Just a suggestion...

[ThinkPad]

I browse some other forums out there and some of them have decided to sell out to google ads. What a nightmare, just about every other word is highlighted and linked to a 'google ad' and most of the time they have nothing to do with forum interest.

I know advertising helps the forum funding and the current ads are very appropriate, but please do not opt to the annoying google ads or other pop-up advertising.

A 'membership' could be an option if needed to keep this place up.

[erik]

users can currently click the Donate link above to contribute to the site.   donations are always welcome and appreciated.

[ThinkPad]

Do supporting members get special privileges?? Like 5 feathers

[tfflivemb2]

Do supporting members get special privileges?? Like 5 feathers

I believe that depending upon the size of the contribution, BillMorrow was putting "Contributing Member" above the feathers...

[RealBlackStuff]

I browse some other forums out there and some of them have decided to sell out to google ads. What a nightmare, just about every other word is highlighted and linked to a 'google ad' and most of the time they have nothing to do with forum interest.

With a bit of watching which websites show up when loading such a page (on the left bottom in Firefox), you can add those (ad-pumping) sites to your hosts file in \Windows\ System32\Drivers\etc
The file might be read-only, so you may need to temporary remove that attribute.
End of highlighted little pests!

[BillMorrow]

i had been advised to go with google ads but i HATE popus like that..

i opted, instead, for what you see, now..

assuming i keep the banner full of advertisers i will not let google anywhere NEAR this forum..

that said, times change..
and i hope not to need to take such annoying ads, ever..

IRT special notations for those who donate..
i thought to add contributing member or something like that but i was advised against it..
so no user is more or less entitled than any other member..

the contributing member designation is for those few users who do something spectacularly beneficial for the thinkpad community OR for the forum..

you can help, if you don't want to donate, by clicking on the advertiser links and doing business with the advertisers..

i personally saved over $500 on a thinkpad purchase by going to e-coupons..
and now whenever i buy something online i check with e-coupons for a further discount..