Shcirerf is dead on. Google decides the ads. If one is particularly offensive and we get complaints, we contact them and it is pulled. It doesn't happen very often.

Like CyndiM, I use Firefox, and I haven't seen an ad on here in ages. In fact, I thought maybe I was still getting it ad-free (cause I did pay for that for a while) until I read that it had been discontinued. If the ads bother you, you might want to consider installing a different browser to use while you're on 3FC.

I tend to have tunnel vision while reading threads and dont even notice the ads unless its that smiley one that talks lol

I am EXTREMELY reluctant to comment on this issue since I am new and do not wish to offend. I have absolutely no problem with the ads in general. Today, however, there was an "animated" ad on the margin of the screen that alternated photos of Tiramisu and Chocolate layer cake.
I am attempting to start, yet again, to lose weight and eliminate my trigger foods (need I mention the BIG ONE?) and I was practically in tears. I did my best to ignore it but it was there the entire day. Not unlike most addicts, I can prepare myself to some extent, to face and resist temptation. When the trigger is unexpected, however, it is a blow in so many ways...Feels a bit like going to an OA meeting that is sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts who brings its products and leaves them on display on the sign in table.
Sorry, hope not to upset anyone with what cannot be categorized as anything but a negative comment about a site that brings so much support , for which I am so very grateful, but it is only my 2nd day and am feeling vulnerable to such unexpected stimuli.

Yowza! Do you recall which thread it appeared on? As far as I know, the majority of ads that run on the forum are Google ads which display ads based on keywords on the page. They also display ads that are cookie based, based on the previous websites browsed from your computer. A couple of weeks ago, I accidentally clicked an ad for a certain shoe and for the next few days every site I visited that used google ads displayed ads for that same shoe. I felt like I was being stalked by a shoe salesman Usually keywords on the page will trigger the ads though.

Hi Suzanne, thank you for your sweet and gentle reply. I was so very concerned I might have offended those of you who work so very hard at this site. Today I spent most of the day in the (get ready to laugh at the irony ), ED sections (overeating, bingeing), where I believe the add appeared and the Calorie counters. I did not click on it and please know that I have no difficulty whatsoever with the use of ads on the site.
I believe you have to do whatever is necessary to support this wonderful resource financially. I appreciate it more than you know and I can tune out most of the advertising. This one was hmmm really, really "special" . Sugar is my "drug of choice" and after 54 years of should we call it a one sided codependent "relationship", I am trying to break up with it. I'm seriously thinking of taking out a restraining order against it

I don't mind the ads. I tend to ignore them anyways, so I don't even see them anymore. I understand the site needs some income to keep running and I'm all for that.

I'm another one that uses Adblock for Firefox. I haven't seen ads on any site in years.

This happened to me earlier this year. I was looking at getting a SeaEagle inflatable kayak, so I went to the site where you order them online and researched them some more. Then every site I went to that had ads had ads for the SeaEagle! Was happening both at home and on my work computer. Every site I went to showed this darn ad and, like you, I felt like I was being stalked by a darn boat!

Clearing my cookies and cache seemed to help, and I think the ad-tracker thingy expires after a while, too.