DU and "Confed Flags" ad

[Sunny05]

Anyone else seeing a DU ad for confederate flags? It sometimes is near the top of the DU screen, under the tabs and navigation menu, and says “Confed Flags as low as $6.98.” To the left of that text is an image of a confederate flag. To the right is the company logo for “Gadsden & Culpepper” along with a “Shop Now” link.

This is shocking.

[Bonx]

1. Ads are typically targeted to what you have searched/viewed.

[Sunny05]

6. 1/2) I have NEVER searched or viewed confed flags NOR anything from

this company. I resent the implication.

2/2) It is a real travesty that DU would run such an ad regardless of whether anyone ever serached/vewed it.

Really, by that logic, if someone searched/viewed maga hats, would DU then run an ad for it? Really?

Also, for whatever it is worth, there is NOTHING I HAVE actually searched or viewed that HAS BEEN advertised by DU. Nothing.

* * *

I have taken a long break from DU because of negativity and quick, unfounded assumptions like like this. I just went to a LOT of trouble to get a new password and log on to,address this.

I would NOT be logging on and asking about this if this were something I searched and viewed.

[tblue37]

10. If threads on DU discuss confederate flags, as we often do (though disapprovingly),

then the ad algorithm will put up ads for confederate flags.

If we complain about Newt Gingrich or Ann Coulter, then ads for their latest books will show up.

Threads complaining about bible thumpers cause ads for bibles.

Of course, even a $5 or $10 donation will disappear the ads.

[Kaleva]

12. Get real.

DU has no control over the ads non star members may see.

And it's true that the ads are related to topics one views or searches for.

[Sunny05]

15. You get real.

They are not related to what I. iew. I have never seen any DU ad that is for anyhng I have ever searched or ciewed. Never..

Also, DU runs ads, they should know about it.

[tblue37]

49. If you have read some threads in which posts refer to confederate anything (flags, statues, etc.),

the you will see ads for things confederate.

In fact, if you open GD and some threads' subject lines have the word "confederate" in them, then the ad algorithm "thinks" you are interested in things related to the Confederacy. The algorithm doesn't know those threads are critical of those who fetishize confederate flags and statues, and it doesn't even care whether you clicked on those threads. All that matters is that the word "confederate" is on the page.

[guillaumeb]

13. There might have been nothing implied.

But star membership is great because the ads disappear.

Welcome back.

[Sunny05]

36. Thank you

for one of the few decent, very few nice, replies here.

[doxyluv13]

26. You seem to be the one making unfounded accusations

Your rationalizations are unfounded because you don't seem to know how internet advertising works. Internet advertising uses AI to make its best guess as to what ads to send you. You can't know that the ads were not provoked by some search you did unless you know and understand algorithms it uses.

Giving you the benefit of not being a concern troll, here's what you can do:
Turn off wifi. Delete your history and cookies. Log back in. The ads should be gone.

[stonecutter357]

27. fail ....

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

33. I agree.

Never searched for a flag of any kind, and got the confederate advertisement as well. Just like NRA Ads on Democratic Videos on Youtube.

[Sunny05]

46. I hear you ...

And I’ve noticed it when I wasn’t logged on. Of course, I haven’t been logged on for months up until tonight. I come to the website from time to time, but I stopped logging on a while back.

Also, I don’t see it on other websites. At all.

Anyway, it seems like DU ought to be able to get advertiser to filter that out.

Thanks for the nice reply. Take care.

[tblue37]

54. You don't see it on other sites because other sites don't have multiple threads with comments about

people who refuse to let go of confederate flags and statues. That is a common thread topic on DU, though, so the algorithm sees the word "confederate" all over the place on DU (like in this very thread--and in my explanatory posts), so it sends you ads for confederate flags.

[RhodeIslandOne]

34. You don't understand

It’s a advertising search algorithm


Because DU has frequent discussions about the Confederate flag, the algorithm reads this place as being interested in the Confederate flag

It has nothing to do with your searches.

[Sunny05]

38. At least

your reply has a nice tone. It is sad DU cannot have this filtered out. This is the only website I visit that shows such an ad. The only one.

Thanks anyway.

[RhodeIslandOne]

43. How many sites do you visit that....

1) have such an algorithm based ad AND 2) talk about controversial subjects like the rebel flag?

If you drop a line to DU’s admins with the info, they can probably ask for it be filtered, but it’s not like it was intentionally done by them....I think that’s why people feel you are being accusatory.

[Pholus]

64. If only it were that logical.

Seriously, used to have great fun with Google by saying outlandish things in emails to friends and seeing what popped up as Google tried to sell you something from it.

The relevance software is written by drooling morons, the advertisers ask for keywords without considering consequences. And, as we have seen, there is a disinformation campaign sourcing out of Russia that could well think it's funny to troll that way.

[Grassy Knoll]

2. Become A Star Member

[Sunny05]

9. I USED to be a STAR member BUT did not renew because

of treatment like what you are seeing here.

I have NEVER searched or viewed confed flags.

It is on DU to do something about this. Maybe they don’t know an advertiser is running this. They need to address it, though m

[left-of-center2012]

23. "It is on DU to do something about this"

They have.

By becoming a 'star' member,
you'll not see any ads.

[Sunny05]

29. Please see

replies #17 and #22.

Btw, I am not as new to DU as my number of posts may seem to imply to some. I am aware of star memberships. That is not the point.

Again, see replies #17 and #22.

After this thread, I doubt I will ever again become a star member. I may never come back to this site.

[left-of-center2012]

37. "I may never come back to this site"

Again, it's up to you.

[stonecutter357]

28. lol

[Kaleva]

3. As stated, you'll tend to see ads related to your searches.

When I'm not signed in, I'll see a lot of ads for Cabela's as I've been looking at fishing gear at various sites.

[Sunny05]

7. See post #6

[jberryhill]

4. Honestly, who cares?

Planning on buying one? No? Okay then.

[Sunny05]

14. It's an odd

It’s an odd thing to see on DU. It is shocking.

Instead of helpful or inquisitive responses in most cases, I have been accused of confed flag searching/virwing and asked “who cares.”

I also have been told to get a star membership. Well. I used to be a star member, and these responses are reminding me why I did not renew — and also why I went a very long time not logging on.

Thanks for nothing.

I have been a Democrat all my life. I have helped in the background with Dem campaign phone calls and post card writing and such. I have donated when I could. But I do not really feel welcome on a “Democratic” web site. I guess I am not in a DU clique or whatever is required here.

Things are depressing enough as it is, and I cannot even come to “Democratic” Underground without seeing confed flags and then being brushed aside for it. Hope you all are happy.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

39. Sunny

Calm down eh? I feel your pain. I had a dear friend from Long Island named Sunny (chat handle). He died. That was a sad period. Don't give up. The internet is annoying. GENERALLY ads are from searches, but, I agree w you. I get ads wayyyy out of my interest zone, often, and I've never searched for things like that either.
Welcome back to DU. We need strong voices. Don't let the internet drive your point of view away.
Hope to see you around.

[Sunny05]

45. Thanks for one of the few nice replies.

I don’t really need the calm down, though. I mean, the ad is concerning, and for this not to concern (some) others more is shocking. But ...

The responses from a number of other DUers here are a part of why I am responding this way. Gosh, I sometimes wonder why Dems cannot get elected more. Then, with threads like this (and the ones shortly before I stopped logging on), I feel like over half of Dems are willing to eat their own. Snark and one-upping beat teamwork with some people.

Thanks for reminding me that many Dems and DUers are not like that.

[jberryhill]

50. The reason for the replies

Is that if you stick around long enough, you’ll notice that someone gets into a snit over some banner ad about every couple of months.

Do yourself a favor and read this thread about the big purple dildo ad:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4279742

[Sunny05]

53. You are missing the point.

See my other reply to you.

[jberryhill]

55. There is no point

There is no point whatsoever to posting a thread in GD complaining about the content of a third party-served banner ad. It won’t make the ad go away. In fact, by constantly kicking and replying to the thread complaining about it, you increase the likelihood of it happening. It is thoroughly counterproductive because what you are doing here only increases the probability of it continuing to happen.

[Hekate]

58. Aww, Pinboy was on that thread. Good times.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

51. Of course.

I understand. Hang in there Sunny. Glad for your voice.

[jberryhill]

41. There are a lot of things one can get worked up over

Internet advertising is what it is. Advertisers bid on content that matches their keywords. The software doesn’t give a damn whether it is a right leaning site or a left leaning site.

You should have been around for the big purple dildo. Actually, it was a gardening implement, but it looked to a lot of folks on DU like a sex toy. Go figure.

Then there was the attack of the Asian dating services.

There is a forum called Ask The Administrators. It is believed that they can request that particular ads not be shown on DU. Until the next keyword/context/cookie-driven thing shows up.

But, whatever you do, don’t buy one.

[Sunny05]

52. If it is true

that administrators cannot have this filtered out, then this one point is relevant.

But the rest of the response with its ad examples doesn’t get it. I am describing a confederate flag ad sometimes showing on Democratic Underground. This is a different kind of ad from your examples.

Past that, the attitude over my asking about this and the so-what attitude over confed flag ad here may not be something to “get worked up over,” but they are reasons for people not to bother with logging on or paying here. This site has pretty much become a re-posting of twitter, anyway, and I can just get the same, only without the hassle, by going directly to twitter.

[mercuryblues]

5. You can copy the link. Go to ask the admins

post the link and they will block it from the site. Let them know it is an ad for the CF

[guillaumeb]

8. Star members see no ads at all.

Pay what you want, literally.

[Sunny05]

11. See my reply above b

I used to be a star member. Just look at the posts accusing me of having searched and confed flags.

[gollygee]

16. DU doesn't choose the ads

they're generated based on what you've viewed, but that doesn't mean you've been trying to buy confederate flags. You've probably read articles about idiots flying confederate flags or something. The point is that DU doesn't have a lot of control over the specifics of what ads show up.

[Sunny05]

17. Of all the websites I visit,

DU is the only one that runs a confed flag ad. There are some websites —but not DU — that start to show ads related to what I have searched. The only DU ads run that are remotely related to what I might search are for clothing, and it’s not even the style, brand, or store I would search.

In the meantime, many, many other websites I visit have enough control over their ads to prevent confederate flag ads from popping up.

[gollygee]

20. Again, it isn't necessarily based on what you've searched for

If you've read news articles about people flying confederate flags, that could trigger it.

DU might use a different ad company than other places.

[grantcart]

61. I have never seen the flag ad.

I do a lot of searches about confederate flags when it's in the news.

It could simply be the area you are in combined with an interest in history and the kind of car you are interested in.

DU doesn't pick the ads.

No one really understand some of the matches you get.

[reACTIONary]

18. I see a lot of ads for ladies lingerie . ..

.... don't know why. Can't figure it out.

[Grassy Knoll]

19. You Too...?

..

[Scurrilous]

48. I read an article on Jezebel (I think) about Little Tay.

A foul mouthed eight year old gangster rapper/exploited child. Later I go to youtube and they're serving me up Little Tay videos.

Seriously. WTF!!1!

[Dave Starsky]

73. So do I! Women in lingerie and bikinis.

And, for some reason, electrical engineering test equipment. I am not an electrical engineer, nor do I play one on TV.

I have no complaints.

[irisblue]

21. $10, or more no ads for a year. nt

[Sunny05]

22. Thanks but missing point.

1/2) When I see the ad, it is without logging on, when I first get here. Whether it would have been here after I logged on, I don’t know. No ad stays in that spot for long.

2/2) I know about star memberships. I USED to be a star member. I did not renew and, for that matter, until this evening, have not logged on for months due to some negativity that cropped up for a while.

It is not the amount of money for star membership. It is not the lack of knowledge of star membership. It is something I thought peope here would want to know. But I am sadly mistaken.

[Hekate]

42. If you think the Admins are somehow responsible for the type of ads you get, please contact them...

...in their group Ask the Administrators.

People are attempting to give you the facts of the matter (blame the Google algorithm) but you assert you already know that and it's wrong.

I'm sorry your nose is out of joint and that you refuse to throw a buck in the tip jar to help keep this place running. Enjoy the algorithm. Or not.

[left-of-center2012]

24. Star membership is the answer

It's up to you.

[Sunny05]

25. THanks but please see reoly #22

I know that already, but thanks. Even so, that is not the point.

[Sunny05]

31. Link

what? I have a screen shot. The ad, like all ads, comes and goes.

And what is this link or sink? I have never treated others here on DU like this.

[stonecutter357]

32. cool story bro !

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

40. It's going to be ok.

It's Monday. Don't let the ads bother you. dt will be eating crow soon. Don't bail. See you soon.

[IronLionZion]

68. How are things in South Central USA, Comrade?

[stonecutter357]

35. lol you fell for IT ......

[defacto7]

44. I agree with you... it's annoying and embarrassing

One thing nobody has mentioned is that DU could be targeted by the advertiser. It's too simple to blame the search history.

Another way to end the ads is to turn off your java script but then you loose some functions like the rec button. You can always turn it on when you want the functions. No java script no ads.

[Sunny05]

47. Thanks.

I appreciate the response and also the advice. It’s also a relief to see that someone gets it.

[lunasun]

56. Others recently complained here of the flag ads also , but no , I do not see them

[Aristus]

57. The ads are tagged to whatever appears on your browser.

Before I got my membership star, my ads all read "Sexy mature ladies want YOU!"

[jberryhill]

66. Why are you getting my ads?

[Aristus]

77. Because...

they want me MORE!...

[Codeine]

59. I love those ads.

They cost the seller money for the privilege of having an advertisement served to an audience that will have zero product uptake.

[marylandblue]

60. There is a little 'x' in the upper right of the ad

Click on it and you should be given an option to opt out of that particular ad.

Also, the algorithms look at searches you do that conservatives audiences also tend to do. I've never seen the confederate flag ad. I tried to force it by searching for "Nascar" and "Indianapolis 500." My next ad was for a gun site.

[Raine]

62. I don't see them

I know some do but I'm lucky because I haven't.

[SWBTATTReg]

63. I don't know about some of you, but I never, ever pay attention to any ads, or the like, ...

mainly because I don't care or want to (if fact, if you're like me, you'll totally forget most ads in time (the mind filters out crap otherwise one would go nuts).).

I do pay for the star membership for I want this discussion forum to continue (very informative, lots of news about all kinds of stuff), and it is worth every penny.

The conf. flag ad is directed by your internet service provider/ISP as well as the other ads they pepper your internet service with while you're logged on to the internet (not just DU). Most of your internet service provider agreements when you sign up allows them (the ISPs) to place ads on your webpages while you are logged on.
These ads are based upon your search histories and/or the algorithms used to determine where to show the conf. flag ads (and don't ask me or us how, I don't have access to the algorithms used or your ISP view histories so none of us here can really help you).

If you have a star membership, then they (DU) take over the ad spaces and prevents ads from showing up from any source There was one post above, that stated clearing out your view histories will help and it will.

Also you might be able to contact your ISP, and see if you can control the types of ads shown. Some ISPs do.

I mentally ignore these barrage of ads (someone trying to sell me something online) as well as the thousands of commercials we see on TV or while driving pass all of the signs on the highway because if I see 1 bad image (the conf. flag for example here), I don't freak out because I know I'll see that flag on someone's bumper or something like that, when I go driving around. So what?

The world is full of negative images, but also, it is full of positive images (and the stories that go w/ them). This is by far the most important point, that I'm going to see thousands of very positive images on good stories that pop up in DU land all of the time.

The benefits far outweigh (in my mind) any negative stories/images that I may see, for most major news outlets will never put on even 1/100th of the stories and/or images that we see on DU.

[RandiFan1290]

65. I use adblock

I'd never donate to this site.

[IronLionZion]

67. How Google Adsense Works

I see lots of NRA ads because of the gun control discussions.

[hexola]

69. Probably everybody who reads this thread will start seeing ads for Confederate flags

Confederate flags Confederate flags Confederate flags Confederate flags

[hexola]

70. Im seeing ads for Republican Candidates in PA Primaries on DU

Thats actually more disturbing than the flags...

[Tipperary]

71. I have never seen that ad. I cannot believe some stupid ad bothers you that much.

You must have very few real problems in your life. Consider yourself lucky and ignore the ads. Jeebus the things people whine about here.

[dsc]

72. I am nothing less than mystified that so many think it is OK

that new visitors might see ads for confederate flags when they visit this sight. Would Swatzikas be OK? Maybe some Sambo dolls? It isn't OK that potential members of this sight see a racist symbol being sold.

[hexola]

74. I always laugh when I see my own items in eBay ads on DU

Shows this kind of targeting isn't all that useful...and far from perfect targeting.

Why advertise my own items to me...?

[Orsino]

76. They'll have been seeing similar ads on many other sites before they ever click on DU.

A Google search history can shape the ads you see, but even having clicked on articles about how terrible reverence for Confederate regalia is can have the same result.

[Adrahil]

75. Who knows?

Nothing to get uptight about.

I recently got "recommended for you" that included white nationalist books. It's a flaw in algorithm somewhere. The only thing I read about White Nationalists is that they are fucking assholes. But some bit of code somewhere through I'd be a target for advertising. Nothing to get knickers in a twist over.