Some anti-virus programs also have a very good free adblocker. The problem with most blockers is that it does block the content, but the ad still attempts to load and the loading attempt has to time out before the rest of the page loads fully. On dialup or on a slow wireless connection, this can seem like an eternity.
My Kapersky antivirus supplied adblocker will not block the Angus ad, but does block the ads on the right side of the page.
I haven't seen one in months.
If you look at the bottom of the main board index, you will see "who" is browsing the board at any given time. Right now, as well as the members, you will see some bots:
Bing [Bot], bird dog, crossbredcalves, Deepsouth, DLD, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot],greybeard
The Bing, Google and Google Adsense bots are gathering information from posts and from YOUR cookies,temp internet files and browsing history. I know of no reputable website nowadys that doesn't have this happen. If anyone is realistically expecting Mr Gravely to be able to monitor and moderate each and every ad, you are really expecting the impossible.
You do NOT (always) have to actually visit a site to get a little unwanted ad data stuck in your temp internet/history folder. For instance, if you visit any reputable news page article, like USA Today or BBC, down at the bottom, below the article you just read, there will usually be related articles links and--"around the web" links. Most of the "around the web" links are ads. All you had to do, was inadvertently pass your cursor over that link and whatever the link is will drop a little "note" in your browsing history or temp internet file folder. Some websites, you don't even have to pass your cursor over the links--the data automatically loads onto your computer and you never know a thing about it.
Google has their claws and teeth into everything on the web nowadays. Some webpage publishers get paid for the adsese ads--some do not.
Websites ARE expensive to maintain tho-- admin and webpage owners have to be able to recoup some of their expenses, and believe me, it could be a lot worse. I've seen some automobile forums that have floating ads all the way down as you scroll along, and some that have ads within each and every post and thread. The ads, to my knowledge, do not pay a whole lot--pennies or even fractions of a penny if I understand things correctly. So please, don't put the blame on Mr. Gravely--this is just part and parcel of the interent today. The ad content, could come from anywhere and you not even be aware of it.
:2cents: