(no subject)

[tree_and_leaf]

I'm considering going over to a sponsored account (chiefly for the icon slots...) However, I'd like to know what the flist think. Those of you who have sponsored accounts, what have been your experiences with them. And those who don't - do you find the adverts tacky, nasty, annoying...?

Of course, I also have to decide whether I want to have my page endorse things I don't necessarily (or: how great is my lust for more icons?) - but that's my problem.

Comments

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

I personally don't like the idea of advertising on my LJ, because I find them intrusive; but have yet to set my teeth and pay for an account, something I'm not keen on doing in my current impoverished state. I confess that I, too, like the idea of more icons, as they are a good visual way of distinguishing between types of entry, and better than tags in that regard.

[tree_and_leaf]

Apparently there's a way of avoidiing them if you use Firefox (see Juno_Magic's comment below). I agree that the ads can be intrusive, though I find it depends on what sort of layout the person is using.

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I'll think about that. It would clear up Gmail though there is some fun in seeing what adverts Google's machines determine are appropriate for the message thread.

[tree_and_leaf]

That's a good point about Gmail - though the targeted ads does have a morbid sort of fascination at times.

[prelud.livejournal.com]

Ads annoy me. I can ignore their content, but they mess up the page.

[tree_and_leaf]

I know some people feel strongly about this, which was why I asked - but the question's academic, for the moment.

[prelud.livejournal.com]

They do bother me, but I would keep reading your LJ even with ads, so your question was academic to me from beginning. Maybe I should have made this clearer. Congrats on paid account!

[tree_and_leaf]

(see Juno Magic's comment below about how to kill them in Firefox)

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

My view, should you want or need it, is that your space is yours. I have no issues with plus accounts, or any other sort of accounts.

I asked a similar question last year. Back when they were first introduced, there was a deal of wank from people squawking "I will defriend any plus account users!" and such, which died down when everyone saw how unintrusive the whole things was.

Go for it.

[tree_and_leaf]

Well, I remember the wank, which was why I asked. I mean, if anyone was going to take the "I will defriend you" then I probably wouldn't want them as friends anyway - but, on the other hand, it seems a shame to put people off.

Of course, I'm now slightly embarassed to have asked, as a kind anonymous donor has given me paid time. It's very nice of whoever it is - but I certainly didn't expect it as a response to the post...

[juno-magic.livejournal.com]

I've had a sponsored account for my icons journal, before a friend gifted me with paid time.

Here's the deal: anyone with a paid account won't see any ads anyway.

And those who are on a free account only need to use Firefox and the Adblock Plus extension (I use the subscription list of Easy List for the US and Dr Evil for Germany) and afaik they simply WON'T see any ads. I only saw nice empty spots where the ads would have been.

A friend of mine who is on Safari had to look at the ads though and found them very annoying.

So ... if you are comfy with Firefox, I'd say there's nothing to say against a sponsored account. And you can always warn those regular readers of your journal that don't have a paid account about the Firefox/Adblock Plus trick. :-)

[tree_and_leaf]

I didn't know you could do that - I'll bear it in mind for future reference!

[juno-magic.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the paid account. I can see you're already enjoying playing with new layouts. ;-)

That was really very nice of that Mysterious Benefactor. :-)

[tree_and_leaf]

It was! A sad distraction when I ought to be reading secondary literature about the theology of Catherine of Siena, though. (I bet if she'd had an lj it would have been blood themed and easily mistaken for that of a really morbid goth. That's a very disturbing thought, actually)