What is this on the side of my screen?

[LynnS6]

What are these partial words at the side of my screen and how do I make them go away? I find them highly distracting and don't like them at all!

[Cynthia Mosher]

It's a site skin for Hyland's Mother's Day "Share Your Wisdom" campaign. You can't remove them but you should be able to drag your window in so that the forum content area is the only thing you see. 

[Daffodil]

I just want to say that this level of commercialism on the site bothers me.  There have always been ads, and I get that MDC needs the ad revenue.  But more and more MDC seems to be acting in partnership with advertisers, actually participating in the advertising campaigns and integrating them into the discussion forum.  This advertising "skin," for instance, and the whole Contests, Giveaways and Deals forum.  That thread encouraging users to "like" Mothering on Facebook and "WIN BIG from Bella Luna Toys" was constantly being bumped up so I was always seeing it in New Posts, and every time I saw it I was annoyed that this useless advertisement was taking up space on what is supposed to be a discussion forum.  In the past, the ads have felt like they were there to make the discussion forum possible.  It's starting to feel more like a site that exists to make money from advertising, with the discussion forum there just to lure people in to view ads.

[philomom]

I subscribe to get rid of many of the ads but I still have this string of reviews on my right side of the screen that feels like more advertising. So lame.

[HappyHappyMommy]

Originally Posted by philomom 

I subscribe to get rid of many of the ads but I still have this string of reviews on my right side of the screen that feels like more advertising. So lame.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by Cynthia Mosher 

It's a site skin for Hyland's Mother's Day "Share Your Wisdom" campaign. You can't remove them but you should be able to drag your window in so that the forum content area is the only thing you see. 

Wait, I thought I subscribed to get rid of the ads? I can resize my browser window, but then it's a pain for other sites.

[Mama Mko]

I agree that this is awful. :( UGH. I wish Mothering would stop doing this. Pretty soon it will just be the same as babycenter.

[karne]

I think it was bizarre looking, and I actually thought something was wrong with my display.  It all feels so commercial and not reflective of the MDC I rely on.

[elevena true]

the advertisements are highly annoying, and something i fight fiercly to keep my little kids from being exposed to (not just the advertising, the movies and other moving images, and the things that are being advertised for int he first place....) flinestones fruity snacks are gluten free? awesome, they are also packed full of sugar and artificial colors and flavors..... come on, mothering. there's got to be another way.

[Mama~Love]

Yep, this really sucks!

Is this "advertising" skin permanent???? I also paid to get rid of the ads, and the "Reviews" on the right-hand side sure seem like advertising to me!

[Cynthia Mosher]

You should not have been seeing the ads if you're a Supporter member. I've reported this to our ad team so we can check the settings for Supporter members. Thanks for letting me know and sincere apologies for the issue. 

[HappyHappyMommy]

Originally Posted by Mama~Love 
 I also paid to get rid of the ads, and the "Reviews" on the right-hand side sure seem like advertising to me!

Please, please, please remove the reviews from the main view.

[Cynthia Mosher]

The reviews are a feature of the site, not advertising. They are member generated and member reviews. I'm sorry they bother you but we won't be removing them. 

[HappyHappyMommy]

Originally Posted by Cynthia Mosher 

The reviews are a feature of the site, not advertising. They are member generated and member reviews. I'm sorry they bother you but we won't be removing them. 

Is there any possible of alternate views where reviews can be seen with posts (if a member desires) or that posts can be seen without the reviews (if a member desires)?

[Cynthia Mosher]

It is something that has been suggested but I don't know of any development plans for the near future that will make this an option.