We display google ads, and have little control over what they display. They are supposed to match ads to content on the page.

Different users also see different ads randomly.

The only thing we can do is block ads by their target URL/domain. There is a list of several being blocked that I have noticed or that others have brought to my attention.

I have not seen the Prop. 8 ad you mentioned. If you or anyone else sees it again, let me know what URL/domain it points to and I will block it.

Please note that blocking can take several hours to go into effect.

I'm not an Knoxviews admin, but I am a software engineer.

Web ads are generally generated by keyword searches. The software generating the ads sees words that tell it this is a "political site", and sends political ads in response.

Its really the fault of the ad buyers, who weren't smart in their selection of key words. They're sending ads designed to appeal to California social conservatives, to a progressive East Tennessee site.

So, in a way, you should feel good to see the ads here -- the Prop. Eight supporters are wasting money by having the ads appear on knoxviews.

What they said.

Plus I should take this opportunity to note that we'd like local advertisers to take advantage of our competitive CMP rates to reach the progressive, upscale readers of KnoxViews. Such ads would replace the google ads for as long as they run, and be far more relevant to readers. Alas, we seem to be kryptonite around here. We run google ads when there's nothing else in inventory, which is pretty much all the time.

P.S. You said in your original post there you saw the ad "pop up" here. Do you mean it appeared in the top banner or in the sidebar, or it actuallly popped up (i.e. opened in another window)? Google is not supposed to allow any pop-up, pop-under, pop-over, etc. ads at all, at least as far as I know. If they are I need to complain.

P.P.S. When I view this individual page, I see an ACLU ad for same sex marriage rights education/outreach, and another one promoting "last chance before Prop. 8" gay marriage vacations in LA. Just a bit of funny/irony there.

I will try reloading it a few times to see if I get the pro-Prop. 8 ad...

Why Does KnoxViews allow a "Yes on Proposition 8" ad to be run on its website?

So the Mormons will waste their money and Randy will profit from that ignorance?

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
Hunter S. Thompson

Geez, you guys actually LOOK at the ads?

Also a note of clarification re. a couple of previous comments. Google ads are almost always CPC (cost per click) so websites don't usually make anything for just displying them. They only get paid if someone clicks and usually just a few cents.

And just to be clear, this is not a call for anyone to click on any ads unless it's something you are actually interested in. Encouraging people to click on ads is a violation of the google terms of service and would get my account canceled.

people who pay to run the ads get charged based on mere appearance of the ads?

Nope. Not generally with google ads. About 99.99% are CPC ads.