Snowden helps fund DU with libertarian money!

[Pholus]

After another thread this morning with the tedious "hate dragnet surveillance and you are a Randroid" premise I had a revelation that there might actually be an upside. There on the screen at the bottom of a thread is a DU ad for Ron Paul grinning at me.

After a moment of "huh?" I got it .... When several posters' whole argument is "you must love the Pauls" the word Paul comes up a lot. Same with the attempted broad brushing of Snowden. And that word frequency controls what ads are served.

So the most beneficial aspect to all the NSA apologist tarring of their opponents as libertarians ends up being that DU is now getting paid ad revenue from the libertarian party that might have went elsewhere more effectively!

So please. Carry on! Call me a libertarian because you can't actually discuss the issue of dragnet surveillance. It does end up serving a greater good that I can accept. You are still clueless however, I just find you somewhat more useful.

[JoePhilly]

1. Most of the ads I see are for things that I have searched for ...

For instance, recently I've been seeing lots of ads for softball equipment in the ads on DU.

My daughters play fastpicth softball and I've done a number of google searches outside DU looking for a new bucket of high quality 12 inch softballs, and also for new bats.

And all of a sudden, most of the DU ads are softball related.

But I haven't seen any Rand Paul ads.

Perhaps you are having a similar experience to my softball ad experience.

[Pholus]

2. Come on be honest. It's goatse for you.

The NSA knows man. Doesnt help when you lie about it.

See two can play that game.

[JoePhilly]

5. The ad sponsering your response takes me here ...

http://www.softballfans.com/Shop/Louisville-Slugger-FP13X-Xeno-Fastpitch-Bat-10.html

On edit:

To be clear ... the ads for the xeno bat are on the left edge of the screen (not actually in your response per se).

btw ... I bought one of those bats online, recently. But interestingly, not at this site. Maybe the NSA told them.

[Pholus]

6. That is why I have an ad for the Boston globe right now.

Fail.

[JoePhilly]

7. re-read my response, I clarifed the exact location of the ad on the page.

And I've never seen a Rand Paul ad on DU.

[Pholus]

14. in your zeal to smear....

You missed a large body of DU posts this year on strange ad placement.

But I am sure that poster wondering why he was getting ads helping to locate "his asian lady" was both dumb enough to not see the connection to their own search history and simultaneously advertising their true inner desires. Why don't you PM them to let you know you are onto them.

Seriously. Please do SOME background reading before spouting off where you look dumb.

[JoePhilly]

23. LOL ... oh no, ya got me ...

Bwahahaha ... I still see those ads from time to time.

And clearly, I'm far more willing to admit my affection for Asian women than you are willing to admit your affection for Rand Paul.

Just admit it, you'll feel better.

[Pholus]

24. LOL no its the whole point.

Having concerns about dragnet surveillance is not liking Rand or Ron Paul.

[JoePhilly]

25. I didn't bring up Rand or Ron Paul, you did.

You made a silly argument that because people on DU were mentioning Rand Paul, the ads on DU changed.

Ironically, that would be an examine of using meta data, not data from specific individuals.

What we learned in this thread is that the ads we see on DU are targeted more specifically at us individually.

That distinction, looking at data in the aggregate versus looking at data about a specific individual, seems to be lost on some.

Google, with DU's help, is targeting us as specific individuals.

And apparently, based on your Google activity, Rand Paul (his site) thinks you (you specifically) might donate to him.

[Pholus]

26. Skinner's post of June 18 2008.

Seems to anticipate that you will not approve of every ad served to you.

And as my OP suggested I am happy for you to continue to insinuate whatever you want. It brings ad revenue in.

And it proves once again that "metadata" cannot be used to glean intent with anywhere near the reliability that it is claimed.

So carry on.

[JoePhilly]

29. I did not need the meta data to determine your intent.

Its clear in your OP.

And as I said, I have yet to see a Ron or Rand Paul ad.

And regardless of which ads appear, DU would get money, no?

But they get MORE money if you CLICK on the ad than if not. So for some reason, Paul's site thinks you might click on their ad, and donate.

So again, you should certainly feel free to click the Rand Paul ads that you see so that DU gets more money.

And what you do once you get to the Ran Paul donation site after that is, as always, up to you.

[Pholus]

34. Hopefully the NSA is more competent than you then.

Given how the misapply the term terrorist I doubt it but it is statements like yours that convince me that this was a waste of money that could have been used for any number of more valuable projects.

Like scientific studies of global warming.
Or restoring education money stripped out of the budget.
Or shoring up heathcare or social security.
Or alternative energy research
Or a hundred other things.

Funny how in your narrative the "Paulbot" finds far better uses for those billions of dollars than the self-proclaimed "progressive" who wants the MIC prosper with even more secret unaccountable contracts and who is willing to tolerate secret bodies of laws in a democracy.

You claim to "know" who I am but frankly I am pretty sure I have your number as well.

[JoePhilly]

8. Just saw an ad here for Domino's pizza ... ordered 2 of those

, using this computer, Sunday night.

Had not ordered from them in a very long time.

Again ... most of the ads I see appear to be based on things I've done, not what others are doing on DU.

[JoePhilly]

12. I've investigated this a little further ... ever hear of "adchoices"?

Look closer at the ads, you can see (at least I can see) a little sideways triangle in the top right corner of the ads.

Hover over it, and you see the words "AdChoices".

Click on it and you go here ...
https://support.google.com/adsense/troubleshooter/1631343?url=http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023223192&gl=US&hl=en&client=ca-pub-7805397860504090&ai0=CWUxHUKXeUdaDLPSwwQHsiICQAcqy5ucD6qjaiT7AjbcBEAEg4bP0AVCUwrDQ______8BYMmWo4qkpMQRoAG-krr8A8gBAuACAKgDAcgDnQSqBLoBT9Al916L566ERQD338FsZrPCIHXm6zfG-rtCat5ESuhw3bfrc8o46X1asOXa_aGHHgLZwpj42iIsGIhkj5I5AYMq8nSH9tlpfrPqJKXLalNsD4ND1e2UjrIumm5zAKHDXX8CrfTvTVrOjxKFFH0eJHentRl1hyalvMWiw8oLpmoGsnbomo975PfYyUkdPY5NvAVZwHuKymwJtBcnNNAccAfQH5Gfj0HXDUP2SjmhCJa1XKGcb0Ej-qQD4AQBiAYBoAYCgAeq7cUD&rd=1

This again suggests that most of the ads you are seeing are based on your Google searches, not the activity of others on DU.

[cyclezealot]

10. These ads in no way benefits DU.?

Right. They are just pop ups without any means to benefit my hosting site..
I sure have them fooled. I constantly receive Pop Up's about bikes and cycling . but, also , ads pushing bank investments. I sure have them fooled.. My Google searches when related to banks , has to do with Consumer protections against the banksters.
. Hi Google. !. . Sorry. You don' t really know me. !.

[JoePhilly]

16. See my response in post #12.

My guess would be that DU gets paid through its Google relationship and not by the individual sites directly.

Perhaps Google collects from the sites and then distributes to DU and other sites that use "AdChoices".

Again, most of the ads I see have the AdChoices link I reference above.

[Scootaloo]

13. Glad I bought a star... I can only imagine the ads I'd be getting

Last couple google searches:
Arnoldcore music
"Blah blah gay sex blah blah congress!"
steak tartare
BraveStarr
saiga antelope
"Rocky and madame LeFlour"

Actually that's a goofy enough list that I might end up with Paul ads, come to think of it!

"I will ride the lighting; it happened to my kitty and Elvis was part of it!"

[JoePhilly]

22. LOL ... OMG, I'm dying over here!!!

Not just from your post ...

I just realized that my wife has been shopping for shoes on line.

I just saw a Nordstrom ad for shoes ... so for fun I yelled to my wife and asked ... "Hey, why are you looking on-line for new shoes, you have plenty!" ...

... she called back ... "Michelle told me Nordstrom was having a great sale".

After a pause, she called back and said ... "How did you know I was looking for shoes?"

I called back ... "The NSA told me!"

OMG, I can use DU to spy on my wife's shopping!!!!

[Gman]

3. One cannot claim to be a liberal or even a Democrat

And support the Pauls. You can't be both. Anyone who does us at best confused.

[Pholus]

4. I am just looking for an upside here.

Certainly the divisive name calling is not helping in and of itself.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Divisive name calling

"You are still clueless however, I just find you somewhat more useful."

Clueless.

[Pholus]

18. Not useful.

You need more Paul-bell baby!

[BeyondGeography]

19. You're all over the map there, Mr. Fauxlus

[Pholus]

20. Not really. nt

[Gman]

36. I'm not sure what you're referring to

Regarding my post. But there is no upside to the Pauls. They are both very dangerous.

[Pholus]

37. You are completely correct.

I remember the boot on the face incident quite well so it angers me that some here decide that to avoid a tough argument they'd rather brand people "paulbots."

It's hard to take them seriously after that which is kind of a shame.

[Gman]

38. Bottom line

The OP was flame bait to begin with. If people don't like the ads they should get a star.

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. What a creative way

to come up with a post about nothing but other DUers.

You win the META prize for the day.

Get ready for your 160 Recs, playa.

DU re: DU.

[Pholus]

15. certainly my 2 is not 160

Help a fellow Playa out here?

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. Don't worry

The Reccing Crew will visit, laugh, rec.

You'll make it, Little Bear.

You'll make it.

[Pholus]

21. I can only hope to aspire. nt

[Warren Stupidity]

35. you survived the authoritarian gauntlet!

congrats.

[Coyotl]

27. AdBlocker

Don't know how I lived without it. No more slow browsing while the ads load and the cookies spy on you

[Laelth]

28. Clever argument. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[Le Taz Hot]

30. Good observation!

(Enjoyed the ensuing floor show as well.)

[Savannahmann]

31. I wonder if our side has considered what is happening.

Our great fear is that Rand Paul will get the Nomination, or the Presidency. By trying to deny, minimize, or justify the increasingly unpopular surveillance programs, we increase the probability that it will happen.

Look at it. Think it through, don't just blindly march to the steps of the Authoritarians. Here's the scenario as I see it, a scenario that is far too possible. The revelations keep coming, remember Greenwald and others already have the information, the arrest of Snowden won't stop it now. Even if you toss him in the darkest hole of the blackest prison site, the revelations can't be stopped. Now, we assume that everyone will stay loyal, all those who are in the know, will stay loyal. We are gambling on that. Not most of them, all of them.

All it takes for this to continue is one more to decide that he/she has had enough. One more who gets nervous, afraid that they could be blamed. One more who has a conscience, who looks in the mirror and doesn't like what they see. One more who's child looks up and says "You don't do that do you Daddy?" At this point, the chances of one more, are pretty high. It may be a one in a million chance, but there are that many people with Top Secret Clearances, and again, it will only take one more to release even more information than Snowden of Booz Allen had access to.

The Libertarians flood the Republican primaries, pushing Rand Paul to the forefront. Then privacy rights activists look at our side, and we're stubbornly insisting all is well. Imagine that, we are defending the existence of an authoritarian state while the RW is pushing for less Government spying. Who do we nominate? Hillary is an early favorite, but will she come out in favor of, or opposed to the spying? History says in favor of.

Then the nation is left with a choice. A Presidential Candidate in favor of the Government spying on us, or a Presidential Candidate who is opposed to the new McCarthyism. Rand Paul could win that argument, and the election. Some will say that this is impossible. Some will claim that this is exactly what I want. Both are wrong, those who decry me as a Libertarian tool couldn't be further from the truth if they stood on the opposite side of the planet from it. I see where we are headed, and I am gravely concerned. I see Democrats defending the surveillance state and I am deeply ashamed. I hope we wake before it is too late. Before we chase this ideal down the rabbit hole. Because it is almost too late. It is nearly too late for us to change. From here, there are few paths to victory, but the longer we wait, the more difficult those paths become to navigate.

[randome]

32. Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul

Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul Paul

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font]
[hr]

[Pholus]

33. More Paulbell! :)

[Pretzel_Warrior]

39. Also, I am sure there are some Libertarians who buy stars to seem more legit

So DU gets their money too.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

40. Ron Paul and Rand Paul are Libertarians. They say they promote freedom and liberty

But they are really nothing more than a 50 gallon drum of Santorum.