The commercials have become so prolific on the site

[Chainfire]

that they are overwhelming the ability of my DSL to handle the traffic. They are now popping up over text to prevent even the reading of posts. All of this started in the last few days. Any suggestions? I don't mind donating to the site, but I was even unable to do that because everything was slowed down so much. It took several attempts of rebooting and getting on in order to post this thread before the band width was overwhelmed.

Edit: I am not having similar problems on any other sites...

[EarlG]

1. Can you please tell me what device/browser you are using?

This issue is only happening for some people so I’m trying to nail down who it’s affecting. Thanks.

[dem4decades]

5. happened to me, using Chrome. The Ads block out opening the top (newest) threads.

not it has stopped, working fine

[EarlG]

6. Thanks

We may be talking about two separate issues though. The fund drive stickies were overlaying the threads for a short while — I’m pretty sure that was your issue — but we fixed that.

I think this issue might be about the way the ads are displaying, but it’s hard to know without more details.

[Lars39]

11. Hi EarlG...I still have the stickies problem on my IPad.

I use Safari. I've logged out and logged back in, and yes I've turned it off and on again.

[EarlG]

16. Hi there

We updated our stylesheet last night which should have fixed the issue, but you may still be seeing a cached version of the old stylesheet. You can confirm the issue by opening a DU page in a private window on your iPad. If the page looks correct in a private window, that means the stylesheet is working and your device just hasn't reloaded it yet.

If that's the case, you may need to clear your browser data to force the stylesheet to reload. There are instructions on how to do this at the following link, but bear in mind that this will also clear your cookies, which means you'll be logged out of any website you're currently logged into (including DU) and you'll have to log back in again:

https://www.webstix.com/knowledgebase/general/how-to-do-a-force-refresh/

[Lars39]

18. That did it! Thanks!

[ProfessorGAC]

28. I'm Still Seeing The Stickies, Earl

I'm on Chrome 76, Android 6.0.1.

[EarlG]

30. You mean the stickies are overlaying other elements on the page?

Try holding down the SHIFT key and clicking the "Refresh" button in your browser, or hold down the CTRL key and press the F5 key -- see if that fixes it.

[ProfessorGAC]

31. I'm On An Android tablet.

My laptop is a doorstop at this point. No Cntrl, no F5.
It's no big deal. I just thought you'd like to know.

[EarlG]

32. Ah right...

Try this:

https://www.sleeplessmedia.com/2016/04/20/how-to-hard-refresh-on-a-mobile-device/

Android is the top option on the page. If you just clear "Cached images and files" it should reload our most recent stylesheet without affecting your cookies. Hopefully that will fix it.

[ProfessorGAC]

33. Well, That Was Easy!

Worked perfectly!
Thanks!

[Chainfire]

8. I am using Chrome on a desktop

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. For an insanely low amount of money

you can get a star membership and not have any ads.

It's as least as low as $5.00.

[LakeArenal]

3. At most $5. I think $1 does it.

For a year.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. Yes. While I try to be sensitive to other people's financial woes, it's hard to believe

that anyone posting here cannot come up with at least one dollar once a year.

[LakeArenal]

20. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Who knows. I never saw so many requests about getting rid of ads.

$1.... 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Blue_true]

4. Get a Star account. I don't see ads at all unless I log off DU and then

come back on without signing in.

[Kaleva]

9. $5.00 of my SSDI goes to DU every month.

SSDI gets deposited in my account and I have $5.00 taken out for DU by auto-pay via paypal.

It's also a good way to build up a cache of hearts.

[StopTheNeoCons]

10. I am sick of seeing the tRump ads, on this site, its a travesty of epic proportions

[Demovictory9]

12. I was having that problem suddenly...I bought a star and it went a way

[cwydro]

13. I don't see ads because I have a star, but the new "support DU" graphics are bleeding all over the

text at the top of the page.

[EarlG]

15. What device/browser are you using please?

This was causing a problem for some users last night, but we updated our code and it should no longer be an issue. HOWEVER, it's possible that your device has not yet loaded the latest stylesheet (which controls the way the pages are laid out).

If you are using a laptop or desktop computer, try holding the shift key and refreshing the page in your browser. That should load the latest stylesheet.

If you are using an iPad, you can confirm the issue by opening a DU page in a private window. If the page looks correct in a private window, that means the stylesheet is working and your device just hasn't reloaded it yet.

If that's the case, you'll likely need to clear your browser data to force the stylesheet to reload. There are instructions on how to do this at the following link, but bear in mind that this will also clear your cookies, which means you'll be logged out of any website you're currently logged into (including DU) and you'll have to log back in again:

https://www.webstix.com/knowledgebase/general/how-to-do-a-force-refresh/

[cwydro]

21. It's an iPad with safari.

I’ve been out, but will try your suggestions.

I have a Mac too, so I’ll check it out.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

22. I use Firefox.

Same problem, although it's not as bad today as it was last night.

And even though I have a cheat sheet with the several hundred log-ins to the several hundred sites I go to, clearing cookies and then needing to re-log in to every single one is beyond annoying. That happened to me a while back when I bought a new desk-top and I thought I was going to kill someone. I just couldn't figure out who I needed to kill.

[EarlG]

25. I understand

Clearing cookies is pretty much the last resort, and would only need to be done on an Apple device (I don't think you can clear browser history without clearing cookies on an iPad or iPhone).

If you're on Firefox you should be able to fix the issue by holding down the Shift key while clicking the Refresh button...

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

26. I only get on the internet on an actual computer.

Not on any other device. What is the refresh key? Where is it on the keyboard? I see nothing labelled that way.

[EarlG]

27. Got it

The refresh button is in the top left corner of your browser -- it's the circular arrow. If you hold the Shift key while clicking that button, it should do a "hard reload" of the page and fix your issue.

Alternatively, you can hold down the CTRL key and then press the F5 key on your keyboard. That should also do the trick.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

34. Thank you. I actually use the refresh button fairly often,

but didn't have that name in my head.

Thanks. That annoying thing at the top of the page went away.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

35. Turns out I spoke to soon.

How long are those things going to be on the site?

[EarlG]

36. Ah, I thought you were having a problem with them overlaying other page elements

But if you're looking to get rid of them entirely, that's not possible. They're part of the fund drive, so they're going to be there until Sunday.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

37. They are overlaying, but after the refresh not quite as

egregiously as before.

I'll be patient until Sunday.

[crickets]

23. I was having this problem as well, but shift/refresh fixed it right away. [chrome] Thanks! nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

14. The animated ads and auto-play videos eat up your DSL bandwidth.

Same thing happened to my system with DSL years ago when RawStory started loading their home page with auto-play videos. One of my older computers could not even load their home page.

I suggest you get an ad blocker add-on for your browser and adjust your browser settings to at least temporarily block auto-play videos and pop-up windows until you get this issue sorted out. That's possible with Firefox browser but I'm not sure about Chrome.

It also sounds like your system may need more RAM capacity, which is typical if you're having to reboot often. All of my older computers were memory-capacity limited and as the internet became more video intense, they became useless on-line.

Good luck!......

[Chainfire]

19. I will admit

My computer is so old, it uses an abacus instead of a keyboard. In any case, this morning, the function is back to normal, and I appreciate it. I will be making a donation to the site as I have decided that I really like this place!

[tavernier]

24. Valentine time is fun...

We exchange hearts that can be purchased for secretly giving to your special DU admirerees. When you purchase however many hearts you want, you automatically get a star. If you already have a star, a year is added to the time you have remaining. And if you are a modestly active member, you’ll be surprised at how many stars you will receive that month. Much fun.

[Demsrule86]

17. It costs a dollar to become a member and avoid ads.

[GeorgiaPeanut]

29. Install an ad blocker.