Is that why we haven't seen you about lately, Caren? Welcome back!

Caren, you are not stupid. You don't have to pay, but the membership fees help keep the forums up and running, along with advertising of course. And I know there are other ways to avoid the pop-up ads, etc., contributing members are also spared most of those annoying ads. So I wouldn't feel bad about your past support.

Duane

No more Oreo adds if we pay up?!? LOL!

You payed for a service that you use, thats not stupid.

I used to like Oreos, now I won't buy them again just because of that incredibley annoying ad that covers the entire screen and won't freakin' go away. They slow down everything to the point that I'm so frustrated I've been avoiding the forums because of those ads. I've been thinking about becoming a paying member but I don't want to feel coerced into it, and I don't think it's any way to entice new members at all. I really like GardenWeb and think it is an amazing resource, I want it to continue. :)

Spike, are you listening...?

There's been some debate over whether a contributing member or non has any difference in the amount of popup ads. Funny you should mention them because I haven't seen ONE since I became a member. I consider it a meager fee for the all info, interesting photos, and commentaries from the great people gathered here.

I recall the Oil of Olay ad was particularly hard to stop from floating away across my screen- at my age, finding that little tiny 'x' to make it go away was like shooting at a flea!

Here is a link that might be useful: The Cheerios Ads- Even Spike comments

Yes I thought you had to pay to use the forum so I just went to lurking. I have had so much luck with this forum that I never actually minded paying for it I just couldn't believe that I didn't have to to begin with. Are there some forum you can't get into if you don't pay the membership fee?

I've spent the last 5-6 months learning to make soap and starting a business based on soaps and homemade jams and jellies, eggs. So far I'm a head by about $100. Not much of a profit but better than nothing!

Caren

This site has pop-up ads?

I use the Google tool bar (free) and have it's pop-up blocker turned on. On some sites, pop-ups will still sneak through, but I haven't seen any on GardenWeb.

Our phone lines here are capped at a 28.8 connection speed, so a pop-up stopper is a must. But exciting news, cable internet is finally available in this area (after more than 3 years of being told repeatedly that we should be able to get it in a just few weeks), so hopefully by next week our painfully slow internet connection will just be a memory. We're actually in mid-installation with the cable modem right now - too bad there's a 3 state cable ISP network outage that hit yesterday morning. :(

The local cable internet ads use the phrase "what are you waiting for?" Well, for three years, we've been waiting on THEM - we're closer, but STILL waiting on them to get their business sorted out.

But back to the pop up ads. Google toolbar is a nice cheap way to keep them outof your way.

Lynda

You will not get pop-up adds if you use Mozilla Firefox as your browser. Since I switched to Mozilla from Internet Explorer surfing has been so much better.

very cheap for the resourse