Re: drop-down ads

amazing!
is nobody else having this problem?
am i somehow special?

i can't even reply to my mail without constantly having to deal with it!

and i mean CONSTANTLY!

i wrote to Heifer International since i received no response from the Gaia team. Just to let you know.

Don't worry – I was nice.
a little exasperated, but nice.

it is like shouting down a hollow tube to nowhere…
good practice, in speaking one's experience
and letting go of outcomes…

Re: drop-down ads

hi mary, those of us who are on gaia plus don't see the ads… i would imagine that would include quite a sizable amount of the heavy users of gaia.

hang in there!

hugs,

nicole

Re: drop-down ads

Thank you for your response, nicole. You are a lone voice in this wilderness. Funny, although i heard of actually paying for gaia at some point, but now, even looking for the option, i don't find it anywhere! Not that i can afford it, unfortunately, since i am employed by a non-profit social-service agency, but i was curious as to how much it was. Heaven forbid, but is it possible that, given the fact that i am not a paying member, my concerns are not worth being heard? Or did I simply err in thinking this was the help-desk?

and the funny thing is, if i could afford the premium for gaia, i could also afford to buy the products that are being advertised. The way it stands, I get fancy-frills advertising for products that i can't buy! A double scoop!

Thanks again for your response nicole. Whining aside, i really DO appreciate it. I know you would help if you could! But something tells me, this tired old dog is barking up a very tall tree…

sigh…

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Hi Mary,

You bring up an interesting point about not being able to find Gaia Plus.
I looked on the site map and the listing below on the pod page and it's not easily
found on either.

You can always just click the Plus banner on many people's profile page,
found up next to their name in the center of the page.
or go directly to the link HERE

I have never regretted going Plus. The pages load faster and I find it affordable at $3. a month. They also offer a discounted rate if you choose to pay for a year in advance.
The Gaia plus option also gives us an email account.

Just my 2 cents, or I guess it's $3.

Blessings,
Ladybear

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Hi Mary,

I hear what you are saying in terms of the double bind. 

Ladybear was wonderful, as always, to help direct you to the plus -

 perhaps the thought of paying for Gaia is hard to accept or the financial realities difficult, but it does seem to me to be a very modest amount for what Gaia offers.

I can assure you that the leadership of Gaia is very responsive both to plus members and to regular members. I imagine that the fact your original comment got no response was a simple oversight - Matthew, for example, tends to be very tied up with tech issues in the Gaia Support
pod, and it may be that had you posted there, he would have responded sooner.


I know for myself, that no matter how hard I try to respond to everyone in the God Pod, I always miss a few posts, and that's just one pod. Imagine the difficulty in keeping track of all the discussions and blogs etc without ever missing a question.


Love,


Nicole

Re: drop-down ads

thanks, Nicole

i was wondering if i had posted in the wrong discussion group. I was confused by all the options. And i do understand about being busy, especially if my post was not relevant to the purpose of the pod.

and i agree that the cost is nominal. I simply wasn't aware of the option. i did not intend disrespect, just expressing frustration at not knowing which button to push for feedback.

Until recently, i have generally found the ads interesting, and have found  valuable resources through them. It is only these random, incessant drop-downs to which i object. They so detract from the experience, that i shudder to think that this is the “free” gaia that is supported by the premium members… I am not sure they would be so supportive if they knew what they are actually supporting!

Perhaps you could click the ads back on for a minute, to experience them for yourselves? No need to take my word for it! Now i understand that the principle players are not exposed to them, and could not be expected to share my concern.

but regardless, now that i know i have a choice, the matter feels settled.

thanks again!

mary ;-)

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it's great to get this kind of feedback, mary, because i have really forgotten how annoying i found the ads before, and they were not as troublesome as you describe.

so, i didn't experience your comments as disrespect, but i could hear your frustration. 

it's often hard to know where to post things, people often mention that, so it's not just you.

glad i was able to help in any way,

love,

nicole

Re: drop-down ads

Nicole and Ladybear done a great job in answering your questions and concerns, mary, and I would like to add just a few tidbits.

mary, have you checked out all the links in the welcoming info the community sends when you join? There are several guides to the place there. I well remember how lost I was when I first got here! The best is just to click on everything on the bottom of the pages, the top of the pages, and the left columns!

Ladybear, Nicole have you checked lately about the payments for Gaia Plus? I noticed they were no longer being deducted from my credit card each month, and when I asked ~Matthew he said they stopped charging for that quite awhile ago. Beats me why, I was happy to help provide that minimal income stream for them.

mary, you are far from the only or the loudest complainer about that particular ad. If you do a “search this site” for the name of the company you will find several quite vociferous posts about how it blocks the screen, etc. I forget which group that was, probably Gaia Support. 

mary, it's not the “principal players” who are not exposed to the ads, it is anyone who cares to join Gaia Plus. Gaia is the most un-cliquish site around, I think. And as Nicole said, the Team pays attention to everyone, to the best of their ability. If you aren't getting a response, post again somewhere else, or email matthew@gaia.com.(That address is given on the main Support page which you get to by clicking Support in the left column stuff under the Gaia column and which OUGHT to be in the welcome materials you got. If it isn't I'd like to know about that so I can complain about that, haha.)

This particular group, as that main Support page describes, the Thinktank, is for suggestions for improving the site, which you now have several of!! The support pod is the main place for posting about glitches, and the How Tos and FAQs Group is the main place for help and info about using the site.

Thank you for your respectful tone through all your frustrations. That truly reflects the values and culture of our community.

Blessings, OM Bastet  

Re: drop-down ads

thanks OM, that's a good point about the charges not being deducted anymore, I should have mentioned that. and all the other great things you said.

It's wonderful to have you back :)

hugs,

nicole

Re: drop-down ads

OM - you are gifted for your contributions.  If Mary contributes to the expansion of Gaia as you do, it is rewarded for production.  Please don't cut into the income of our Gaia Team for the hard work they are doing to maintain this sacred site.  Mary, I understand the frustration of the pop ups and I am sure you adjusted your preferences to say no pup ups.  I doesn't do what you described with Safari but does with Firefox where you can go on their site and block ads from everything on the website with their new plugins.  Meantime, you can write to Siona and she will give you the truth on the differentiation of the ads and the Gaia Plus.

Re: drop-down ads

KES

i don't mean to belabor the point, but i don't want misunderstandings to persist unaddressed. 

it is not a pop-up, it is a drop-down from ads already along the top and along the sides of the gaia site. The browser has no control over these little attention-getters. And the fact that browsers are set up to block pop-ups should clue anyone in the chain of command  (here, the “principle players” i referred to earlier), that these ads are OBNOXIOUS to anyone exposed to them. They produce the precise and exact OPPOSITE effect than intended, unless their intent is to dry up contributions to the vendor and drive members off the free site like screaming lemmings…

but maybe that's just me.

i am happy that OM and others are given kudos for their contributions. I had no idea those things could be measured! But, sigh, i will persist in my old ways, doing the best i can to “produce” what gifts i have to give, which i do hope are, on some level, while not quantifiable, at least appreciated.

and once i am assured of a job, i will consider upping for Plus status, if it is truly needed by gaia, but only if they agree to NEVER subject non-paying members to this sort of thing again!

now THAT would be a free-gaia i would be proud to support… ;-)

just teasing, guys… Thanks for all you do!

Re: drop-down ads

i am happy that OM and others are given kudos for their contributions. I had no idea those things could be measured!

measured by the seeds project on our profile page would be my guess.

Re: drop-down ads

giggle ;-) 

thanks OM, but i have been a member longer than you have!

so it seems that i actually did post on the correct pod? Since it isn't really a how-to or a glitch or a need for help or info about using the site?

cool.

again, now that i am aware of my choices, the matter feels rested…

thanks, everyone!

Re: drop-down ads

Hi!  I will giveth some seeds to you & Lb & others today. giggle :-)))

I wasn't able to write in a way to be duplicated.  Sorry.

This is the link to the Firefox Adblock that I use and works here when you don't want the annoying enforced communications.  Do get in communication with Siona too and she will help sort this out with more seeds & loving wonder over and over. That is soooooo awesome you have been here long like us. You are cool! Thanks for bringing up this subject. 

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giggle is right, Mary & ~Kes!  I'm off to sow some seeds!

The Seeds of Love!

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That seed of love is perfect *Ladybear~
”Suddenly I See… why the hell it means so much to me.” 
dedicated to Lb & Mary

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NOTE:  When the videos say Embedding disabled by request… it just means on Gaia to double click on each video and it will play.

Or… these are the links:
Tears For Fears-Sowing The Seeds Of Love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h91q44ifGcA
Suddenly I See
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AEoUa0Hlso

thanks….

Re: drop-down ads

There really is no direct measurement, mary. Even seeds are quite indirect at best. And the link was simply to my activity page.

Cool that you have been here a long time, mary. Sorry I assumed you were a Newbie without checking your profile.

It would be great if non-paying members would never again be subjected to something like these ads. Previous equally annoying ads were pulled, and I don't know who authorizes these things!!!

But, as I noted, Gaia Plus is now a non-paying member option, unless it's free only after a year or something like that which I am unaware of. Try to sign up now, don't wait for a better-paying job, and please post here if you are asked for money, so we'll know. Obviously I can't test the system….. 

I don't know why the site decided to forgo this particular income stream… It wouldn't have been my choice. Many people spend $3 a month on potato chips…..

~KES, you always lighten up with images. A true artist on many levels !!!!

Blessings, 
OM Bastet 

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Aha, it appears that I have misunderstood how Gaia Plus is operating these days. I apologize for creating any additional misunderstandings downstream from that !!

Blessings, OM

Re: drop-down ads

Seeds of love come pouring forth.  I am the volunteer coordinator for the seed excellence in development. In the tradition of Gaia, I clicked seeds today and leave my expressionist photography all around to the background music of Verdi for the tension.  Love to sow them….

Re: drop-down ads

Hello mary and *Ladybear and OM and KES and Nicole…

I'm so sorry for being late in getting over to this post, and to you in particular, mary, for the trouble. (And the rest of you have been so gracious and clear in taking care of mary, too; I'm humbled. Thank you. :)

As I've written before, our ads don't quite cover the cost of running Gaia; we make up some of the difference with our newsletter promotions and affiliates, and, of course, Gaia Soulmates. So for the time being, they're just a part of keeping the site free. And yes, in the future I'll pass on feedback like this to advertisers who insist on invasive technology. It's terrifically useful to have.

We no longer charge for Plus (the cost involved in processing a $3 credit card fee ended up being so much as to make the offering not worthwhile for the site), but we do save it as a bonus for those (if they want!) who subscribe to our other offerings, like Gaia Illumination University, or Gaia Soulmates, or Spiritual Cinema Circle, or for those of our Ambassadors who wish for an ad-free site.

And again, please forgive the delay. We're a small team but it's really no excuse.

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Siona, thanks. I am sure I speak for all of us in saying we have lots of empathy for the smallness of the Team and the largeness of your task.

An empathetic question: Is there any way to preview an ad for its effect on the screen, before it gets approved for use on Gaia? It's hard to imagine that whoever approves the inclusion of an ad is unaware of its intrusion on the functionality of our screens…..

So to clarify about Gaia Plus. Ordinary members who apply for Gaia Plus get it free? Or can't get it at all? 

And it's available upon request free for anyone who subscribes to

Gaia Illumination University
Gaia Soulmates
Spiritual Cinema Circle
or is a Community Ambassador?

And was this change announced somewhere, like the Team blog or a newsletter, and I missed it?

Loving gratitude,
OM

Re: drop-down ads

Yes on all counts, though the ad approval issue is a tricky one–I can approve the advertiser (that is, whether the client themselves is Gaia appropriate) before our ad sales time closes the deal, but asking them to change a campaign after the fact is difficult, and I often don't or can't see the creative until it's up. It can be hard enough finding sponsors who are  appropriate for the site without further limiting ourselves by requesting, say, only still banners. I'm not really sure what the solution is.

For the immediate future, though, the best bet for something like this is to write to Heifer International (or the advertiser) directly; them hearing about the concern from you (as a potential Heifer member!) makes a far greater impact than it does from me when I say their ads are interfering with the site. I'm just a “site publisher.” ;)

Re: drop-down ads

Thank you for such a transparent answer, Siona.

Aha, I see where the problem comes.

 I often don't or can't see the creative until it's up.


So I gather with so few potential advertisers at all, Gaia doesn't feel in a position to give them “specs” in advance. I guess I just assumed specs were SOP for businesses. But the situation is understandable.


And a complaint directly to the company definitely sounds like the loudest voice!! It's just not obvious to many of us how to “write to the advertiser.” I suppose it involves going to the Contact Us portion of their website and hoping an email there is forwarded to their advertising department. Is that best?

This was an either-or question I asked: 

So to clarify about Gaia Plus. Ordinary members who apply for Gaia Plus get it free? Or can't get it at all?


We've got a couple of test-applications requested to see which alternative pertains, but no feedback on the matter yet. 


Much love,
OM


 

Re: drop-down ads

You're welcome, OM.

So I gather with so few potential advertisers at all, Gaia doesn't feel in a position to give them “specs” in advance.

That's it in a nutshell. Unfortunately, I don't feel in a position to be too demanding on specs if we want to keep the site alive; as “publishers,” we're as expected to conform to / provide certain standards as our advertisers, which today equates to standard ad sizes and the ability to deliver rich media. :/

And to clarify! Plus is no longer available as a stand-alone offer; it costs too much to process credit cards in those small-dollar amounts, and, beyond that to offer it again, we'd need to upgrade to the same payment system that we use for Soulmates (spread the love, dear ones! Soulmates is a wonderful offer and a great supplement to Gaia, and if it grows to its full potential we'll be far, far less dependent on ads.. :) / Illumination U / etc.

(And thank you all, as always. Your voices are always so dear. )

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I'm already in Illumination University, I think, but I don't remember any money around that, probably because I haven't actually participated in anything.

But now I will join Soulmates just to support Gaia !!!!

Thank you again, Siona, and I feel clear now. People can't opt-in to just Gaia Plus, even for free.

But hey, Spiritual Cinema Circle is an amazing benefit, too. Lots of great choices!!

Love, OM

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I come from the world of advertising/marketing which is there to generate positive interest.  If they impinge to where it cuts off communication, I know for a fact that when you write to them directly as mentioned above, the professional ones will comply.  The ad on the Philosopher's Notes by Brian was great and opened the door to many inspiring authors.  When I go to Gaia Films, specifically the Matrix doesn't have an ad any longer but the youTube starts right away.  I wrote to see if there could be a return flow for that advertiser but it is still broken.  That is the only ad that needs to be debugged so the audience can find their films & either buy it or join their fanclub..

In this case, it could also have been mechanical on Mary's browser.  Also, it was not all ads just one that was programmed incorrectly as far as positioning on the page. These ads below work just fine when I had my friend test them out.  Mary, I am so happy your scene got sorted out.  Give us the name of the ad specifically if it happens again.  I love the companies that are lucky enough to be selected to help sponsor Gaia and recommend flowing power to those that help keep Gaia working so beautifully.  When anyone reposts on the exact ad that is off, please let us know who so there are no generalities. Thanks!  

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apologizing for my delay in response - internet woes… However, i do want to express appreciation abounding for all Gaia is and yet becomes, for the team shepherding, and for Siona, for her magnificent spirit and heart of a lion, championing the cause held so dear by us all.

“THANK YOU” seems pale in this context!

bless us all!

mary ;-)