Back on topic:

Yes, that's what a lot of people do. In fact, I have a popup stopper installed myself. But the problem, again, isn't at CycloCyde really, but the one that provides him the advertisements and the advertiser itself.

Perhaps you've noticed this. Advertisers are well aware that ads are being filtered and popups are being blocked. It would be very ignorant if they didn't. So now you're starting to notice advertisements that are part of the webpage itself, in the form of dHTML. That is, you'll see Toyota cars leaving skidmarks on the web page, AT&T is having a virtual cell-phone on the web page (preferably placed over the content for at least 5 minutes). Luckily, they aren't here on Gnutella Forums. But I am very tempted to add "yet" to that.

However, I do like the suggestion some have made to use a donation system. More websites and application developers are trying to use this method now.

There's only thing that concerns me about the donation system, which is from the time that ShareWare started to become CrackWare (cracked Shareware, so there's no need to register). In other words, how many honest people are there still out there willing to donate? It's almost like the message "Share damnit!" in the General Discussion forum - honesty is passe, leech for your own good.

Nevertheless, if there's a better way to keep the costs of running this site down, let CycloCyde know or post it here.

If you notice, the URL for the forum looks someting like this (taken apart so it posts here):

http://www.gnutellaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?

s=647b219b357b0c4a916dc515295963a6&forumid=5

The s= part is a session ID, unique for each time you come here, and is probably good for 24 hours.

If that number could be tied to a first name or handle that the user types in when he first comes on here, then it would be much less hassle to "log in".

Just a idea.

If you are registered, you can choose to use cookies so there's no need to log in at all. Aren't you tired of having to go through that step every time you post?

Ivan
"In the dark we make a brighter light"

think once again about what you wrote, unregistered and log in.

latest banner is poping up and blinking, uuuh.

OK. You got me. Sometimes I need to think before I speak. I was thinking about other forums which I also used to frequent.

Ivan
"In the dark we make a brighter light"

The step would be NOT having to enter your first name or handle every time you post, and NOT having to have cookies on for this site and have to turn it off for others because of the misuse of cookies by these lame marketing companies.
And you should ask the question, if there is a session ID here, why does this forum require cookies?
I have seen forum software such as ultraboard and a few others that don't need cookies at all.

I think what you mean, is that when you enter the forum, you enter some sort of name. Then for the entire time you visit the forum, internal links will keep a refference to that name, without the need of cookies (as long you follow the links), correct?

I have no idea. Ask Jelsoft (http://www.vbulletin.com/); they're the ones who made it.