seething with viruses. When you try to leave the page, it does one of those "do you really, really wanna leave" pop-ups. The site claims to be selling a subscription service to a compendium of information on how to instantly get hired to make bajillions of dollars testing video games that you wanted to play anyway, and is so enthusiastic about how easy this is as long as you pay them money for it.
While there may technically be some legitimate advice being offered here, the whole setup reeks of scam.
While you explained very well why the ad is objectionable, this doesn't describe the ad itself to help identify which ad it is.
Assuming it's still showing the same one (it seems to match with the "make bajillions testing video games" but with the rest of the description I don't want to click on it to check), it says "BECOME A GAME TESTER" and has a close-up of a face that would fit right in a Final Fantasy game on the right.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Advertiser blocked.
And yes, a physical description of the ad itself (not the site the ad links to) is required. Color, text, description of images. Oftentimes, by the time I see an ad report, the advertiser has been outbid and it is not possible to search the bidders for "what was active at 9:23 AM," though I wish it was. I then need to dig through the list of Outbid Bids to find it, and there are usually 20-30 of those at any one time.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Thank you, douglas and Giant. That was exactly the ad I meant.
I think the face was actually from a final fantasy game, since the site had a lot of screen-caps from big budget releases to try and shore up its claims. I'm glad it's been blocked.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible:
12:10pm EDT
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World):
US
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box):
Top box
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic):
Text of the ad is "Free iPhone 4s." A quick click on the link and the site appears to be one of those scam survey sites that keeps you filling out surveys while dangling the "carrot" just out of your reach.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: 30th November 2011, 23:50 (GMT+1)
2.) Region: Europe
3.) Location of ad: Top box
4.) Brief description of objectionable content: It's an ad for war-gamers.com, subtitled "What Happens When There's Nothing To Do In The Greatest Military In The World...", with two stick-figures talking. The objectionable content is a big nipple (as confirmed by the dialogue between the other characters) walking around the stick-figures. While I'm personally just weirded out and not offended, I am not certain that big nipple is SFW.
Weirdest thing I've written this month, enough Internet for me... until December in 5 minutes.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: 30th November 2011, 18:21 (GMT-5)
2.) Region: US
3.) Location of ad: Top box
4.) Brief description of objectionable content:
Quote:
It's an ad for war-gamers.com, subtitled "What Happens When There's Nothing To Do In The Greatest Military In The World...", with two stick-figures talking. The objectionable content is a big nipple (as confirmed by the dialogue between the other characters) walking around the stick-figures. While I'm personally just weirded out and not offended, I am not certain that big nipple is SFW.
Well, I found it disturbing and rather offensive.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
I'm not entirely sure if the ad is objectionable, but I figure it's better to be safe than sorry? The way it seems to attempt to look like some official part of the forum makes me worried.
1.) Date and time ad was visible: November 30th, 6:30 PM Eastern
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World): USA
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box): Bottom
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): Ad is titled "Our Top Recommended Download" and is made of three boxes of three colors, the scheme matching that used by this very site. It also states "This is the perfect free alternative to microsoft office." Again, it may not actually be objectionable, and isn't NSFW, but the way it attempts to appear official is unsettling.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Dark Fiddler
I'm not entirely sure if the ad is objectionable, but I figure it's better to be safe than sorry? The way it seems to attempt to look like some official part of the forum makes me worried.
1.) Date and time ad was visible: November 30th, 6:30 PM Eastern
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World): USA
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box): Bottom
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): Ad is titled "Our Top Recommended Download" and is made of three boxes of three colors, the scheme matching that used by this very site. It also states "This is the perfect free alternative to microsoft office." Again, it may not actually be objectionable, and isn't NSFW, but the way it attempts to appear official is unsettling.
The link goes to a site that triggers a warning on my browser and attempts to present itself as the openoffice.org site. This is a scam site, no question about it.
EDIT: It also attempts to install malware on your computer.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Zherog
Text of the ad is "Free iPhone 4s." A quick click on the link and the site appears to be one of those scam survey sites that keeps you filling out surveys while dangling the "carrot" just out of your reach.
Advertiser blocked.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Musashi
It's an ad for war-gamers.com, subtitled "What Happens When There's Nothing To Do In The Greatest Military In The World...", with two stick-figures talking. The objectionable content is a big nipple (as confirmed by the dialogue between the other characters) walking around the stick-figures. While I'm personally just weirded out and not offended, I am not certain that big nipple is SFW.
Ad rejected, but advertiser has not been blocked. I will send a message permitting them to bid with a less NSFW ad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Dark Fiddler
Ad is titled "Our Top Recommended Download" and is made of three boxes of three colors, the scheme matching that used by this very site. It also states "This is the perfect free alternative to microsoft office." Again, it may not actually be objectionable, and isn't NSFW, but the way it attempts to appear official is unsettling.
Advertiser blocked (but more for being a scam site than because they tried to match my color scheme).
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Date and Time ad was visible: December 7th, 5:19 PM, Eastern
Region: USA and Europe
Location of ad: Bottom Box
Brief description: This ad may not actually be objectionable, but it's giving off scammy signals. The text reads "Like making gifs and watching videos? Get 100 dollars for watching this video" and shows a seemingly unrelated picture of a person standing in a kitchen. Like I said, just getting scammy vibes.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
I checked it out and it seems legit; the money is not for watching videos, but for doing actual work converting them. It leads to a tumblr account where the guy (pictured in the ad) runs a contest where he asks people to convert his YouTube stuff into animated gifs. He picks the best one and pays them for it. Sort of weird, but I don't get any inherent malware or scam signals.
Unless someone can give me more specific info that leads to this being an outright scam of some kind (or a dangerous site), I'm going to let it slide.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Date and Time ad was visible: December 12th, 8:24 AM, Pacific
Region: USA
Location of ad: Bottom Box
Brief description: Shows a drawing of a man chasing three women in bikinis with his tongue out. To the right is a man holding a dog saying "And dogs are the ones who need leashes?"
Edit: I've looked at the site the ad leads to, and it's a relatively SFW webcomic.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Sexist (both ways), but no action taken.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: 16th Dexember, 14:26 GMT
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World): Europe
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box): Top box
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): An ad for the webcomic "Greg" which involves a pair of adventurers and a Medusa. In the first panel, the Medusa mentions that she's naked from head to toe, and in the next, the two adventurers are staring at her (as statues).
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
I can't find this bid in my data from PW, so unfortunately no action taken. If it comes back, I reserve the right to block it depending on my own view of the ad.
But I will say that reporting every ad with a potential sexual innuendo or reference is not the intended purpose of this thread. The joke being mentioned doesn't sound like it would be out of place in OOTS itself, depending on the framing of the panels and the artwork. I think a joke that amounts to, "Hey, sometimes men like to look at naked women," is just about as tame a sexual reference as you can manage, as long as the image didn't actually depict any naked women in it.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Giant
I can't find this bid in my data from PW, so unfortunately no action taken. If it comes back, I reserve the right to block it depending on my own view of the ad.
So you don't have to wait 'till it appears again, the webad is a resized to fit in a banner ad sized window of this comic.
(DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated in any way shape or form with Greg)
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Yeah, OK, then. Having seen it now, I have to reiterate my verdict on the previous ad of, "Sexist, but no action taken."
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: 4:46 PM, 12/25
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World): USA
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box): Top
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): Banner labeled "Switchblade Goddess by Lucy A. Snyder" and has a review which says "Snyder injects this edgy urban fantasy with an erotic charge"
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
And... what's objectionable about it?
It links to an Amazon page for a novel named, oddly enough, "Switchblade Goddess" by an author named Lucy Snider. The novel is published by a reputable fantasy paperback publisher (Del Rey).
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
I merely thought mentioning "erotic charge" might be against the forum rules.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Methinks maybe there should be some definition in the opening post about what constitutes inappropriate.
Obviously, Malware, Scam sites, offensive language and nudity (Shown, not implied) are appropriate reasons for taking down an ad, but things like the medusa gag shouldn't bear mention.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eledragon
I merely thought mentioning "erotic charge" might be against the forum rules.
It's not. No action taken.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: Jan 2, 12
2.) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World): Europe
3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box): Top
4.) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): Guilded Age - animated ad
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
One would think the phrase "Become a huge douche" would also be offensive.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
I don't care so much about the "huge douche" line, but animation is not allowed. Bid canceled, but the advertiser has not been blocked from bidding again with a non-animated ad.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: 7:54 PM, January 4, 2012
2:) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World): USA
3:) 3.) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box): Bottom
4:) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): See for yourself.
SCRUBBED. Please describe the content, don't give the advertiser a free second view of their ad.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
Bid canceled, per our "No discussion of religions" rule.
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Re: Report Inappropriate Ads Here
1.) Date and time ad was visible: 01/05/2012 2:13 pm
2:) Region (Pick one: USA, Canada, Europe, or Rest of the World): USA
3:) Location of ad (Top box or bottom box): Top
4:) Brief description of objectionable content (including a name or other identifying characteristic): "Death of the Mobile?" It's an ad for a "Free presentation" about the mobile market/stock market. Most likely a scam site.