Banner ads. Are you seeing local political ads?

[mortomo]

I just saw a banner ad on this site regarding our state governor. I usually don't talk politics on here and I still don't plan to do so, but I'm slightly irritated that there are political ads for my state showing up on here.

1) It seems somehow like an invasion of my privacy that there are ads pertaining to where I live. I know it's the internet and nothing is private, but, well, whatever.

2) That's all we hear about around here because of the recall election crap. Every time I turn on the TV, get into my car, etc...recall election crap. Shoot me.

3) I know enough about my state politics to be knowledgeable on the important points so that I can confidently vote, but I don't plan to live and breathe it. I will be voting, but political ads, commercials, signs, etc won't change my mind. If a person is that easily swayed, then they shouldn't be voting.

Ok...that was more of a rant/vent than I had planned. I'm so tired of it all! I guess my frustration goes a lot deeper than the banner ads on these boards!

[MixedBerryJam]

Even if you don't talk politics here, if you have gone to other sites (made a donation, read an article, etc.) your cookies will draw those to you. Plus, your geographical information is probably somewhere, also targeting you. Right now, I have a respite care facility banner ad at the top. A political ad is looking pretty good to me!

ETA: And agree -- they creep me the hell out.

[mortomo]

Yeah, I've noticed that sites that I've visited all of a sudden appear as ads on other sites that I frequent, so I knew that it was tracked (and I guess I'm okay with that). I'm just irritated that I can't get away from politics when I come to a board that I use to 'get away'.

I feel like I'm in a super cranky mood today and seeing that just made me crankier! LOL

[Deleted]

I don't have any political ads, but there's also nothing incredibly exciting going on in my state politics-wise. I'm sure as we get closer to November they'll start popping up.

[Dramasailor]

Yeah, I get web-hosting ads since that was the last major search that I did. I just gloss over them, really. It's come to where I just ignore the top banner of most sites.

[broc]

Mine seems to alternate between chilis and weight watchers. Heh.

[gault]

I get a lot of ads for Staples. Guess where I've been spending a lot of time?


....the Office Max website.

[mortomo]

The thing is, I don't visit political websites, nor do I read articles about our current state of politics in Wisconsin. It must be going off of where my IP address is located? Or does it know what address I typed when I ordered from a website the other day?

The political ad is showing again and it's sponsored by the NRA.

[MixedBerryJam]

Are you in WI? I bet the ad is just blasted out by your isp (or however ads work; I've never really thought about it). I know that I get ads that specifically highlight the name of the city I'm in (not a major city, even) so I know the advertisers know exactly where I am. And I hate when I start getting ads for shoes just after I've purchased a pair of shoes at Zappos, or a particular designer after I've just bought a dress at nordstrom.com. And I just looked and the retirement village ad is back up at the top now, too. So much for planning ahead!

[PinkSquirrel]

You could try installing an ad blocker for whatever browser you're using. Then you at least won't have to look at the ads