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They're watching
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Doofy
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:23 AM
 
So, I just joined a Land Rover forum to ask a pre-purchase question. Gave them my Gmail address about 10 minutes ago.

Now all I'm seeing for ads on the NN is Land Rover stuff.

I think I'm going to send emails to myself with the word "boobies" in them, see what happens to the ads.
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
MacinTommy
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Location: Denver, CO
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:27 AM
 
     
Doofy  (op)
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:29 AM
 
^^ What's that?
Looks like some kind of iTunes button (I'm on 7, I wouldn't know).
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
The Final Dakar
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:31 AM
 
That's where your press boobs against the screen.
     
MacinTommy
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:38 AM
 
Originally Posted by Doofy View Post
^^ What's that?
Looks like some kind of iTunes button (I'm on 7, I wouldn't know).
AdBlock
     
Doofy  (op)
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:42 AM
 
Originally Posted by MacinTommy View Post
AdBlock
Ahhh.

No, I kinda like them. Just the other day in the pol lounge there was one saying something like "find gay men!", which made me chortle and think to myself "I'm on MacNN - I've already found them".
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
Thorzdad
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Location: Nobletucky
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:43 AM
 
Also...opt-out
     
Person Man
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northwest Ohio
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:47 AM
 
Originally Posted by Thorzdad View Post
Also...opt-out
Not to mention the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page where you can opt out of a bunch of tracking by ad companies. I know that having Accept Cookies set to "Only from sites I visit" blocks a lot of them, but setting the opt out cookies provides an extra layer of security. Note that if you want to do it you'll have to set Accept Cookies to "always" first, do the opt out, then change the cookie setting back to "only from sites I visit."
     
Person Man
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:51 AM
 
Originally Posted by Doofy View Post
I think I'm going to send emails to myself with the word "boobies" in them, see what happens to the ads.
Do a bunch of Google searches on boobies too. That should also help.

Note: Google tracks your browsing habits and produces a pretty accurate, and scary profile of your interests that way. Fortunately they let you clear your history and opt out, but still... Google is becoming more and more evil every day. "Don't be evil." Bullsh*t!
     
Doofy  (op)
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Sep 1, 2010, 09:55 AM
 
Originally Posted by Person Man View Post
Do a bunch of Google searches on boobies too. That should also help.

Note: Google tracks your browsing habits and produces a pretty accurate, and scary profile of your interests that way.
Ahh, let' 'em. It's not like everyone doesn't know I'm into boobies, Macs, guitars and cats.

Originally Posted by Person Man View Post
Fortunately they let you clear your history and opt out
What's the betting that they actually don't and that all that the "clear history" and "opt-out" functions do is clear your view of them?
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
Person Man
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Sep 1, 2010, 12:42 PM
 
Originally Posted by Doofy View Post
What's the betting that they actually don't and that all that the "clear history" and "opt-out" functions do is clear your view of them?
Sure they don't clear out the actual history itself. The data is tied to the ID number of the tracking cookie. I browse different sites at home than I do at work and when I viewed the profiles they had on each computer they were totally different. Opting out just clears the ID number. The data is most certainly retained.

If someone really wanted to, they could test this theory. Clear all the cookies in a browser so Google will assign you a new ID number and browse with it for a few months. Then, check your profile on Google, and take a screenshot. Back up your cookie file and clear all cookies to get a new random ID number. Browse for a few months to build up a new profile. Check new profile on Google. Then replace your cookie file with the old one you backed up (should still have your old Google cookie in it). Then go back to your profile page. More than likely you will see your old profile come up.
     
Person Man
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Sep 1, 2010, 12:45 PM
 
Originally Posted by Doofy View Post
Ahh, let' 'em. It's not like everyone doesn't know I'm into boobies, Macs, guitars and cats.
Hmm... your list of interests is disturbingly similar to mine. Replace guitars with bouzoukis (I love Greek music) and add fat birds.

Boobies, Macs, bouzoukis, cats, and fat birds.
     
Spheric Harlot
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Sep 1, 2010, 03:07 PM
 
I'm watching, too.

Nice shirt.
     
Doofy  (op)
Clinically Insane
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Location: Vacation.
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Sep 1, 2010, 04:23 PM
 
Here's a new one off the front page of the pol lounge:

"Free Gay Thug Chat
Chat With Gay Thugs Near You Today. View Profiles 100% Free. Join Now!"

Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
besson3c
Clinically Insane
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Location: yes
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Sep 1, 2010, 04:38 PM
 
Originally Posted by Doofy View Post
Ahh, let' 'em. It's not like everyone doesn't know I'm into boobies, Macs, guitars and cats.
As separate things, right? Not so much cats with nice boobies or guitar playing cats?
     
Person Man
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Sep 1, 2010, 06:16 PM
 
Originally Posted by besson3c View Post
As separate things, right? Not so much cats with nice boobies or guitar playing cats?
At least my interests can be combined a bit. Plenty of fat birds (as Doofy would call them) with nice boobies.
     
Rumor
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Sep 1, 2010, 06:19 PM
 
The internet has ads?
I like my water with hops, malt, hops, yeast, and hops.
     
   
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