Ask YC: Why does adsense try to find ads relevant to web page content rather than to the user?

Re:Ask YC: Why does adsense try to find ads relevant to web... by csmajorfive on Thursday March 06, 2008 @12:08PM (#130648)

It does target to the user based on your searches and other things (assuming you're cookied). It just doesn't ask for explicit input from the user which is counter to the "google way" of abstracting that kind of control away from the user.

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Re:Ask YC: Why does adsense try to find ads relevant to web... by amichail on Thursday March 06, 2008 @12:10PM (#130649)

Do you think if you were explicitly asked for what ads you would like to see that you would pay more attention to those ads?

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Re:Ask YC: Why does adsense try to find ads relevant to web... by Electro on Thursday March 06, 2008 @02:42PM (#130769)

Personally I would. If it peaks my interest I will look, I'm not interested in "low rate mortgages" or "win a free(*) iPod". I own an iPod and I have no interest in owning a house, which is why I now own Adblock Plus and Flashblock. I hardly see any adverts anymore because they annoyed me by not targeting me.

Context ads are good, except when the ads aren't in the context of the site. Just because sex gets mentioned in an article, doesn't mean I want adverts for sex pheramones and when I read something on bargains on HDTVs I do want Bestbuy, FutureShop or eBay adverts popping up as I'm actively looking to buy something.

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Re:Ask YC: Why does adsense try to find ads relevant to web... by rrival on Thursday March 06, 2008 @02:39PM (#130768)

Ads I would like to see: none. If I can't have that option I'm going to cast my vote with Adblock on FireFox and you're not going to get an option. Find a better way to monetize pls kthx.

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Re:Ask YC: Why does adsense try to find ads relevant to web... by amichail on Thursday March 06, 2008 @03:49PM (#130811)

What would the web look like if everyone used Adblock? Not much free content I would guess. Would you like that better?

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Re:Ask YC: Why does adsense try to find ads relevant to web... by pchristensen on Thursday March 06, 2008 @04:07PM (#130827)

I'm pretty sure there'd be a ton of free content. How much of the content one the internet earns its creators more than they spend on coffee?

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Re:Ask YC: Why does adsense try to find ads relevant to web... by amichail on Thursday March 06, 2008 @04:13PM (#130832)

Anything good enough to become popular. .

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