54 replies to this topic

[baddog]

hehe I obviously wasnt paying attention.. I have to say I didnt find it at all confusing myself on visiting the page, I was just trying to understand where others might have felt it was confusing.

certainly I dont have ANY problem with advertising on the site, its a mag, mags have advertising.

Shaun

[100cc]

Originally posted by bira
This thread bewilders me.
4) 100cc: Atlas F1 doesn't accept pay-per-click advertisements. Payment for campaigns are made up front per time frame or other pre-determined variable (such as page views).

oooooook:) Thanks for the reply.

[100cc]

Yeah and btw, the michelin website has a lot of interesting stuff on it.

[Mosquito]

Originally posted by bira
This thread bewilders me..... Yes, one or two rotten apples can indeed spoil a whole basket.

I don't think it was that bad, but as you said, I still would like to dive into the ethics of the Michelin Day links again. (Remember I wear that sig with pride.)

As you said, the Michelin links simply pointed to the Michelin F1 website. In fact, all 3 links on the GP schedule pointed to the exact same website, the urls were 100% identical. The fact that these were called 'Michellin's day' gave me the impression they would lead to some article / section on that Michellin site where we could read the comments and views from Michellin themselves.

Far from that, like the banner, they simple pointed to the website. IMO, these 3 links pointing to the exact same website are nothing more than minature banners. In my book of ethics, I find this in some way a bit deceptive. Of course, a lot of people will disagree with this, but that does not mean I am not entitled to frown upon it. What some people will regard as unethical will be totally acceptable for others, and in this case I'm obviously on the other side of the fence than you Bira.

I think I even would have minded less if the links had INDEED pointed to specific GP comments from Michellin on the free practice, qualifying and race instead of being simple disguised advertisement links. The context in which they were placed in the day schedule gives the impression they would be.

And, you will probably get mad about me saying this, but the links are obviously placed there specifically because the GP links in the schedule have a far higher hit rate than any banner above the individual links. I like to press that I don't say it's by default a bad thing, but at least it's a bit deceptive and questionable on ethics. (At least for me personally that is)

I think these issues deserved a decent and serious thread (rotten apples included or not), I see it as possitive criticism. If people are worried about the content of Atlas or about any (hypothetical) impartiallity issues / commercial ties with sponsors, then expressing those concerns is not an attack on Atlas.

I tried to keep this post a bit more lighthearted, but obviously I failed. Well, at least I tried.;)

[bira]

To clarify: the link is the same (adcycle0.77b/adclick.cgi?manager=adcycle.com&id=1) because it's an adserver link (redirect), which pointed at Michelin's Canadian GP's page, which changed in content every day during the GP weekend. Having said that, I have no control or desire to control what information they include there (although if you scroll down to their GP daily report you will find at the bottom their "Michelin's Day" section).


I am sorry if I have mislead anyone to believe this issue is open for futher debate. It is not. Therefore, I am locking this thread.