I admit that most of the advertisements that come in my pm box don't thrill me much. I do keep wishing that something would capture my attention so that I can not only help myself with the product but also help the site through whatever advertising monies come in. This brings me to the latest offering. Steve arranged for us to have a free weekend at www.ReelMagicMagazine.com I can remember when you could buy DVDs of the video magazine and really wished they would have an online site. So after about 24 hours I've been able to catch up on some of the issues and have viewed many of the On Demand Plus items and like what I've seen so far. So not to sound to gushy thank you Steve for this and keep the ads coming. It came across to me like an early Christmas present.

I would rather a few pm ads than paying for a site. Not that big of deal considering the vast amount of information available on this site. You won't find another forum with that much information free or now. Also you don't have to read them and eventually they will be deleted automatically. It is not like you are getting 50 a day or something like that so it is not that bad.

That is because they have not been here long enough to see and appreciate the vast amount of information. All they focus on is ads not the huge amount of free information available. The longer you have been here the less you care about a few pm ads. I would rather those than those awful pop-up ones or YouTube video ads. At least on here you can choose to look at them or not, and they are at least magic related.

I agree with Sir Brad, and Mind Pro!

This comes across to me like you don't want to receive the messages, and therefore were complaining about them.

As others have said, the site is a free resource and one of the best places on the Internet for magicians. I have made friends, received a ton of advice and even met the person that sponsored my Magic Castle membership on this site. All of that has cost me nothing, and the rewards have been numerous.

If you don't like the ads, ignore them.

I am surprised there haven't been surveys around to see what ads people want to in their inbox. To me the ads in the PM box are Spam, defined as irrelevant or inappropriate messages sent on the internet to a large number of recipients. Yes, I accept and understood that as one of the conditions. While we all have different tastes, I just wonder if there are trends lurking in the shadows just waiting to be capitalized on. More ads that generate purchases is a win-win for the Café and its sponsors.

I have never understood this mentality of disliking or having a problem with the ads. The ads are what keeps this place a free community for everyone. You don't have to click on them, open them or even delete them. No one is forcing anyone to read them at all. When realizing the benefits and free access this place offers, it is a small concession or consideration for such privilege.

What people want would be quite subjective anyways so why not just accept that the ads are from those that understand the value of the Café enough to invest in advertising in this resource? I just look at it as 98% of the ads are of no interest to me, as many are card related, but again that is subjective as I said. I don't understand why some feel this is an intrusion or imposition for what you receive in return?

I never understand why some members feel they are deluged with ads from the Café. At most there is one per day and some days there are none. As Mindpro said, you don't have to read them, open them or delete them. They go away automatically. They always come from Steve Brooks so it's easy to sort them out from other PM's you may receive and you just have to scroll to the bottom of the pm and you can delete them.

It's one click to go to pm's, one click to open it and one click to delete it. Must take all of about 5 seconds, longer than it takes to write a message complaining about them.

Wait, just so we are clear, I'm not complaining. I do read them and if I find one that suits me, I do click the link. What I am saying if I wish there was a way to get more of the ads that suit me in my inbox. Probably just too big of a project.

David, I was just speaking in general terms, not aimed at anyone in particular. Several of the members in this thread are complaining and it comes up over and over and over again

Exactly. Anyone who has spent a few hours here should understand the way the place works. It's like going to a restaurant and complaining about the way the servers are dressed: maybe you expected something else, but maybe you'll get some of the best food you've ever had in your life. Just wait, slow down, get to know the place, and don't complain until you know how the place works.

Dave, I've got a few complaints (and you surely have a few complaints about me) , but the ads? It's a silly thing to complain about.

Stone, how could I possibly have any complaints about you?

I spend wayyyy too much time here, and love every minute of it. Mr. Brooks and his team give us an amazingly generous resource and I am appreciative beyond words. I couldn't care less if he wants to post ads to my PM inbox, especially since a lot of them are for new deck designs which I happen to like. I also try to donate a little bit every year just as a nominal gesture of appreciation.

I also am a big buyer and seller in the "Let's Make a Magic Deal" section. If Mr. Brooks wanted to, he could take a small commission on every sale just like an auction house. He does not. I find that admirable.

Wizard of Oz, does spending so much time reading the famous "Green Monster" cause the condition your avatar seems to show?
(I ask cause I feel a little green myself at times but not enough to listen to Kermit the Frog songs)

Well, it was supposed to pay homage to the Wizard of Oz, but I like your theory better.

The ads here are very minimal compared to other sites, and sites that are much worse with pop-up ads that slow your PC to a crawl like Photobucket. Those type of sites do that on purpose to get you to pay for a "no-ads service" of course. But here all you get is a PM that you do not even have to read to use the site. So I would much rather have that than pop-up ads or paying a fee. So they don't really bother me on here considering how much useful content is on this site, and how long I have been reading and contributing to it. (over 14 years)