I turned off Google AdSense today

...because my blacklist wouldn't kick in fast enough to get the "Yes on prop 8" message of fear and hate off my site.

If you came here today and saw a big ol' ad for "protectmarriage.com," I apologize.

If you live in California, I sincerely hope that you will vote No on prop 8 tomorrow. However you may feel about marriage, a constitution should be about protecting rights, not limiting them.

If you are disappointed to see a "political" post on this blog, here are three things to consider:

• They started it.
• This isn't politics, it's civil rights.
• Freedom is good.

Fun stuff soon, I promise.

UPDATE: Google is doing a poor job of addressing their users' concerns over this issue. On their AdSense blog they posted vague, boilerplate platitudes. Here are some of the responses:

Talen said...

You noticed a spike in readers interested in a certain topic did you?

You've broken trust with your publishers over this prop 8 ad issue and although Google gave 140k to the vote no on prop 8 I'm betting you've taken in millions in ad revenue for the vote yes on prop 8.

It's nice to see we are held to exacting rules as publishers and Google breaks those very rules.

Sites displaying Google ads may not include Violent content, racial intolerance, or advocacy against any individual, group, or organization.

You also need to allow the option to post using name and URL...not all of us use the blogger platform!

November 03, 2008 8:42 PM

johloh said...

seriously. noticed a spike?

way to get on the news by 'donating' money to no on 8...you probably already had the yes on 8 money set up.

you've completely broken my trust, and I (as well as many others) are now shopping for another company to provide advertisements.

terrible move google. fire whoever made that choice.

November 03, 2008 8:46 PM

Humuhumu said...

My filter works better than yours: I've removed Google AdSense from my sites. I'm speechless. I cannot believe that my own sites were used to push that kind of hate. I'm disgusted, and surprised, and disappointed.

November 03, 2008 10:14 PM

Jim and Garret said...

This is pretty appalling. Is there a way in adsense to see what ads have been run on my blog? I'm going to suspend adsense from my site until Google gets their crap together.

November 03, 2008 11:25 PM

jennine said...

How can you run these Yes on Prop 8 ads?

What about all the sites who don't even know what Prop 8 is? All the bloggers who don't live in California or the US? They're unwittingly running these ads FOR discrimination.

http://independentfashionbloggers.org/2008/11/04/an-open-letter-to-google-ads/
(IFB never had ads, though I have other blogs and have taken my ads down..)

Honestly, I don't know what to say... I feel betrayed... that my blog can be used as a vehicle for right-wing religious discrimination. I have always believed in equality for all people, and this really sickens me.

I may not put my ads up again.

November 04, 2008 1:50 AM

Tran Tinh said...

I did use these features but they did not work. All blocked ads still there and even I could not block or see them to filter out. T

November 04, 2008 2:42 AM

peterkirn said...

I'm with the others. I'd like some feedback from Google on two issues here:

* How did ads that weren't relevant to content get through in the first place?

* Can we get a mechanism of blocking that's real-time? (I found one. I shut off Google Ads.)

To me, it was a huge shock that on my music tech site, we were suddenly telling some of our readers that their partnerships threatened kids. Come on.

If this was an abuse by the advertiser, or a violation of Google's policies in some way, I'd sure like to hear more. I'm not going to immediately rail against Google, but I do hope you guys can give us some more feedback, and that you realize timing is critical. We need some explanation from AdSense, and we need tools as publishers that respond in real-time, because that's what online publishing is about.

Peter Kirn
http://createdigitalmusic.com

November 04, 2008 4:24 AM

peterkirn said...

And addendum: the point to me is, the ad wasn't relevant. Geo-targeted but irrelevant content is obviously dangerous; this instance proves it.

November 04, 2008 4:25 AM

johloh said...

cmon PR team...I know youre working on this issue this morning.

how did you not see this coming?

we need a response, and if its not soon, expect people to be gone when you get back to them.

November 04, 2008 6:32 AM

RumDood said...

To be honest, I don't care if the ads showing up are for or against any proposition, candidate, amendment, or other political item. If Google are going to allow political ads, then they need to provide a universal filter for political ads.

I'm not going to go in to my own political views here, and I don't on my blog either. My blog is supposed to be 100% apolitical. Google, by not providing me with the ability to opt out of any and all political advertising, are threatening my readership numbers by potentially offending people.

In short, I will discontinue the use of AdSense until such time as Google provide me with the ability to block any and all politcal ads.

November 04, 2008 7:16 AM

Annie said...

This is appalling! People TRUST Google AdSense to create ads based on the content of the sites - by searching the keywords. We set up AdSense and let it go. So, you create these ads for a hugely divisive and discriminatory issue and don't tell anyone? You let them go out to people's sites who are morally opposed to such hate? Then, when people ask for answers you give them a multi-step process for running additional filters?

You are ridiculous. Clean up your act. Step up and apologize. Your own company has a "No on 8" policy, why would you let this happen?

November 04, 2008 9:41 AM

Jason said...

I agree. I am extremely disappointed and will be taking my business elsewhere.

Google owes its Adsense publishers an apology and should create a filter for political advertising immediately.

November 04, 2008 11:05 AM

Rosemary West said...

How dare you plaster these Prop 8 ads all over my websites! This is a nightmare as visitors will are now turned away from my pages thinking that I support these ads. This is just plain WRONG! There should be a way to automatically block ALL political ads. No matter what my opinion is on a political issue, this is completely inappropriate for my websites.

November 04, 2008 11:24 AM

Stu said...

I, like many above, have removed Google AdSense from my site. It will take more than a vague reminder of filtering options to convince my to switch it back on.

You've broken our trust Google. Not cool.

Comments

[Rob:-]]

I only read tech blogs to try to avoid having to deal with this kind of irrationality but, if you must know, I'm in favor of equal rights for everyone. That includes gay people and the political prisoner we have locked up in Cuba.

But that's beside the point.

How do you expect Google to filter every ad that might run on your web site based on your personal beliefs? How would they even know what they are?

In fact, as a commercial enterprise you are expecting them to examine ever advertiser's product, understand the ramifications and nuances of that product, then correlate that with the ramifications and nuances of your personal beliefs so they can finally decide if the ad is suitable for your sensibilities.

I think all that is beyond the current technology anyway.

I don't want Google deciding what's "correct" and what's not. I want them to post advertising that will make ME money. If I can make money from the pro-Prop-8 people ... well I think that's a good thing.

Google or MS or Yahoo can not decide these things because they will screw it up. They must base there decisions only on the profit motive. That's the only thing I trust them with.

Peace,

Rob:-]

[GPSchnyder]

If I can make money from the pro-Prop-8 people ... well I think that's a good thing.

Really? Take money for everything, even if you don't like it? I don't think so.

Would you work on a movie that says/does anything you don't like?

[micro]

Go Stu!

[Benji]

"But the government already has stepped in and made marriage a civic institution. That boat is long past, therefore, we must give all our citizens their civic rights."

The government formaly acknowledged an institution that was already in place, but it does not have a right to re-define the term.

[Andrew McMillan]

thank you benji

[Bryan Edwards]

An interesting observation from Phil Cooke.

http://www.philcooke.com

"Media Strategy Observation: One of the most interesting strategic media moves related to California’s Proposition 8 (to define marriage as between a man and a woman) is that the gay community (who is against prop. 8) never appears in their TV advertising. There’s a massive media campaign going on throughout the state promoting gay marriage, but none of the spots actually feature gay couples. In fact, most ads never even use the words “gay marriage” or “gay.” I think they’re targeting swing voters who aren’t actually comfortable with the idea of gay marriage, and are trying to move them based on civil rights. But I do find it fascinating that they’re trying to promote a cause without actually showing the cause. Regardless of what you think of the issue of homosexual marriage, the strategy is rather deceptive. What do you think?"

[Mr B]

well, we just won't agree on this and their are few things I feel stronger about. I believe you should have the freedom to practice whatever religion you want. I believe that those religious beliefs should be kept separate from civic rights. I believe that marriage has become part of civics because of the various benefits it now employs, taxes etc. You cannot call yourself married officially without being registered. It is now part of government, which if you have a problem with, is a separate issue.

if some people have those rights, then withholding them from others is inequality. If you want different rights for certain people, then to some extent, you are promoting inequality.

ultimately it goes back to what Stu originally said, government should protect rights, not take them away.

please defeat this ignorant proposition.

[Brian]

Yesterday, I excitedly told 3 people about this blog, and have told countless in the past. Regardless of the position those 3 people take on Prop 8, I am embarrassed that they must sit through all this political shit in order to get to the great info and learning that is usually here.

I wont be sending anyone to the blog anymore.

[Frame to Frame]

Thank you Brian I completely agree. Stu I'm a huge fan but a lot of us don't have anything to do with this as we cannot vote in California. I no longer feel safe to escape the Internet trash here. I also don't feel like I can tell anyone about this formerly great blog because it could branch out into a different category such as this that creates hostility within the community.

[Sören]

"I don't hate gays, I have friends that are gay, _but_ [...]"

"[...] could branch out into a different category such as this that creates hostility within the community."

Homophobia comes in many different shapes and colors... sad that it seems it'll never go away. Just like racism, anti-semitism etc. *sigh*

[Stu]

Guys, as the end of this day draws near, I respectfully ask for you to put your energies into more productive outlets than commenting about social issues on a filmmaking blog.

We've heard the opinions and you all know how I feel about the Google ad that popped up on my site uninvited.

You stayed civil and you stated your opinions thoughtfully, and I respect you for both those things.

It will be back to business as usual on this blog soon enough, with a few new readers and a few lost it seems. So be it—I don't keep this blog to win a popularity contest. You are welcome to come and go as you please.

I dearly wish that this post didn't just break the record for the most comments I've ever gotten, but so be that as well.

Be well tonight, and I look forward to discussing with you tomorrow such non-divisive issues as 24p, the merits of 4K, and SLRs that shoot video.

[Benji]

thanks Stu, for letting us discuss your post. I think stuff like this should be left out of the Dv rebel forum, but this is your personal blog so I don't understand why people are irritated. Time to move on. Hopefully release of the Scarlet specs will relieve some of the tension on this blog :)