Has something on this forum been updated?

[Bevan Price]

It wouldn't be forever after, cookies have a Max-Age parameter. Most sites set it to something like 30 days and most browsers cap it as well. Chrome has a maximum value of 400 days.

If you have a browser like Firefox, you can adjust "settings" so that it (supposedly) deletes all cookies and/or history when you exit the browser.

 

[Friary Yard]

I have had this pop up 4 times in the last few minutes. Each time I "turn off" unwanted cookies and sign out only to find it popping up again a few minutes later with the cookies enabled and asking me again. This is becoming a pest.

 

[Energy]

Can you confirm that clicking the 'x' button does indeed reject all?

Its the one built into Google Adsense so I'd assume so. This site only has essential cookies (for login, doesn't require a cookie popup) and Google Adsense so it doesn't need to integrate with any other cookie provider.

I have had this pop up 4 times in the last few minutes. Each time I "turn off" unwanted cookies and sign out only to find it popping up again a few minutes later with the cookies enabled and asking me again. This is becoming a pest.

You consenting is stored as a cookie, possible that its been deselected or cleared.

 

[Crossover]

On RailUK Forums for example I would opt-in to the functional cookies that remember me and where I have reached in threads I have followed.

For clarity, I believe the ‘read threads’ element is stored in the website database. Otherwise when you roamed from device to device you’d have different unread posts.

 

[satisnek]

I can thoroughly recommend I Don't Care About Cookies - as someone who has refused to click this rubbish ever since it began, it makes the internet useable for me. It's also a good idea to block third party cookies and to delete cookies on exit.

 

[Strat-tastic]

Unfortunately with effect from 16th January Google Adsense requires that we adopt a system like this (in line with Google’s requirements) to continue to display adverts in the manner we have done so previously.

We accept that our customers do not like these popups which is why we have left it as long as possible before implementing, as well as doing our best to ensure that you are not disturbed too frequently by them.

By The Way, if you have any administrative queries about the operation of the forum, you are best off contacting us via the link at the bottom of the forum page. This goes to a dedicated inbox that is regularly checked rather than hoping that the forum staff come across one of the many thousands of posts made per day.

I really don't like being referred to as a customer, like I'm a commodity to be used to turn a profit. It goes against the spirit of the forum, at least for me.

 

[najaB]

I really don't like being referred to as a customer, like I'm a commodity to be used to turn a profit. It goes against the spirit of the forum, at least for me.

If it makes you feel any better, you're the product.

 

[Freightmaster]

It’ll probably keep on popping up until you click on what they want you to click on

Sorry, that’s just the cynic in me. Reminds me of my work days when management would propose new practices. There’d be a vote. It would get rejected. Some time later there’d be another vote. Rejected again……. This would carry on until people got so fed up it was finally accepted.

"the beatings will continue until morale improves"




MARK

 

[Strat-tastic]

No I'm not. This is a community of like-minded people, nothing to do with making a profit.
Do we treat it as a friendly home or a cold shopping environment?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

No I'm not. This is a community of like-minded people, nothing to do with making a profit.
Do we treat it as a friendly home or a cold shopping environment?

This is just how the web landscape is now.
The forum has to pay for itself somehow.
There's plenty of chrome extensions that can help get rid of unwanted popups (although with what I have I can't seem to get rid of the railuktickets block at the top of every page)

 

[Darandio]

No I'm not. This is a community of like-minded people, nothing to do with making a profit.
Do we treat it as a friendly home or a cold shopping environment?

Maybe they make a profit, maybe they don't? Whatever they do with the advertising revenue, a portion of it is the only way you managed to make that post here a few minutes ago. Unless you want to fund the site?

 

[Bayum]

Getting the pop-up every single time I come back to the site…

 

[najaB]

No I'm not. This is a community of like-minded people, nothing to do with making a profit.

But everything to do with paying the bills.

 

[Gloster]

It only seems to come up the first time that I return after I have cleared my history and website data. Even if I close the page without logging out (usually accidentally) it doesn’t reappear when I open it again.

 

[yorkie]

Maybe they make a profit, maybe they don't? Whatever they do with the advertising revenue, a portion of it is the only way you managed to make that post here a few minutes ago. Unless you want to fund the site?

The forum is absolutely not-for-profit.

The revenue from advertising, and from purchases made through the forum's ticketing website, pay for the costs of running the forum; this includes web hosting and other running costs as well as things like providing free events (we have run fares workshops on numerous occasions and I also ran a Photoshop workshop last Summer).

It has also paid for over 230 members to have their food paid for at forum meals (if that's of interest to anyone reading this, please do get in touch!)

I've not run so many workshops lately as I've been busy and our income isn't as good as it used to be, but I definitely plan to run at least a couple this year.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jan 2024 ==

Getting the pop-up every single time I come back to the site…

If anyone is experiencing any issues or has any feedback for us, please use the Contact Us form (the link can be found at the bottom of each page).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jan 2024 ==

No I'm not. This is a community of like-minded people, nothing to do with making a profit.

Absolutely! It is certainly not for making a profit; our intention is to never change or deviate from this. Any surplus over and above our running costs will go into things like hosting events, such as free workshops.

 

[Energy]

The forum is absolutely not-for-profit.

The revenue from advertising, and from purchases made through the forum's ticketing website, pay for the costs of running the forum; this includes web hosting and other running costs as well as things like providing free events (we have run fares workshops on numerous occasions and I also ran a Photoshop workshop last Summer).

It has also paid for over 230 members to have their food paid for at forum meals (if that's of interest to anyone reading this, please do get in touch!)

I've not run so many workshops lately as I've been busy and our income isn't as good as it used to be, but I definitely plan to run at least a couple this year.

IIRC the 10-year class 68 badges were also funded

The ads on the forum are quite reasonable and are better than charging.

If anyone is experiencing any issues or has any feedback for us, please use the Contact Us form (the link can be found at the bottom of each page).

I'll pop this here as well but this seems to have lost the X button and is permamently there.

 

[Mike395]

I'll pop this here as well but this seems to have lost the X button and is permamently there.
View attachment 150362

This is to ensure the tickets site is easily accessible from every page, as there's no way of getting it back once dismissed otherwise (if logged in, dismissing it would remove it from the top of the page irretrieveably) and once dismissed it wasn't then obvious (particularly on tablet-sized resolutions where the top menu is truncated) how to get from the forum to the Tickets site unless you previously had it bookmarked.

When I get a bit of time I'll look into seeing if we can have a nicer permanent link integrated into the header itself, but that'll require a wider header redesign as there's nowhere for it to go that doesn't look awkward currently.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

This is to ensure the tickets site is easily accessible from every page, as there's no way of getting it back once dismissed otherwise (if logged in, dismissing it would remove it from the top of the page irretrieveably) and once dismissed it wasn't then obvious (particularly on tablet-sized resolutions where the top menu is truncated) how to get from the forum to the Tickets site unless you previously had it bookmarked.

It's already accessible from every page from the top-bar? (or by hitting "4" on a PC)

 

[Mike395]

It's already accessible from every page from the top-bar?

It is, but not at every screen resolution - plus the top-bar link isn't particularly standout so particularly for newer members who don't know we have a ticketing site, the banner is more obvious

 

[ainsworth74]

IIRC the 10-year class 68 badges were also funded

Yep, apart from the very first set of badges (a class 73) which were kindly funded by a former member, the various badges we've done over the years were funded by the ads.

 

[Ediswan]

Getting the pop-up every single time I come back to the site…

I have just restarted my laptop three times (for unconnected reasons) no repeat of the cookie pop-up.

Windows 10, Firefox.

 

[Typhoon]

I have just restarted my laptop three times (for unconnected reasons) no repeat of the cookie pop-up.

Windows 10, Firefox.

Mine - cookie pop-up once in a blue moon. Minor inconvenience - for a service I get for free. If only I had the same experience elsewhere.

(If I was being rude, I would add that no-one is forced to become a member).

 

[Strat-tastic]

I get that the forum has bills to pay, but I'm not here to make purchases so I'm not a customer (ticket sales aside). there is a difference.

And when I catch a train I'm also a passenger

 

[najaB]

I get that the forum has bills to pay, but I'm not here to make purchases so I'm not a customer (ticket sales aside).

You're also not a customer of the ad companies: you are their product.

They sell your eyes to the advertising companies and pay the forum a small commission.

 

[Energy]

You're also not a customer of the ad companies: you are their product.

They sell your eyes to the advertising companies and pay the forum a small commission.

Google has a 68% split with the majority going to the site.

I don't see much point in saying the often-repeated "you are the product". Ultimately the forum has costs and is fairly clear on how the excess money gets spent.

A paid forum would have far fewer members and would be far more annoying to take payments for. While donation-based sounds great few members give money.

 

[najaB]

I don't see much point in saying the often-repeated "you are the product".

It's a reminder for people who complain about ads or cookie pop-ups of how free sites like this are able to remain free: our eyes are sold to advertisers.

Personally, I think it's an acceptable tradeoff.