aww poor neowin :(

[Joel]

Saying it in a thread on the forum is definitely not the same as saying it several times on each page on the news site. Each action has equal and opposite reaction. If you're gonna ask people to do something then you should be prepared for people voicing why a) they won't do it b) they don't want to do it.

Again; who would know if you did or did not block ads, unless you yourself came here to moan about being asked? Let's say for argument's sake you've blocked ads; the little graphic is now your biggest problem of the day?

[MikeChipshop Member]

There are many ways to 'contribute'. One simply being by adding to the numbers. By registering. Posting alone is a sign of contribution in my eye.

Without these 'leechers' this forum would be nothing. Regardless if they subscribe and/or don't block ads.

You need to redefine what and who you call a 'leecher'. If anything a 'lurker' would better fit your definition.

True true, that is indeed a fair point and i shall take that on board.

AWESOME!

[Petvas]

I have really thought about subscribing and 10 minutes ago I was on the subscribe page but then I decided to wait a bit. I read the rest of the comments here and I have to say that I don't understand this attitude the staff here is showing. Noone forced you guys to go online with Neowin. You did it because you like it and you are having fun. I, as many many others, enjoy visiting Neowin. We don't have to pay for Neowin as we don't have to pay for 99,9% of the Internet...

If the Internet was on a subscription base, then it would never enjoy the success it has now. I really believe that people should get awarded for their efforts, but I have also to consider if Neowin is worth paying for. Can I get this info anywhere else? I believe the answer to that is yes!

The thing that makes Neowin differentiate from other sites is its user community. Now, if you believe that all these users who chose not to pay but contribute every day on the forums, to be leechers, then I thing I have made a mistake registering on Neowin.

I hope this is not the opinion of Neowin Staff...

Ars Technica asks for 50$ a year but have you seen what they are offering? We do not have thousand of dollars waiting to be spent, so when I decide to spend some money, I have to compare the various offerings available...

[vanx]

Again; who would know if you did or did not block ads, unless you yourself came here to moan about being asked? Let's say for argument's sake you've blocked ads; the little graphic is now your biggest problem of the day?

I get an impression that it is assumed that most non-subscribers block ads. If they didn't, there'd be no "sad face" graphic. I don't object to the graphic, I object to the principle. I hope to subscribe to Neowin in the near future, but such graphic (for argument's sake) isn't going to persuade me to subscribe. When I do subscribe, I'd do it not because I don't want to see ads, but because that's my way of contributing. Not seeing ads would be a by-product of my subscription.

[SimplySchizo]

Sad thing is, the ads here are very unobtrusive and are very well placed to begin with. there arent many ads at all.

smaller less quality forums across the net have ads in between posts. surrounded in ads. surely they dont even come close to the requirements of that a site as NW. yet count the ads on NW.

Im not taking any sides cause i believe both have their points.

Though everyone has to admit, as far as ads are concerned, Neowin's have been put in a manor to cater both the site, and its visitors. I for one appreciate that.

[MikeChipshop Member]

I get an impression that it is assumed that most non-subscribers block ads. If they didn't, there'd be no "sad face" graphic. I don't object to the graphic, I object to the principle. I hope to subscribe to Neowin in the near future, but such graphic (for argument's sake) isn't going to persuade me to subscribe. When I do subscribe, I'd do it not because I don't want to see ads, but because that's my way of contributing. Not seeing ads would be a by-product of my subscription.

I'm a subscriber and still have ads you know?

I'm sure the little graphic is designed to show to people who are blocking ads.

[Udedenkz]

There was this one rouge add which maxed out the CPU... it seems gone now.

[Steven P. Administrators]

The people who don't believe in offering a mutual support in return for all the hard work volunteered by many staff members and members are such a pain to deal with, they are the most vocal and to boot the arguments posed to "back themselves up" are pretty weak too.

We ask people to don't be a dick and block a stream of revenue that provides for this site, staff and covers event costs. It's pretty straight forward isn't it?

[master2k27]

you would think

[gigabit]

I don't see why theres so much rabble rabble rabble over a unhappy face. If you haven't donated to Neowin, and are browsing the site as a "free" user, then you have no right to complain.

Hiding adverts is a grey area, but to do it and then cry about a message telling you to stop is just wrong.

[master2k27]

so true have a +1

[SimplySchizo]

Hiding adverts is a grey area, but to do it and then cry about a message telling you to stop is just wrong.

That's QUALITY right there! lol

+rep ;)

[Shaun N.]

The people who don't believe in offering a mutual support in return for all the hard work volunteered by many staff members and members are such a pain to deal with, they are the most vocal and to boot the arguments posed to "back themselves up" are pretty weak too.

We ask people to don't be a dick and block a stream of revenue that provides for this site, staff and covers event costs. It's pretty straight forward isn't it?

Hmm that was nearly aggressive. I like it!

[MikeChipshop Member]

...

Hiding adverts is a grey area, but to do it and then cry about a message telling you to stop is just wrong.

Also the fact that the mage is asking politely not even telling people :pinch:

[Pupik]

I don't see why theres so much rabble rabble rabble over a unhappy face. If you haven't donated to Neowin, and are browsing the site as a "free" user, then you have no right to complain.

Hiding adverts is a grey area, but to do it and then cry about a message telling you to stop is just wrong.

Those who block the ads don't see the smilie. The people that see it, are they ones that don't block ads.

And seeing it, because the ads are too slow to load.

[Richard Hammond]

Again people are under the impression people whining about it are the ones that are blocking ads.

I dont block ads, i click on them from time to time but i dont appreciate a message telling me that i should support Neowin because im an adblocker when im clearly not. If people are blocking ads they are going to block the bloody image telling them that they should support the site i dont see why it should annoy legitimate users, just like DRM does nothing but annoy people who buy original games, those who pirate get the DRM stripped away.

Also im not a "free" user, i have ads on the main page and the forums and Neowin gets money for me just loading the page and money for me clicking them so dont use that as an excuse.

[vanx]

I'm a subscriber and still have ads you know?

I'm sure the little graphic is designed to show to people who are blocking ads.

I am happy for you. However, showing graphic (however small/large) pointing out to people that they have blocked ads is counter productive as, most likely, they already know they have blocked ads and will seek further steps to get rid of that graphic as well. Fighting people who block ads with ads (yes, essentially they are ads asking people to whitelist) won't yield much success.

[tomwarren Veteran]

I have really thought about subscribing and 10 minutes ago I was on the subscribe page but then I decided to wait a bit. I read the rest of the comments here and I have to say that I don't understand this attitude the staff here is showing. Noone forced you guys to go online with Neowin. You did it because you like it and you are having fun. I, as many many others, enjoy visiting Neowin. We don't have to pay for Neowin as we don't have to pay for 99,9% of the Internet...

If the Internet was on a subscription base, then it would never enjoy the success it has now. I really believe that people should get awarded for their efforts, but I have also to consider if Neowin is worth paying for. Can I get this info anywhere else? I believe the answer to that is yes!

The thing that makes Neowin differentiate from other sites is its user community. Now, if you believe that all these users who chose not to pay but contribute every day on the forums, to be leechers, then I thing I have made a mistake registering on Neowin.

I hope this is not the opinion of Neowin Staff...

Ars Technica asks for 50$ a year but have you seen what they are offering? We do not have thousand of dollars waiting to be spent, so when I decide to spend some money, I have to compare the various offerings available...

Are you failing to grasp the concept here? We're not asking you to subscribe. We're simply informing those that block ads on our site that it affects the site. You can subscribe if you want to as well but that's not what this is about.

[KyleGM]

Well I just got the new Chrome and installed AdBlock! It makes browsing a much more pleasurable experience, but I find that Neowins ads are very unintrusive and are implemented in such a way that it doesn't annoy me, so therefore I'm very happy to whitelist them, it would be different if they where littered with them and had big flashing ones! :rofl:

[tomwarren Veteran]

Again people are under the impression people whining about it are the ones that are blocking ads.

I dont block ads, i click on them from time to time but i dont appreciate a message telling me that i should support Neowin because im an adblocker when im clearly not. If people are blocking ads they are going to block the bloody image telling them that they should support the site i dont see why it should annoy legitimate users, just like DRM does nothing but annoy people who buy original games, those who pirate get the DRM stripped away.

Also im not a "free" user, i have ads on the main page and the forums and Neowin gets money for me just loading the page and money for me clicking them so dont use that as an excuse.

Rob has already confirmed we'll be making some improvements so that normal non-adblockers will not see the message no matter what their connection is. What's your problem here exactly?

[neudera]

Half the time I see it, the other half I don't.

Even though I have white-listed neowin from Adblock, I think PeerBlock (which blocks a wide range of IPs) might be blocking certain ad IPs.

Just a theory of mine.

[vanx]

We're simply informing those that block ads on our site that it affects the site.

Tom, with all due respect, don't you think most people already know this (especially those who chose to block the ads in the first place)?

[bjoswald]

I block ads but the smiley notification doesn't bother me at all.

[Aero_Rising]

oh and i found a way around this

but if i was not saving up for anything i might become a subscriber just to have the ads gone

Congrats you learned how to use firebug or whatever add on you used to do it it's not hard. What if instead of hoping one day you learn to quit being selfish and being a freeloader and not even just letting them show ads so they can pay for the bandwith you are using they just decided to ban you here and now and let you come back when you subscribed so they knew they would be able to pay for the bandwith you use? Oh you don't think that sounds nice of them to do? Well blocking ads on a site that you are allowed to use for free isn't nice either so i guess it could work both ways.

[Joel]

I am happy for you. However, showing graphic (however small/large) pointing out to people that they have blocked ads is counter productive as, most likely, they already know they have blocked ads and will seek further steps to get rid of that graphic as well. Fighting people who block ads with ads (yes, essentially they are ads asking people to whitelist) won't yield much success.

It seems like it takes a lot of energy to fight to continue to be, well, a dick about this. I forgot I had a browser still set to block ads when I saw the graphic, so it was a good reminder. But you're saying that not only should they not tell you what you already know, you'll take further steps to block the block notice (which aren't ads now, so you can't scream "privacy issue!") just to assert your authority over your browser and this website, like some chest-thumping primate who just protected his mate.

Tom, with all due respect, don't you think most people already know this (especially those who chose to block the ads in the first place)?

Using that logic, you should tell off any service that send you reminder notices.