I apologise for the dangerous advert displayed recently

There was a dodgy advert, typical clickbait, showing "how to save 90% on your electricity bill" which was not the case and it was actually showing some dangerous wiring tactics.

Read the actual threads here:-

• What should be the code for this - C2 or C3 - https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/what-should-be-the-code-for-this-c2-or-c3.197405
• Ladbrokes banner! - Dan is fixing the forum ads, and other things - Sorry lads! - https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/ladbrokes-banner-dan-is-fixing-the-forum-ads-and-other-things-sorry-lads.197115/

What code should it be given

• C2 for exposed insulation
• C3 for device not in its enclosure
• C2 for no earth/CPC
• C3 for wrong wiring colours
• C2 for incorrect identification of line conductor
• C3 for mixture of devices (if there was an enclosure)
• C2 for no overcurrent protection
• C3 for no RCD protection

I'd like to apologise for:-

• Not giving advance notice of me changing the way we display the pay-per-click advertisements
• Showing the adverts to those who have paid to remove them
• And for allowing such clickbait to show on the forum

The first point there is a bit fluid, I tend to find resources which help us display such ads differently or give me more control over them and I tend to want to test them out, and alerting you all before I do such things might be a bit premature because by the time all people have read an email linking to a thread, I might have reverted back (and almost always would have done).

The second point there has a similar response. If I configured all usergroups for each change, I'd spend more time messing with usergroups than making the change, only to then need to spend the same time again undoing them as I've not gone ahead with said changes.

But the third point is a toughy.

I can't fix the internet.

Might be a bit harsh but that's the be all and end all of it. Collectively we can click on the X to report the ad. But the ad owner will only change the wording and resubmit it and Google will approve it all. They have a 'let us see the response and if it gets reported enough we will act' kinda policy. If I block the URL in my ad account, they will only add a subdomain and add it again. That costs them nothing. And if their whole domain is blocked (it never would be) they would buy another. £10 max.

They're click bait. The best response I find is to ignore them all. Don't react. And have faith in humanity and hope that people realise that once they click on the ad, it is actually just trying to sell you a thing or give you information contained in pop-ups and tracking cookies and god knows what else.

I'll send out an email to all linking to this, and hope you discuss it for a bit to show newbies what's going on. And that alone can help spread the news of clickbait, and perhaps it's a thread we link to from time to time when newbies are mentioning such things like "I've seen this online and wondered if I can do it" type questions perhaps.

Thanks to all for understanding. And thanks to those who contributed to the threads to alert me to the dodgy ad(s).

 

[Scintillam]

Same for me along with warnings my liver is in danger, although my doctor would probably give me the same warning:

 

[littlespark]

I’m getting the dead liver ad as well…. Along with “Asian beauties” and electrician training courses.

I’ll not tell you which one I clicked on.

 

[freddo]

No ads like that, but the sponsor ads are now covering over posts!

 

[Dan]

Hey @Dan , adverts are back. Are you fiddling with the code again?

Yes mate I do apologise. We're attempting to revert to somebody other than Google but need to run them to all members for a few days to get some stats to compare to (and provide). We need be huge for them to take us on. I think we just hit the mark. Will be gone in a few days I hope.

 

[Dan]

No ads like that, but the sponsor ads are now covering over posts!
View attachment 90974

That's my bad I'll stick that on a to-do list.

 

[brianmoooore]

I normally access this forum on a laptop, where all the ads are in a column down the right hand side and can be easily ignored, but occasionally, as I am now, I use my phone, and notice that every thread, without exception, has an ad for one of these pf correction 'power savers' at the end of it.

 

[Dan]

I normally access this forum on a laptop, where all the ads are in a column down the right hand side and can be easily ignored, but occasionally, as I am now, I use my phone, and notice that every thread, without exception, has an ad for one of these pf correction 'power savers' at the end of it.

While I have control over where the ads go, and move to depending on device etc, I don't have control over the Google ads that get displayed.

I'm working with an external ad specialist to manage our pay-per-click / pay-per-month / pay-per-impression ads, which includes Google. We're doing some testing on PlumbersForums.net. But once we're happy with that over there, we'll bring them over here, and there's no way those dodgy ads will be able to afford to be seen on here. Fingers crossed anyway.

 

[Jurassic Sparks]

Over the past few years there has many advertisements for bogus devices to cut your electricity bill, also devices to get free pay TV.

I discovered an amazing way to reduce my electricity bill
I have banned teenagers from the house
my grandchildren are frightened to turn off the lights in case they wear the switch out !!