...because my blacklist wouldn't kick in fast enough to get the "Yes on prop 8" message of fear and hate off my site.
If you came here today and saw a big ol' ad for "protectmarriage.com," I apologize.
If you live in California, I sincerely hope that you will vote No on prop 8 tomorrow. However you may feel about marriage, a constitution should be about protecting rights, not limiting them.
If you are disappointed to see a "political" post on this blog, here are three things to consider:
- They started it.
- This isn't politics, it's civil rights.
- Freedom is good.
Fun stuff soon, I promise.
UPDATE: Google is doing a poor job of addressing their users' concerns over this issue. On their AdSense blog they posted vague, boilerplate platitudes. Here are some of the responses:
Talen said...
You noticed a spike in readers interested in a certain topic did you?
You've broken trust with your publishers over this prop 8 ad issue and although Google gave 140k to the vote no on prop 8 I'm betting you've taken in millions in ad revenue for the vote yes on prop 8.
It's nice to see we are held to exacting rules as publishers and Google breaks those very rules.
Sites displaying Google ads may not include Violent content, racial intolerance, or advocacy against any individual, group, or organization.
You also need to allow the option to post using name and URL...not all of us use the blogger platform!
November 03, 2008 8:42 PM
johloh said...
seriously. noticed a spike?
way to get on the news by 'donating' money to no on 8...you probably already had the yes on 8 money set up.
you've completely broken my trust, and I (as well as many others) are now shopping for another company to provide advertisements.
terrible move google. fire whoever made that choice.
November 03, 2008 8:46 PM
Humuhumu said...
My filter works better than yours: I've removed Google AdSense from my sites. I'm speechless. I cannot believe that my own sites were used to push that kind of hate. I'm disgusted, and surprised, and disappointed.
November 03, 2008 10:14 PM
Jim and Garret said...
This is pretty appalling. Is there a way in adsense to see what ads have been run on my blog? I'm going to suspend adsense from my site until Google gets their crap together.
November 03, 2008 11:25 PM
jennine said...
How can you run these Yes on Prop 8 ads?
What about all the sites who don't even know what Prop 8 is? All the bloggers who don't live in California or the US? They're unwittingly running these ads FOR discrimination.
http://independentfashionbloggers.org/2008/11/04/an-open-letter-to-google-ads/
(IFB never had ads, though I have other blogs and have taken my ads down..)
Honestly, I don't know what to say... I feel betrayed... that my blog can be used as a vehicle for right-wing religious discrimination. I have always believed in equality for all people, and this really sickens me.
I may not put my ads up again.
November 04, 2008 1:50 AM
Tran Tinh said...
I did use these features but they did not work. All blocked ads still there and even I could not block or see them to filter out. T
November 04, 2008 2:42 AM
peterkirn said...
I'm with the others. I'd like some feedback from Google on two issues here:
* How did ads that weren't relevant to content get through in the first place?
* Can we get a mechanism of blocking that's real-time? (I found one. I shut off Google Ads.)
To me, it was a huge shock that on my music tech site, we were suddenly telling some of our readers that their partnerships threatened kids. Come on.
If this was an abuse by the advertiser, or a violation of Google's policies in some way, I'd sure like to hear more. I'm not going to immediately rail against Google, but I do hope you guys can give us some more feedback, and that you realize timing is critical. We need some explanation from AdSense, and we need tools as publishers that respond in real-time, because that's what online publishing is about.
Peter Kirn
http://createdigitalmusic.com
November 04, 2008 4:24 AM
peterkirn said...
And addendum: the point to me is, the ad wasn't relevant. Geo-targeted but irrelevant content is obviously dangerous; this instance proves it.
November 04, 2008 4:25 AM
johloh said...
cmon PR team...I know youre working on this issue this morning.
how did you not see this coming?
we need a response, and if its not soon, expect people to be gone when you get back to them.
November 04, 2008 6:32 AM
RumDood said...
To be honest, I don't care if the ads showing up are for or against any proposition, candidate, amendment, or other political item. If Google are going to allow political ads, then they need to provide a universal filter for political ads.
I'm not going to go in to my own political views here, and I don't on my blog either. My blog is supposed to be 100% apolitical. Google, by not providing me with the ability to opt out of any and all political advertising, are threatening my readership numbers by potentially offending people.
In short, I will discontinue the use of AdSense until such time as Google provide me with the ability to block any and all politcal ads.
November 04, 2008 7:16 AM
Annie said...
This is appalling! People TRUST Google AdSense to create ads based on the content of the sites - by searching the keywords. We set up AdSense and let it go. So, you create these ads for a hugely divisive and discriminatory issue and don't tell anyone? You let them go out to people's sites who are morally opposed to such hate? Then, when people ask for answers you give them a multi-step process for running additional filters?
You are ridiculous. Clean up your act. Step up and apologize. Your own company has a "No on 8" policy, why would you let this happen?
November 04, 2008 9:41 AM
Jason said...
I agree. I am extremely disappointed and will be taking my business elsewhere.
Google owes its Adsense publishers an apology and should create a filter for political advertising immediately.
November 04, 2008 11:05 AM
Rosemary West said...
How dare you plaster these Prop 8 ads all over my websites! This is a nightmare as visitors will are now turned away from my pages thinking that I support these ads. This is just plain WRONG! There should be a way to automatically block ALL political ads. No matter what my opinion is on a political issue, this is completely inappropriate for my websites.
November 04, 2008 11:24 AM
Stu said...
I, like many above, have removed Google AdSense from my site. It will take more than a vague reminder of filtering options to convince my to switch it back on.
You've broken our trust Google. Not cool.