User: Mister Poll

If we had a way to selectively exclude ads, we would definitely lose the ones identified as spyware (like Gator). Unfortunately with most ad networks, you're either in or out, and you have little control over which ads run on your site.

========== In Reply To ========== I understand the need for popup ads and can live with them. I really don't think people understand that is cost money to run a site. What I can't stand however and I think it shoud be aginst the law is those "do you want to install and run" pop-ups. Programs that are nothing more than spyware so you can get pop-up adds even when your not on a site. The most well know one is probably Gator(GMT). I say keep the pop-up adds and lose the getto spyware.

I know, pop up ads are awful. I hate them as much as you do, I assure you. The problem is that the MisterPoll site has to generate enough revenue to at least pay for our bandwidth costs and hopefully for the time that our people spend reviewing polls and maintaining the site.

We have tried many methods of bringing money in, and unfortunately this DoubleClick ad network is the only one that even comes close to successfully funding the site. We have tested a donation system, amazon affiliate links, and recently the new Google ad network since they don't deliver pop-ups. We would have to close the site down in less than a month if we stuck with any (or even all) of those.

So, we've tried to strike a compromise. We have to keep the evil pop ups for MisterPoll to remain online. However, we introduced the "Ad Free Misterpoll" option for those of you who like the site but just can't stand the pop ups. It's only $10 for an entire year of ad-free surfing on the site. That seems like a bargain to us. We certainly welcome alternative suggestions from our users if any of you have other ideas.

Oh, and for the record, those FREE PRIZE advertisements are not ads for the MisterPoll site. They just happen to run through the DoubleClick network.

========== In Reply To ========== You call them PESKY ADS- so WHY do you have them?? Does anyone read them? I spend ages clearing them, not reading them. But worst is the hourly prize thing- it's come up EVERY TIME today- I can't get rid of it- AND I DON'T WANT YOUR HOURLY PRIZE!!!

Can't you do something about them??

One of our reviewers must have been behind on her caffeine intake for the day. It was just a simple miscategorization, but it's been fixed now. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

========== In Reply To ========== This poll Self Defense & Balls suddenly appeared in the politics area. I'm sure it wasn't there yesterday, and due to the fact that the poll is a few months old it could indicate a technical problem with the site.

Just view your poll and then click the "view current results" link at the top of the page.

========== In Reply To ========== I did a private poll for my department at work...how do I get the results? Do they get e-mailed to me? Do I check my account?

You can't. We require that the poll creator's email be shown on the poll, simply to add a measure of accountability for what the poll contains. Before we had that requirement, there were tons of personal attacks disguised as polls. People would create things like:

Q: Do you think Mindy is A) Stupid B) Ugly C) Both

A flame war would erupt, and all hell would break loose. We would get calls from parents, school principals, police departments, etc. It just wasn't worth the headache, and frankly it almost killed our site altogether.

So now, we do require at least a valid email to create a poll, and it will be shown whenever somebody views the polls that you create. I guess the bottom line is that if you don't even want to be associated with the poll you're creating, it's probably not worth creating in the first place.

========== In Reply To ========== how do i make a poll not showing mt screename....thanks