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Is the problem not with the ads that get served once all the 'sensible' ads have been used up? Maybe other sites just stop serving ads at that point before getting to the bottom of the barrel
For some reason I notice that even when signed out I don't get the dodgy stuff but that might be because I'm not UK so just don't get served them because I don't match the profile.
Been away for a while, back today, read three topics and get a redirect thing. Not the progress I was hoping for.
Followed quickly by another. Oh dear.
I’ve felt poorly
Clearly.
I’m not sure if you love jimjam, hate jimjam or have just transmitted an encrypted message to the Russians.
It must be my lucky day- so far I've been personally selected to win two phones and a bunch of amazon vouchers.
Yes, I know, the mods have been wearily, thanklessly trying to paper over the cracks.
They're considerably better people than the jokers at STW.
This site is an absolute dogs dinner, my pop-up blocker going frequently mental stopping dozen after dozen of spam attacks, slowing my device.
Unusable last night, a complete joke, virus' are less intrusive than this site. I've no idea whats going on in STW Towers, but in the old days they would have posted pretty promptly saying they were sorting it out, now radio silence .....................................................................................................................................
🙁
You all realise... Having a P means no popups 🙂
You realise when all the non-Ps leave, STW will be dead and then bust in a very short space of time.
more so than it is already ? It's already being dragged around by it's arms like it's body has been ripped in half.
I would think this forum is fast approaching the drop where enough folk give up that its no longer interesting and therefore not worth visiting. Thats the start of a downward spiral that is very hard to stop
I said after the initial horlicks of an upgrade that tere would be a finite amount of time to sort it before folk vote with their feet.
I do really feel the content providers ( us the posters) that actually drive traffic on this site have been treated with contempt. somehow they don't seem to understand that without the forum the rest collapses and the forum is its members.
Used to Visit a forum called Visordown
tonnes of traffic, like this place... One day it was overtaken by VeriticalScope and they redesigned it all...
90% of posters left in the first month.... The forum died a painful death.... The owner sold it for a chunk of change so he was OK... but the new owners got what ended up being a completely dead forum.
they are not listening
more so than it is already ? It’s already being dragged around by it’s arms like it’s body has been ripped in half.
🙂
They won, we lost. Get over it. Slowly.
Just came on here to see if any word on what's going on /anyone offering an explanation of how this issue is being resolved (optimistic, I know) and before I got to the bottom of the page had the same redirects. Wondering why I bother. Still wanna use this place but I, like many others apparently, will be off soon cos I'm sick of wasting my time. Is there anybody there (apart from us poor saps)?
Bump, anyone at STW want to comment?
tumbleweed
3.12
(Also...TUNE!)
🙂 at @jamie though. Don't do that too much though, it what makes us keep coming back
Cougar
If only there were 37 threads already discussing the issue.
And yet you turn a blind eye to every new daily/weekly thread where someone has a Brexit brain fart they need to broadcast. If you werent so pro-active about trying to hide threads about pop-ups, redirects and general forum shitness the number of threads would probably be representative of the size of the problem. No one is fooled.
Cougar
If only there were 37 threads already discussing the issue.
If only there was someone listening and doing something about it. Then the threads wouldn’t be there in the first place
Bye bye STW, was nice knowing you! 😉
Ok, update.
Mark's advised that he's devoting the day today (barring a couple of prior commitments) to try and find the root cause of this issue. He's made a major change to the advert delivery network to attempt to isolate which provider is causing the issues. If those affected could report back whether there's any change, that'd be grand.
Note, they may disappear and come back again during this process as STW tries different things. Before someone goes running for the pitchfork, I'll share a couple of comments from STW which I think are relevant at this point:
"Effects like this introduce an element of 'shock' into the system and so it's important that I give each change time to adjust before I can draw any conclusions."
"All our revenue pretty much goes into paying staff and costs. Losing a single day of network revenue has a very real detrimental affect on our existence."
And yet you turn a blind eye to every new daily/weekly thread where someone has a Brexit brain fart they need to broadcast.
That's simply not true. And if it were, you know where the "report post" button is.
If you werent so pro-active about trying to hide threads about pop-ups, redirects and general forum shitness the number of threads would probably be representative of the size of the problem. No one is fooled.
If you weren't being so pro-active about spamming the same comments on multiple threads I might have more time to spend on keeping the rest of the forum tidy.
I'm not trying to "hide" anything (if I were then this thread wouldn't exist). I'm closing duplicate threads as it's counter-productive to have multiple threads discussing the same subject, irrespective of what that subject is. a) it means that information is in multiple places and so is difficult to keep track of, and b) it clutters up the forum. It's the same whenever there's some sort of "event," we have to close umpteen RIP threads every time someone famous dies (doubly so when the first one is an obtuse thread title).
You want to discuss the pop-ups issue, there's a thread for that, no-one is stopping you. You want to discuss issues with the forum upgrade, there's a thread for that, no-one is stopping you. You want to fill up half of the front page with threads all discussing the same thing, that's not happening. Sorry.
You want to fill up half of the front page with threads all discussing the same thing, that’s not happening.
....unless it's bikes?
I don't go into the dark side very often.
A domain of evil it is. In you must go.
😆
Cougar
And yet you turn a blind eye to every new daily/weekly thread where someone has a Brexit brain fart they need to broadcast.
That’s simply not true. And if it were, you know where the “report post” button is.
How many Brexit threads have you locked today? This week? This month? I can see that you've locked mulitple Pop-up/forum issue threads. If the search function worked I'd prove how wrong you are. Also, you were the one who was scathing of people reporting posts they simply didn't like, so whilst I don't like the fact that people indulge their desire to whinge about Brexit in their own personal thread it's not up to me to report it because it clearly doesn't breach forum rules, clearly doesn't feature offensive, inappropriate or abusive content and it's "the culture" of STW to have multiple spammy threads, which results in hilarity. Unless those threads are about pop ups or forum problems, in which case, lock them quickly, they might find out!
If you werent so pro-active about trying to hide threads about pop-ups, redirects and general forum shitness the number of threads would probably be representative of the size of the problem. No one is fooled.
If you weren’t being so pro-active about spamming the same comments on multiple threads I might have more time to spend on keeping the rest of the forum tidy.
Really? Are people reporting my "spamming" comments? If I get a pop up every time I use the forum shouldn't I share that pop-up with the forum to give some insight, context, or detail as to what it's like (although in reality I could never spam the forum as hard as the forum is currently spamming my phone). I don't see any other forum members lambasting me for this behavior but I see many others sharing in/being subject to the same problems. The only one categorising my behaviour as problematic is you, and I put it to you that you are doing so in order to perpetuate the lie that forum isn't a complete shambles. Standard snarky, aggressive, shaming reply from STW when they are at fault it seems.
You want to fill up half of the front page with threads all discussing the same thing, that’s not happening. Sorry.
Unless it's Brexit.
How many Brexit threads have you locked today? This week? This month?
I've no idea, I wasn't aware there was going to be a test or I'd have taken notes.
The rule of thumb I personally apply is, is the conversation (not the subject) a separate discussion? Eg, if there's two brexit threads running, one's discussing passports and the other fishing rights, that's two separate discussions. If they descend into the same bickering as the others then they'll either get closed or run out of steam of their own accord. The last time I looked at the passport one, it was talking about passports, so it's fine IMHO. That may change (and almost certainly will, if it hasn't already).
it’s not up to me to report it because it clearly doesn’t breach forum rules
"Duplicate thread" is worthy of reporting as far as I'm concerned. It's not "up to you" no, but if you don't then you waive the right to whine about it.
Standard snarky, aggressive, shaming reply from STW when they are at fault it seems.
I can't possibly imagine why. (And I'm not "STW," just to be clear.)
Cougar
How many Brexit threads have you locked today? This week? This month?
I’ve no idea, I wasn’t aware there was going to be a test or I’d have taken notes.
I'm guessing none, more sarcasm and attempting to downplay the fact that you've been caught in a lie. You've locked three "Forum Issue" threads today alone, neither of us can recall you locking a Brexit thread.
The rule of thumb I personally apply is,
Nothing...you have no idea. You just admitted that.
if there’s two brexit threads running, one’s discussing passports and the other fishing rights, that’s two separate discussions.
700million people and thousands of potential issues. Every member of the forum could start a Brexit thread (and by the looks of it will), and yet all of them could just as easily be a post in the Brexit thread.
Standard snarky, aggressive, shaming reply from STW when they are at fault it seems.
I can’t possibly imagine why. (And I’m not “STW,” just to be clear.)
More snark? Why don't you just say what you think? I'll make it easy for you - no, you're not STW but you're constantly complaining on behalf of, and acting as the mouth piece/appologist for STW while pretending to be an impartial moderator and just another forum member. If the workload of moderating the forum is too much for you then pack it in. A mod should have a relatively simple task - keep discussion on topic and delete inappropriate material but you want to treat this as your sandbox when it suits and throw out the toys when it doesn't.
If you're not STW, and you're not recieving any kind of remuneration from them then just moderate and stop attacking community members for being rightly aggrieved when they are treated as parasites.
neither of us can recall you locking a Brexit thread.
I've closed dozens. How many of those were in the last month I couldn't say, probably not many.
I'm somewhat perplexed as to why you're seemingly fixated on this particular topic though, there's been far more "what cheap laptop" threads than there ever has been Brexit threads, for instance.
More snark? Why don’t you just say what you think?
I do, and then I get responses like "more snark?"
I'm not "attacking" anyone, I'm just not rolling over and putting up with crap either. You want less snark, stop going on the offensive.
I’m somewhat perplexed as to why you’re seemingly fixated on this particular topic though, there’s been far more “what cheap laptop” threads than there ever has been Brexit threads, for instance.
The reason for my fixation (I'll not argue your choice of words) is that there is rolling thread on the front page virtually every day and has been for years now. By contrast there's no two year old rolling "What Laptop" and each requirement would obviously be unique, but at this moment in time I am pointing out the number of concurrent Brexit threads that aren't deleted to contrast the deletion of pop-up/redirect and forum issue threads. You can't lock one thread on the premise that it's a duplicate and ignore many other duplicate threads* and to your earlier point, passports and fishing is obviously being discussed in the main Brexit thread too.
*well you can but it appears hypocritical.
More snark? Why don’t you just say what you think?
I do, and then I get responses like “more snark?”
But you're not saying what you think, you're acting as a spokesperson STW LTD, which you claim not to be.
I’m not “attacking” anyone, I’m just not rolling over and putting up with crap either. You want less snark, stop going on the offensive.
No one is going on the offensive against you, the "crap" is obviously not directed at you, but when you step in and behave as though you are protecting STW from it's members you set yourself up as a target, needlessly, because then you turn around and repeat that you don't speak for STW.
"In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away,
For the Snark was a Jimjam, you see."
Mark has been running tests since around 15.10 this afternoon taking down all servers then starting them back up individually to try and locate the culprit.
Whisper it quietly, but...
I do appreciate Mark's efforts to sort this problem, it must be a real headache for him! But I've stopped using the site on my mobile completely for now so I won't be able to help with identifying the culprit. Good luck though!
Yeah, good luck 👍☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
Just a bit of positive feedback to balance the negative, I've had no popups or redirects at all this evening so far. This morning I had about 6 in a row a few seconds after opening each thread. I gave up and went to work instead!
Could be a coincidence, but it certainly seems better than earlier...
Seems much better, thanks
Excellent hopefully it stays that way thanks for your support and feedback guys.
Feedback from me. At my lunch break at 1245 5 redirects within 10 mins. Teatime 6 pm - none.
I'll stop whispering now....
The redirects appear to have gone!
Thanks, Mark and minions.
I guess by the lack of GIFs by jimjam it's all still good?
Yesterday it took 3 attempts to read Cougar's post explaining what Mark was gonna do, due to redirects. Today I'm reading and commenting on threads without interruption, so whatever he did seems to have worked. Cheers chaps!
I guess by the lack of GIFs by jimjam it’s all still good?
I haven't tried browsing on my phone yet. I'll get back to you.
Seems fine touch wood. Good job.
I've just read one thread uninterrupted so it's 100% better than before.
Just had the 'congratulations' nonsense again. Oddly this sort of advertising repels me from whatever it is they're trying to flog .
Just blocked 8 pop-ups there now. No doubt it's to say I've won a phone or I've got a virus. Stw the new Facebook of data harvesting?
Annnd, they are back. Well that lasted all of 5min, well done.
Bugger!
I’ll report back cheers chaps.
Annnd, they are back. Well that lasted all of 5min, well done.
TBF, knowing they've returned could be an important phase of Problem Determination. If all ad networks were "switched off" then incrementally switched on until the pop-ups reappeared then that should narrow down the culprit.
That’s exactly how it was sourced the last time.
Yep, back here too, unfortunately
Aye, back on Android here too 🤔 was nice whilst it lasted.
Congratulations!!!
Now **** off
Just had 25 pop ups blocked while reading the Sam hill thread. Android tablet. Never had this before. I understand what people are moaning about now. Very poor.
Back with a (expletive deleted) vengeance.
Yep, congratulations on infesting my first thread. Venturing back to check on progress is becoming increasingly sporadic as a result.
Couldn't post this the first 3x because of the pop ups (not to mention the crappy editing functionality).
Multiple pop ups here. First time I've had this happen
Is there a reason they seem to max out at 25? Genuine question.
It's Android tablets being targeted this time. Hang on.. I have an idea.
Started getting pop ups 2 days ago, now it renders the site unusable
On an iPad It’s just a bouncy/scrolling/pop up/ adfest of crapness. You can’t even scroll down and look at the list of topics as it never stays still
why do they not use an off the shelf forum solution?* I use a handful of other forums and none have these issues and some are much much bigger than STW
*i know absolutely nothing about forum software and how it works.
Which forums are you talking about out of interest?
this one is bbpress btw.
oh and as a temporary fix to the theme bug on iPads. Turn your iPad to landscape. I know it’s not ideal but while we migrate servers it could help.
Holy crap. I normally have a number of tabs open on my phone constantly. One of them is Singletrack.
For the first time in God knows how long, I ended up closing it last night. I was having a quick browse & a re-direct took me to some random ad website.
I closed it and opened a new tab for STW & instantly started getting Chrome warnings about pop-ups being blocked, as per theboatman's post above. It was a constant pop-up blocked warning extravaganza; 25, 8, 6, 12, 25 etc. pop-ups blocked. Constantly. Then I got another re-direct with sound, which was nice.
At that point I gave up.
Which forums are you talking about out of interest?
this one is bbpress btw.
oh and as a temporary fix to the theme bug on iPads. Turn your iPad to landscape. I know it’s not ideal but while we migrate servers it could help.
TZ-timefactors and LFGSS (which is quite big)
iPad is always on landscape.
I'd just like to confirm I've read two threads with no pop ups. It may be a minor and short term success but positive none the less 😀.
More "congratulations" redirects this morning. 4 in the space of a few minutes trying to post a for sale ad so I have given up for now. Anyone wanna buy a lightly used bmx? 😀
Pretty bad for me this morning. 25 pop ups blocked (sorry no screenshot) then a redirect... On Android.
Jesus that is bad they’re offering you an Android.
I’ll bounce an email cheers for reporting chaps.
Yes I'm getting the bouncing, scrolling ad that cover all the thread links, a real pian!
When I swap between thread's I'm occasionally getting these ad's
They do close when I click the 'close ad', and I do end up where I should have done. No pop ups though or phone offer's. Are they legit ads that stw intend or do I need to stop clicking close ad?