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NewsBiscuit taking ads from the 'No to AV' camp: What am I missing here?

(23 posts) (14 voices)

Started 2 years ago by Oxbridge
Latest reply from saltire

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Oxbridge

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Yes, I know the site costs money to run and I haven't offered any of my own. Yes, I know people are free to make a choice. Yes, I know some Labour politicans to their eternal shame are in that camp too. Yes, I know I'm a crabby blinkered old lefty. And yes, I know this is a satirical news website and therefore ready to extract the urine out of anyone and everyone.

You're waiting for the 'but', right? Well here it is.

BUT, the 'No to AV' campaign is 90%+ about Tories cynically defending the system that they know benefits them most. It's funded mainly by those who fund the Tories at the general election - which is why they have a much bigger advertising budget than the 'Yes' campaign. The people handing out leaflets in the streets are the same nice old Tory ladies you see coming out of the woodwork at election time. And, surprise surprise, we're getting the usual scare campaign from the right-wing tabloids, which is apparently working.

I'll spare you the arguments for and against AV, it's being done on another thread. But seeing this ad on NewsBiscuit really does leave a nasty taste in my mouth.

Posted 2 years ago #
rickwestwell

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Which brings me to the bukkake story I've just posted. :-)

I think the ads are all from Google, aren't they? So the NewsBiscuit posse won't have any say in what's going to be advertised.

The adverts will either be completely random or sometimes based on your own personal browsing history - you should see what ads I'm getting, they're not about AV, I can tell you.

Posted 2 years ago #
Golgo13

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In Japan "AV" is most commonly used as an abbreviation for Adult Video.

So you're both right!

Posted 2 years ago #
Oxbridge

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That explains something, I guess. But do online publishers like this really not have any control over what ads get used? Apart from anything else, they are still legally liable for the content (to use a word I hate) they put out.

Posted 2 years ago #
FormerlyAlOPecia

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I can't work out the link of either story to "Fish Pedicure" though.

Posted 2 years ago #
Sinnick

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I agree, it's inappropriate to have political messages on this site.

However, and I'm guessing, the NB team will have a simple arrangement with the ad agency - money for space. As an editor yourself (@oxy), you'll appreciate this. So, they will have no control over the ad content. Even if they did, the current arrangement won't change before the election.

If you don't like it, you're surely motivated to do a spoof ad ...

Posted 2 years ago #
FormerlyAlOPecia

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I vote Oxy first and Rick as my second, should Oxy get insufficient votes in the first round.

Posted 2 years ago #
Sinnick

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Here's my own AV plug ...

Posted 2 years ago #
Anonymous

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I thought it was just me getting the fish pedicure ads, based on my shark pedicure story...

Posted 2 years ago #
Jeremy Hunt

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Love the tag.5*

Posted 2 years ago #
ronseal

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There are other ways to get advertising without using Google.

There are quite a few companies that will give you more choice over your adverts.

Adfonics for one.

Posted 2 years ago #
bonjonelson

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Google Adsense has a system where users can exclude the URLs of companies they don't want advertising on their sites.

Although I don't really see the problem with the 'No' campaign ads myself. I know quite a number of active Labour members who will vote 'No' because they don't want to see the UK continually stuck in Coalition governments.

Posted 2 years ago #
bonjonelson

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wtf. hmmm

Posted 2 years ago #
editor

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Oxbridge makes a fair point - but I decided not to block the No to AV ads. I am a supporter of the Yes to AV campaign and could say to the agency that handle all the ads on NewsBiscuit they should block the No ads. But despite my dislike of many of the people behind the No campaign, they have a right to say their piece and to place ads (even if it is with money that the Yes campaign does not have). I just concluded that it was not exactly a moral issue, though just for the record, there have been political advertisers that I have said we don't want to see on the site.

The satisfying solution would be for someone to write a really good piece satirising the No campaign, which would appear with their ad right beside it...

Posted 2 years ago #
rickwestwell

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'No to AV' campaign 'bunch of cunts', says satirical website.

There you go. :-)

Actually, as it would be bound to attract the advert, is there any mileage in a full FP riffing on this? Replacing Jeremy Hunts with "Bunch of bastards", obviously.

It would look pretty special to have that with the ad sitting proudly at the top...

If not, I'm sure we can think of something better - go Oxy! Cometh the hour..!

Posted 2 years ago #
ronseal

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If we have to be on message, surely we should have some rules.

e.g
Jokes about Tony Blair's public school background: not acceptable
Jokes about David Cameron's equally privileged background: obligatory

Come on, give us some guidelines.

I wasn't aware that the alternative vote was an issue that divided society into saintly lefties and evil right wing capitalist running dogs of fascism.

Posted 2 years ago #
Sinnick

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I'm still trying to figure out how the debate settled on the AV option. Someone's been a bit slick here. It's hardly more democratic than the present system, and there are many other voting systems that would be more representative. The end result at a general election will be much the same, regardless.

As I see it, if the AV system is voted in, there won't be another chance to improve the voting system for decades. And who gains then - not the electorate, of course.

Posted 2 years ago #
andhrimnir

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Alternating current I get. Alternating voltage would be quite dangerous though would kick start the economy as we would all have to replace our gadgets, appliances and the power distribution infrastructure.

Will they bring back round pin plugs to distinguish the two during transition? (Anyone else recall filing the edges on square plugs so they fit both types of socket last time we had this hoo haa?)

Posted 2 years ago #
beau-jolly

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I have to agree with Ronseal. Why is left saintly and right evil? I would dearly like to have a government of competent managers rather than well meaning idealist. If this means they are well educated; good for us.
Unfortunately they are all bloody politicians.
Am I being too simple?

Posted 2 years ago #
FormerlyAlOPecia

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Yes.

Posted 2 years ago #
the coarse whisperer

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I have to say I haven't been offended by the ads, but then I use an adblocker and haven't seen any ads whatsoever. Despite missing out on invaluable commercial information (I quite enjoyed Captain Steve's How to Kill People Who Look at Your Woman) it's pleasing to know that I'm robbing JOF of millions in hypothetical revenue, since he already has more money than is good for him anyway.

Posted 2 years ago #
editor

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Just for the record I don't take any money from NewsBiscuit. For me it's enough just to groom young people on the Internet.

Posted 2 years ago #
saltire

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Proud of you Ed.At least you refuse to hide behind a super-injunction.

Posted 2 years ago #

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