I like this site and this is why I keep coming back, for the artwork, not to be preached at by any political party. Will it stop me from coming back if they stay? No. Although I will enjoy the site quite a bit less.



I have seen way too many sites and groups get into flame wars about politics and I like this site way too much for this to happen. So if you want my 2 cents worth, then I would refuse ALL political advertisements and let the people placing them here know that. Again, this is way too neat a site for flame wars that come with politics being mentioned just like day comes after night.



But then again it is your site to do with as you please.

It's a free country. Everyone gets to advertise. If I don't agree, I just don't read them. There is no good reason for you to lose income because in a case like this. If they choos not to come to your site, I think they loose more than you.



Happy Birthday. The 30's were good. The 40's are nothing to dread. 5o's and 60's likewise. I'll let you know about 70's when I finish them.

Ryan,



Just so that you know, I am a paying member. I feel it is only fair that you get paid for your work. I guess there are ads on the free page, but I guess I just never noticed them ;).



As another commenter wrote, "meh."



Bruce

I remain here. I'm here for the artwork, I'm not here for McCain's, Obama's or any other advertising. It's here, so be it. I come to get the latest artworks, and happily add your latest creations to my DB folder for my screen-saver and Wallpaper Slideshow. Sometimes, I click "Show Desktop," just to watch them as Wallpaper Slideshow run through them.



I understand your need for the revenue. It has always surprised me that you were able to run this site at the modest price that way for as long you did. The only real surprise was that you managed as long as you did without them.



John McCain couldn't afford the advertising costs for any exposure; he was still running a type of campaign that was more suited for the 1980's. Obama had a thoroughly effective 21st century campaign. Neither are your fault or responsibility.



Again, so be it.



Oh well, their loss I think.



Bruce Ellis

Bruce.R.Ellis@gmail.com



Wallpaper Slideshow - http://www.easyvitools.com/wps/index.html (a nice tiny shareware package for a tiny sum, not unlike your pricing ;) )



(A side note: I change channels whenever ads come on. Too many are far more ignoble than any political ad could ever be.)

I am new to your web site and just saw this posting. I voted for McCain in the last election, so I obviously was not happy with the outcome. For me, who you vote for or support would not effect my interest in your web site. I pray for President Obama to lead us in the right direction (no pun intended) and for his safety.

Keep the ads; either party, either side.

I started reading these comments from the beginning but decided that most were a waste of my time besides giving me a good laugh. I have ad block and most of the time I come to the site I auto log in so I don't see any ads either way. Personally I could care less I don't come here for the ads I come here for the art. And if the ads keep the art coming then I see it as more helpful then hurtful. Unless of course I start seeing political art, only then would I leave DB.



To those such as Lucktms, Tooldude, and all others who so greatly appose this ad: I don't see how you can be so against it to the point that you would rather there be no DB than a DB with small ads that are far from annoying. I don't say this to insult you but merely to point out my opinion. Its like spark said "Pay for an account on DB and you won't see any ads!". It also sound like from others that have actually done their homework that this single ad hardly comes up. So unless you are willing to start contributing a whole lot more or have Ryan up the membership (which may deter future members) then keep the ads.

This is such a great site, why kill the great get away experience here...



Just my 2 cents..

Pay for an account on DB and you won't see any ads!

I don't care about the political ads, but rooting for the Cubs?!?! Oh, ... that hurts. You might lose more subscribers over your sports affiliation than your political affiliation.

It seems to me that your artwork transcends politics and I would be disappointed to see a political ad on your site, even if it was for someone I support.I don't see any political messages in your choices of work, just a healthy respect for nature and our cosmic spot in the universe



While artwork frequently does weighs in on politics, Guernica and The Scream come quickly to mind,I don't think that it is your intention to take sides with this site. That said, any sponsor you have on your site would seem to have some kind of conscious, or unconscious approval implicit on being there and I can see how some would be offended.



I guess, in the end, many artists have had to make compromises to continue in their profession, from painting portraits of stuffy aristocrats to turning out the period (commercial) pieces of the day, so do what you have to do to keep on turning out your art, you will not lose me...for to ad is human and to forgive divine.

I am totally against Obama for president & will choose Mcain, as the lesser of two evils.



I believe that these political ads have not place here . . period. It will only stir up heated arguements for & against on this issue with different peoples views. DB needs to stay out of this & keep your own views to yourself along with others.



Lets keep DB for what is was and should be . . excellent digital wallpapers, info, etc. NOT a place for political ads.



I do not want to pull my membership, but Ryan, you need to remove the BS ads for both crooked candidates, as I mentioned, DB is not a place to express opionions to just piss people off based on their own opinions, as this is a very heated election year. Neither candidate is worthy of my vote.



Please just delete this whole topic for the better of DB and never bring it up again. Otherwise you will be a money whore accepting $$ for ads, which goes against DB's original creation, for your own viewpoint that will offend the other voters.



Just my opinion without slamming the candidates.

I haven't seen them on the site..regardless, I say let 'em run, earn money...and those who choose not to come back miss out on some great work!

I favor McCain and I think Senator McCain would say you are just exercising your American right to operate a small business. As a devotee since 2000 to DB and Ryan Bliss, ads do not bother me one way or the other. Your family needs you and the support. Keep doing what you are doing. After the first Tuesday in November it will all blow away anyway.

I was a member a long time ago, and just recently decided to become a member again to have access to the newest images. Through years of viewing the free gallery, I can't remember even seeing an ad. Maybe they're just so prolific that I've tuned them out completely. They really are everywhere though, and people need to get over being offended by them.

Let me be blunt... Whoever stated that they would no longer visit your site because of a run of the mill political ad is a blatant idiot. Frankly, I think you should be grateful that stupid people like that will not be returning, although I realize business is business. If you are impacted so severely by advertisements you need a serious adjustment in thought.

To surf without ads, get an adblocker for your browser.

I come here to escape into the worlds you create... the last thing I want is politics here.

I have to tell you that I have never seen ads on your website - political or otherwise. However, this may be due to the fact that I use Firefox with AdBlock Plus, which is probably what keeps them off my desktop.



In any event, it seems kind of *small* to decide not to visit a website because of a political ad. 'Tis the season, and they're going to show up everywhere to those folks who don't have them blocked.



Keep doing what you're doing, and God speed.



And ... Happy Birthday!

First, happy belated birthday!



second, I pretty much agree with everyone else's comment. Keep the ads, keep making money, those of us who are loyal to the site aren't offended or bothered...that's why I got my lifetime membership...because I knew I'd enjoy your artwork for all time!

Ryan -



This is America and not only are you able to voice your opinion, but you can make your $$$ any legal way possible! I say go for ALL advertisers and shed those lame enough to disregard your brillisnt work! It's their loss.



-Peace-

Ryan, I have WAY more respect for you after reading this BLOG post and feel EXACTLY the same way you do. I, like my family and friends, have similar political views, but we do not advertise them everywhere we go or talk to. I, since this STUPID campaign war started, started to receive unsolicited emails from the Obama party. I will neither post my views or discuss my views with either party.



To be truthfull, why don't they just get in the UFC ring and best man wins.



Anyway, just a vented opinion, enjoy and congrats on your B-Day....



thx.

I Agree with you. It might be different if you were going out and recruiting one specific political party to advertise on your site, but in this case you are simply providing a space for advertisements, you don't control the content.

I hope those two emailers can overcome their sentiments and continue to support your work. it is some of the best I have ever seen.

Ryan,



Leave everything like it is concerning the ads. I think we understand that you are not personally responsible for the ad content.



I really enjoy your site!



Tim

If they can show you the proof then either way you have no idea what's going on, or they are a nutcase and you don't deserve they membership anyways. Politics in the US is a great big pile of crazy and peeps need to relax.

On the one hand I think it is the duty of all US citizens to decide what to support with our money. While we all think about "votes" as what happens in the ballots, really, it comes down to the mighty dollar. I do not particularly like this system, but it is the one we have.



On the other hand we have a talented, struggling artist/business man making a good living at his trade. A rare gift and a rare opportunity.



The business man has accepted money in exchange for tacit support through advertising. Regardless of what his personal views are, taking the money and running the ad is a statement. You can hedge by saying "its just business". Certainly we can understand that.



In this case, you probably could not elect to refuse political advertising from Burst. Assuming you do really need the money--and in this economy I'm sure you do... then what can you do?



I suspect ads for both sides will begin to turn up in equal numbers. I think you can claim complete neutrality as a media "broadcaster" of sorts. Your message is your content, not your adspace. Feed your family and return value to your community. Vote your conscious, but keep that out of your art.



You're a good man with a great talent. We should not compare ourselves to these political figures. What they are is not a representation of me or you.



Good Luck!

~Curtis Owings

The people who complain about ads while using a "free" site are probaly the same ones never even vote any way. As a paying life time member I never see any type of advertising so if having a few ads on the free site is what it takes to keep you on the internet Ryan keep up the good work!

Frank

It seems rather petty to up and leave because of an ad, nomatter what it's about.



I guess they're the same sort of people who mute the telly when a 'No Smoking' ad comes on. :/

I'm increasing the amount of my membership this year when I renew. Enough of political bigotry! So sorry some people are such idiots, Ryan



Patricia

What political ads? I don't see them.

Oh, it is on the Free site. Thanks for the clarification.

Your site and services are always appreciated, Mr. Bliss. Thank you!

I read through many of the responses about the political ads. Most were very positive, citing that Ryan is running a business and that is the purpose of advertising.



For everyone else who was not supportive, either because they think they own the site due to membership, or who think that advertising is a forum for personal beliefs, please read the following:



1. We all are getting the best end of the deal with free downloads of everything. I buy the yearly membership, just so I give a little more back.

2. Ads are voluntary for the viewer. If you don't like them, don't look. If you read some of the other responses, you may notice that many of us just ignore them. Those who look are the reason the ads are there.

3. Please don't tell Ryan how to run his business. A lot of us have fought hard to pass the good word about his site (and correct those who erred) and we know that his judgment is solid. I am sure that he knows who to run with for advertising.

4. Chillax. Life is too short to get wound up over the little pieces. Peace.

JohnCee53, Ben and all you other vets - THANKS for your service. I am a Navy vet myself. Just think, we gave everyone else the ability to sit around here with nothing better to do than bitch about whether they agree with the ads or not... Ain't America great??? I love it !!! And you keep up the great work Ryan, you rock too dude !!!

Firstly: Happy Birthday!



Secondly: Political Ads? I couldn't care less.

Some people ARE just morans.



;-)

1 - Happy birthday! May this year be better than the last!



2. I don't let a person's political views bug me for the most part unless they run to the offensive or the extremes. I don't care who someone's for for the most part unless they're saying Hitler, bin Laden or Napoleon for president - in which case I couldn't support you as a person. The American presidential elections are important to me - but how a person votes is their business. If two idiots walk away because they don"t "agree" with what they assume your politics are (aka too liberal) - good riddance. Small minded people usually don't appreciate art like this any way.



America is still free, and they are complete idiots for doing what they did. You, I, and everyone else in the US has the right to vote as they choose and show support for their vote. I certainly wouldn't boycott your site if you had a banner supporting McCain - even though my likelihood of voting Republican now or ever again any time during the rest of my lifetime post Hurricane Katrina is non-existent. Your dissenters should have been grownups about the situation - obviously they need a good naptime - or corner time out...



This site is worthy of support. Their loss... and good riddance.

Do we leave the mall because it host a Cinnabon instead of a McDonalds? People will believe what they like but to stop the support of something you enjoy because of a persons attempt to sustain their business is simply, a party feeding off their emotions. Uncouth and little in character.

Ryan -



Art is non-partisan. If you're offering the space for political ads to all parties involved, well, then it's not your fault McCain won't buy an ad!



I might buy one for him, but hey, that's just my gig. :)



Gorgeous work should never be crushed by a political machine, be it Washington or grassroots. Don't sweat it.



- N

A lot of people are morans.

No more political ads in a just a few weeks, so let's not stress about this.



It's not like you write the ads, Ryan, and I trust most people not to associate you with the contents of third-party advertising.



You did a good job explaining how Burst network ads work, and you should not hesitate to take the revenue from campaign ads during the mercifully limited election season.

An extreamist by any name..... It would seem that some people are more tolerant of differences than others. Those that tolerate differences are frequently labeled "liberal". Personally, I don't care what your political leanings are. I enjoy your art. (I guess that says a lot about MY political leanings.)



I also can't help but wonder just how big a fan they are if a banner ad deters them from enjoying your work. If you were permitting ads for arms dealers, or oil speculators then maybe I could symphthise.I still wouldn't give up your site, but I could at least understand their position. But a political campaign... Oh please.



Cheers to you Ryan.



(Apologies for my spelling, or lack there of..)

I come here for the art work and for that only, I find the work that you do awesome, and will not hold the ads against you.

I agree that your personal views and how you run your business are yours and yours alone and will continue to come here for as long as you have a website.

No Stress, continue the great work on the images and I will be happy with that.



Thanks.

I agree with the most of the comments out here. I've been subscribing to DB long enough that I can't remember when I started, but it was definitely several years before Ian was born. As a result, I didn't even remember that there are ads on the public portion of the site.



However, the public portion of the site is there to attract new paying subscribers, show off the quality of work, to recoup some of the costs by displaying ads and thus allow us to continue enjoying more of Ryan's wallpapers.



Given that Burst Network is paying for the banner space, there's no reason why political ads should not be included. However, in order to make it more inviting and encourage repeat vists to the site, it may be worth putting a small note next to the ads that the ad content is provided by a third party.



This will allow newcomers to the site who may be bothered by the content of a particular ad the opportunity to move past that portion of the page and go on to the content of the website, potentially providing more paid subscribers. Since they may not like the ads they may even be more likely to subscribe in order to browse the site without advertisements.

You are not losing a paying member as far as I am concerned. It would be like saying I'm not going to come back to your site again because you ran a Northern bathroom tissue ad when I use Charmin.



Bathroom tissue or political ads . . . it all boils down to crap anyway.



Keep up the great work and don't sweat the small stuff.



BKeller

If I understand this correctly, someone from the Obama campaign paid to have ads run on the network with which you are associated. It does not follow that you support the content of those ads. Like you said, you don't change the channel when you see an advertisement for someone whose political views you don't share.



The person who saw the ads wasn't paying you, and the person who ran the ad is. It's how you make money.



The people who claim they aren't coming back will come back, and they will do so with impunity because they're going to the free site. Of course, if they really stay gone, you're not out anything; if they come back, it's not likely they'll start paying.



So, no loss, no gain, no sweat, no worries. Do what you have to to keep the site up, because it's something you obviously love to do, and we love to see you do it.

Aaaah politics! How they can be the start of so many debates and arguments.

I find it interesting that some people mentioned this to you. Personally I think you sohuld put up political ads not just for Obama, not just for McCain, but for many political hopefuls round the world.

I live in Canada and were most likely having an election soon (but with our whacky political system who knows); so Ryan I think you should jump on any opportunity you can find to make a quick buck for your site. Besides if people actually click on these links they might just happen to become more knowledgable about elections and such.

So all in all I think that there could be ads on your site that are alot less useful so I'm rather pleased with something of this nature.

Ryan, you have a right to put anything on your site that will help make you money. Frankly, I'm on the Internet so much that I hardly ever notice the ads myself. I am not visiting the website for the ads but it does make you the money whether people actually notice them or not.



As for the person who stated that you haven't gotten your monies worth for $15.00, I would say that $15.00 isn't worth Ryan's time. It takes hours to complete the renders Ryan creates. I actually feel that the lifetime membership I paid Ryan is definitely not worth what I have received from him in return. I do my part though to help him out and for everyone who sees my wallpaper both on my computer at home and at work, I tell them about DB and Ryan to help Ryan out with his business. This is his living.



Anyways, enough of my rambling. Keep up the great work Ryan! I have the subscription to your RSS feed in Outlook and I'm always waiting for the next post for a new image of your artwork.

The two users who threatened you are not worth your time, Ryan. If they were smart, they'd be Obama supporters; but they're McCain supporters, so the only thing they know how to do is threaten intimidation.



If they were smart, they'd know how ads work.

And, as someone else pointed out. if they're seeing ads, then they're not paying customers...



good riddance to 'em...

Well, I doubt I'd feel offended by a political ad, but I appreciate you clarifying that you don't really pick the ads, and that it's just business and that you don't mean to offend anyone with them.

This is your site, and you are incredibly generous to offer the substantial amount of free wallpapers that you have created.



I imagine that you probably aren't able to live in a wonder palace with the fairly low amount that most of us pay to enjoy your work, especially given the high cost of your equipment and software. Do what you gotta do.



After all, if those two knuckleheads who emailed you were really truly "long-time customers", then why are they obviously still using the free site and seeing ads?

"paying cus" wrote:

hi i payed for a 90 day sub.. lets get some more pics up i haven't got my monies worth yet (dual wide 3360x1050) tx

Really? First off, you've got 105 wallpapers already that are higher resolutions than you're running (some dual-wide, and some tri-screen); if you're willing to go with 3200x1200, there are even 31 more, from before Ryan did the dual-widescreen renders. And you'll get anymore he happens to get done before the 90 days is up. I'm frankly astounded that someone would think that's not worth the $15.



But if you didn't think it was worth your money, why did you sign up? Ryan makes it very clear that he's not committing to a release deadline, and if 136 wallpapers isn't worth it, but 136 + (say) 10 more over your subscription is, why not wait till they're done, so it is worth your money? If you voluntarily subscribed knowing you might not get your money's worth, I don't see why you would proceed to complain about it; it's your own problem.

Ad revenue is a great way to keep a content-based product going with a low subscription rate. I was always surprised at how cheap this site was for the quality of the wallpapers we get. As long as the ads aren't offensive, I don't see why they should be taken down. I understand the aversion to opposing political views, but as long as the site remains politically neutral it seems a shame to overreact to a few banner ads. On a related note, I wouldn't blame you if the lifetime subscription rate went up, your site is a steal at the current prices!

>Ryan, I'm sorry you're being faced with this

>situation. Those of us that truly appreciate the

>work you put into your art and this site know

>better than to shun you for an ad.



I second this! I am a returning paying member and I came back for Ryans art, not his political views - which are probably quite different from mine.

hi i payed for a 90 day sub.. lets get some more pics up i haven't got my monies worth yet (dual wide 3360x1050) tx

Business is business. You do what you need to do to keep this site up.



I long ago learned to filter out advertisements on websites. The only ones that really bother me are the persistent ads that try to install programs and pop-up on top and continue to open new windows (ie, the virus ads), but just normal banner ads?



Come on. To whomever says they're going to stop visiting this site because of an advertisement -- grow up. You people need to stop getting so bent out of shape because someone else has an opinion that's different from your own.



You need to get your panties out of a knot over someone providing you with a FREE SERVICE running random advertisements to make money to keep you in your free stuff.



Seriously, anyone that is THAT offended by an advertisement needs to learn to play nicely with the other children on the playground.



Ryan, I'm sorry you're being faced with this situation. Those of us that truly appreciate the work you put into your art and this site know better than to shun you for an ad.

There seems to be a lot of confusion among people commenting here about WHERE these ads appear. They don't appear on the site if you're a paying member. They are only on the free site. So even though I'm a McCain supporter, I can't imagine complaining about banner ads on a free site for which I pay nothing and get free wallpaper.



OTOH, I would suggest politeness to such people. I visited the free site before I became a member. I'd guess pretty close to 100 percent of paying members visited the free site first before realizing what a terrific deal it was and paying up. So explaining the situation politely and pointing out if they became members they'd see no banner ads might be the way to go, even if you have to grit your teeth while writing the emails. :)



Happy birthday! I love your artwork!

Your artwork is so good, if someone wants to boycott your site just because of some political ad, it's their loss. I am also a long time fan of your site. People should understand that everyone has different opinions about different issues. Even if you were a McCain supporter(which I am not), it wouldn't matter to me. I am here for art, not political insight. Keep up the good work.

Theres no reason to stop running political ads. People who say you should stop are taking things way too seriously. You are much better off with the ad money than pandering to political bullies.



It's only two people anyway. Let 'em go.

I use Mozilla Firefox and run Adblock+ and do not every see any ads, and I didn't even realize digitalblasphemy had ads.

I don't care who's ad I see, I don't hate the TV because of the ads and they are on every commercial break up here. I could never watch the channel or switch cable providers because they showed an ad I didn't like but that would be ignorant, just like those letter writers...



Sadly some people have to get offended when they see something they don't agree with, it's their own ignorance coming out, I wouldn't sweat it...



WHO CARES, we live in a country where politicians can advertise whatever they want wherever they want... For better or worse we can never escape them...





BTW, Happy Birthday!!

LIFETIME MEMBER here so I don't see any adds. Nor do I care if you get get to pay some bills by allowing these adds. Make all the money you can from them. Who cares what side you are on. I'm sure no one who reads this gives a hoot what side I'm on. Now the CUBS thing is a different story. Lifetime Cards fan here. We'll give you this year. Nice century you had there though.



0 for 99

I've been a happily paying member for several years. You're worth it. Never saw a single ad.



Anyway, I don't give a crap. I'm here for the art.

I think that ads are necessary when running a free site, if you can remove those ads without affecting your ad package income I would say go ahead and remove those, but if those ads can affect income for the free site don't remove those at all. About the people, you just can say that you're sorry but you cannot control the contents of the ads as those are managed outside of DB so you're not responsible for the content on such ads. just try to be polite, if they don't accept that then ignore them.



Jeremy I think you are wrong with the "screw 'em" mentality. every visitor is a potential DB member and every visitor deserves some respect. It took me 8 years to be a member here, and if I had to e-mail Ryan sometime and he answered me with a "screw you!!" I wouldn't be here right now.

I find ads on webpages to be annoying and distracting but thankfully I have never seen any on DB, since I go straight to the member page from my bookmark. I didn't even know you had any ads until you said so. I haven't seen the main page in years, not since you posted the link to go directly to the member sign-in page (the link where you don't have to sign in twice).

Ryan,

Anyone who appreciates your art should almost certainly be an open-minded individual. That these people have been so seriously offended means that their love of either McCain in particular or the GOP in general must border on the religious. In other words, you have been accused of digital blasphemy. My advice to you is to just enjoy the irony.

"Should a site like mine get to benefit from political advertising dollars?"



In my humble opinion, a site like yours is about art, not politics.



If a candidate uses one or more of your images without permission, stop them.



If a candidate sends you money, send it back.



Stay neutral.

What ads? You have ads?

Look, if it's not your artwork, I ignore it. And to go one step further, if it's not one I like, I ignore it. As long as the ads don't try to hit me with spyware, I don't care. Make the money you need to make and go do some more art!

Oh, and while you are at it, please let us know exactly how many people you have lost because of this. I will do my part to make up the difference.

I love your art and really don't give a rats behind what religion or political party you belong to.

Honestly. Do you tell your yokel network that you're not gonna watch because they run political ads?



Anyway, I'm from a far more advanced country, where we call an election and have it settled in less than six weeks.



And in case you are interested, 70% of Canadians would vote for Obama.



Maryann

I am happy to admit that I am planning on voting for McCain but any person that wants to pull support for you just because of the banner that goes against a view point is ridiculous. We all have the right to agree to disagree...especially during this season of supidity.

I think you should leave them on. I do not swap TV channels because one presidential candidate or the other. If it would be a dedicated program, then yes, I would swap. But your website is not devoted to broadcasting political propaganda or visions. So as long you keep up the great artwork, you will keep seeing me come back. No matter what you put in your ads.

I don't see the ads since my bookmark takes me straight to the members gallery. However, I have no problem with ads done in reasonably good taste. Happy Birthday!

just because someone believes in something different...I mean, realistically in the 21st century a person's belief has very little weight in terms of rejecting their art for the sake of what is believed to be their views...



But on the other hand, showing support ads for the purpose of profiting from them might be where the problem stems... It makes little difference to me, a McCain supporter, but I can understand why a neutral party can feel somewhat overwhelmed in what should be a politically neutral site. :)



Anyway, just my two cents - and I know, the ad has the belief, not you... But it isn't too much different than wearing a button supporting Obama than covering the site with such beautiful art with his advertisements.



Sorry for the typing, did this on by iPhone... Lol



Keep up the fantastic work... I won't stop coming here. :)

Political controversies aside, the damn Cubs won 2 of 3 games against the Cards this week. I hope you enjoyed the Game Ryan. I also hope the Red vs Blue sporting matchup

is not a foreshadowing of the upcoming election results.

As a national Republican consultant, I can pretty much speak from a pure, partisan position on the matter and the bottom line is... this is overblown. As a rule of general sanity you have to be pragmatic and identify the nature and intent of the so-called endorsement. If you'd made a post encouraging all your members to support Obama, the reactions would have made sense. But considering the Burst network carries almost as many random ads as Google Adsense, it's irrational to blame you personally for it. Boycotting Wal-Mart for their policies is a far cry from leaving a site because of the advertising network they choose. As a longtime Palin fan (who met her back in January, long before this VP business hit the radar), I wouldn't have been the least bit offended to see Obama ads and I certainly hope you don't dump the idea in the long run.



Your affinity for the Cubs, however, remains highly questionable.

I'm on a computer, well too many hours a day Ryan (and you may feel that way too somedays) and 45% of that time is on the internet for one reason or another. That being said, if I shaped my ideals, opinions and principles on what I am exposed to at the various sites that I 'visit' I would be a very confused person I believe. For that matter, if I pulled up to a good friends home to 'visit' would I turn and leave if he had a yard sign of a political candidate I wasn't intending on voting for, I sure hope not. I would not only be losing a friend that did nothing wrong to me, but I probably would be on my way to a lonely life. This could go on way tooooo long to just say keep at your work, maintain your goals (and business relationships) that have brought you to this point. My experience has been after the elections cooler heads will prevail. even the candidates themselves will not be 'personally' critical of each other.



I am a recently returning member, I came here for graphical art at it's best in a friendly environment, not because Ryan is going to vote for the same people that I'm voting for. (and I mean that period in bold print)

I understand you want to make money. But stick to your amazing wallpapers. thats what your best at.

Ryan, I think you did the right thing by explaining that your site is not political, just the ads that help pay the bills.



That said, if there's any way to find out the content of the ads prior to them appearing on your site, you might have better reaction time, or possibly be proactive to put sensitive visitors and subscribers at ease and avoid any misunderstanding.



I think when I subscribe to a website, I've paid to not have to see unrelated advertisements.



When I view a free website, I expect to see ads and pop-ups because that's usually how the site host covers the cost of running that site.

Most people should be able to figure that out.



As long as you know what's on the ads and don't see potential for volatile reaction, keep on truckin'.

I think that you should run the ads and that people should not be offended by them. If they want an ad free site, they should purchase a lifetime membership (like I did :-)). Political ads are like any other ads, visual pollution. People who really appreciate you work also should be bright enough let you run your business in such a way that you get to create more.

I just logged off and killed half an hour attempting to find one of these ads that seems to have gotten people all riled up and ran into none. It's very obvious to me and all logical people that these banners seem to be pulled from a huge collection of ads and rather then complain, people need to learn to use the refresh button. fun thing about most website ads is they are easily removed with a simple button press. Now I continue quietly smiling about all the people who have nothing better to do then make drama over nothing.

A lot of readers are a little confused about the mention of "ads" on DB because the ads only run in the non-member space.



So one poster hit the nail on the head exactly-- some "visitors" (not members) that are using DB bandwidth and resources and providing absolutely nothing in return are not going to come back because they (essentially) are offended by ads.



Sounds like a win-win to me. They won't see the ads anymore, DB won't spend the bandwidth sending them free wallpapers.



And they have the nads to complain. Just tell them you'll refund their money, 500% back. Ask them where to send the check for zero dollars and zero cents.

I love your two Gazebo pics and both of your conjunction pics. I was wondering:



1) Can you make them available as mousepads and posters?



2) If you can't could I use Zazzle's design your own to make a poster

of Gazebo 2003 and a mousepad of the original Gazebo?



3) I forgot - what is the picklejar?



4) I see you have Green and Red versions of Fluorescence. Are the

red and green versions also available as wallpapers?



5) If the red and green versions of Fluorescence are not available as

wallpapers, can they be?



Thank-you for sharing your talents as an artist. If a candidate buys air time, run their ad.

Thanks for talking about the matter in a responsible and non partisan way. You are right, we come here for the best wallpapers on the web, not to talk politics!



Happy birthday, i just turned 30 myself!

Happy Birthday!



Nobody is forced to pay attention to the ads visible on your website, in the bus, on TV or anywhere else. I mean in the time before an election you have ads for all the candidates everywhere. Just leave your house or turn on TV and you will for sure see such ads. Also from the candidate(s) you don't like. Do such people always close their eyes when they see an ad for the "wrong" guy in public?



By the way, your artwork is fantastic! Since I've found your page in the net the desktops of all my computers look much better than the boring Windows blue :-) Keep it up!



Cheers,

Bruno

You mean someone had the gall to tell you that they would no longer be using YOUR bandwidth to provide them with FREE wallpapers and other goodies because of a political ad? Wow, just Wow!! I guess all I can say to that is maybe you should remind them that if they were to fork over a few bucks for a membership tney would no longer see said advertisements.





People never cease to amaze me!!!

What about simply adding a disclaimer? They have them for cups of coffee, why not for web site ads? Apparently, some people need to have things spelled out to them.

Hello. First, we have our own elections in Canada, that's enough for me. Second, you can put any ads you want, political or whatever. One thing though: politics and wallpapers do not do a good recipe. Take care.

You are 100% on taget. You need to make money to stay in business and your banner ads are one way of making money. I would never stop using your site because of such a lame excuse. When you compare your site to a TV station I think that is 100% right and a very good analogy. it is called a free market for a reason, anyone can purchase time and space for ads. Way to go Ryan you have my support.



Robert

Macmage

First of all, happy birthday!



And regarding the ads, people should know it's just for sponsorship and have nothing to do with the artwork on the site. I hope you haven't lost too many people.

Hey there, just wanted to say that theres no reason to stop your ads for a few weak minded people who cant bear to see a few words against their favourite candidate. If they are feeble enough to stop using your site because they were offended.. then DB can probably do without them.

I don't mean to be mean here, but...



Someone who would actually cancel their membership to an image/art site due to a simple ad running a mainstream message they happen to disagree with is the worst type of human being. His close-minded intolerance of opposing viewpoints make him ignorant to wisdom and knowledge. His extreme reactions make him divisive and harmful to society.



Good riddance...

Happy birthday, Ryan! I wish you many, many more. :)



I agree with what the majority of posters have stated; the ads are harmless, everyone either blocks them, ignores them, or can't even see them, and it is indeed just business. Whatever makes you money. Regardless of who's paying for it, if someone wants to pay you for the privilege of having access to your viewers, I think the viewers should be okay with it if it keeps your site running. If anyone who doesn't use Adblock or something similar in a Firefox or IceWeasel browser, they can always pay to not see the ads, not to mention get full access to all of the images.



Whoever wants to throw money away in marketing schemes, if you get to benefit from it and keep this awesome site up and running, more power to you!



Anyway, happy birthday (again), and have a good one!

Ryan, I must say that I'm very upset about your decision to keep DB nonpartisan. When I want to get into a heated political debate, my first thought is, "go to Digital Blasphemy!" Too bad they don't discuss politics in other places like TV, newspapers, magazines, etc.

First off, happy late birthday!



Secondly, the ads help run the site financially. I say you should do what is best to keep this website up and running, and if that means political ads run, then they run. It's election time in America, so there is no way to get around these ads.



Also, you have no control over what is put in these ads, so from where I stand, that means you are neither pro or anti whatever is shown. It's simply out of your hands.

I have come to your site and have for almost 10 years now because I love the art that you create. I also know that it takes money to purchase the up to date software as well as the hardware to render the quality you do. Therefore I see no problem with accepting donations from the political advertisers. I think that maybe someone should mention to the McCain campaign to start advertising on the burst network so that they can compete, but you should not be held responsible for the political war taking place in the banner ads. You are simpling selling the banner space in order to keep your website operational. I'd rather see this then a large increase in price to cover the loss.

Again, Your artwork is absolutely stunning and no matter how much time goes by I love the pictures you created in 1997 as much as the ones you created in 2008, which can rarely be said when comparing current computer generated graphics of this nature to those created 11 years earlier.

In the computer world 11 years is really several lifetimes. And would be similar to comparing life of the 1920's to that of the 1980's.

Keep up the outstanding work!

There are political ads EVERYWHERE! Virtually all news sites have them. TV has them. Billboards, homeowners' front lawns, busses, taxi cabs, car bumpers, etc, etc, etc. The only way to avoid them is to close yourself in your bedroom until after the election and hope you don't dream about them.

Oddly I posted about the ads, and jsut realized that as a paid member I dont see them. So hey Thanks!!!

I am neither for or against ads on your site, polititcal or otherwise.



Your site is your livelyhood, thouse of us who join get to share in what you do and the art you create. You however have been very frank that you do this because it supports your family. I applaud you for finding a way to do what you love and support your family.



If the ads allow you to continue do so, which allows me to continue to have more art that work it seems to be a win/win.



And frankly its nice to see thouse advertising dollars go to someone besides the big media companies, casue frankly its nice to see the election do something postive for some of the little guys, and not the corperations. (Democratic or Republican) Network and Cable TV and other large corperations get to see profits from it. I am all for more people getting some of those dollars.

I think people shouldn't determine whether or not they will support DB because political ads might be displayed on your site. If a little ads are a way for you to make some extra money, then more power to you. It's nothing rare in the website business.



I haven't noticed any ads at all, is that just for non-member sections?



Personally I think people should keep their political opinions separate from everything else, including DB. You provide a great service and I don't care if ads were displayed from either party.

Ryan



Hope you had a great birthday

Cheers

I don't visit your site to look at the ads. I visit the site because I enjoy your artwork. If you don't like the ads, ignore them and just remember why you visited this site or became a paid member, to view the artwork! Happy Birthday Ryan and keep up the good work.

The ad thing is silly. I don't see them either because they get blocked. But, I think someone said it below. Leaving DB because of an ad you didn't like is like never watching your favorite TV show again because of a commercial? Please.. I love DB. I am here for your wonderful pictures, Ryan. Because they rock. No way would I leave over an ad. And I, too, should have bought a lifetime ages ago! ;-)



Be well, Ryan, Happy Birthday! and I hope business picks up for you, too. And...



Thank you JohnCee53 and Ben for your contributions to the freedoms we are enjoying right this very minute! <3

The addition of the blog is great! The idea that people are so offended at general ads enough to fore go their memberships seems like self-punishment to me. I hope it's not many ... I don't come here to see ads, but for the joy your outstanding talent provides me. Their loss... I promise to contribute again even though I already have a lifetime membership in hopes of being a bit of compensation. Best to you...

Adds don't bother me one way or the other. If having them means that you makes a better picture, then they're welcome. ;)

Their loss.



Keep the ads. If they are going to try to filter out all of the places that run their political opponent's ads, then good luck to them in their little shuttered world.



Sorry to hear business is down, but if it helps any, things are tough all over. (I know it doesn't)



Have a Happy Birthday, bud!

I personally don't care what kind of banners you run. In fact, I'm so oblivious to them, I don't even know where on the site the banners are lol. I've never even seen them on here.



BUT, big but there...I can definitely see people on either side of the fence unwilling to pay money for a site who is gonna run political banners spouting anti-whoever rhetoric. They're paying to support the OTHER guy (or girl in this case lol), and I can see some people having a problem with that. Some uptight people, sure. But paying customers nonetheless.



The main question is this: what's more valuable to you? The subscription, or the advertising? Also, is there a way to block particular ads that you don't want to run? I would imagine so, but who knows. If you can block just the political ones, everybody's happy. Obviously if you can't, there's not even a decision to make. You can't kill off half your revenue because of a select few unhappy campers.



I say do whatever's best for your bottom line. But then again, I'm a banker for a major corporation, and I'm financially biased =)



Best of luck with it buddy, and happy birthday.



-Chris

It's up to you (well, of course it's your site, but I mean beyond that), based on what you think will be the most effective. It's clearly no endorsement, and it wouldn't bother me if I saw them. (Am I correct in thinking the ads only exist on the free site?)



But if you think that it's causing more loss of expected revenue by scaring customers off than the revenue you'd lose by refusing political ads, you should drop them; if you think it's less, you should keep them; and if you think it's about the same, you should forget about it and go play some Doom or Quake 2. (Or whatever activities you find relaxing. Those hit the spot for me.)



I don't see a moral issue either way, so don't sweat it. And, if my understanding is correct, some folks have mad nerve, complaining because the free site has ads they don't like. It's actually pretty funny.

I surf the Net VERY often and I've become "immune" to ads that can be seen on all the sites that I visit. I just don't notice them any more, even those ones that flash and jiggle around. Even my browser stops pop-up ads from occurring.



People who don't know how ads work on the Net in this day and age either don't connect to the Net at all or are terribly naive.

Ryan...



Happy Birthday, plain and simple.



I am very politically motivated and very politically aware, but not everything is politics. Sure my political opinion slants to the right, but good God this is a democracy. Without different opinions and ideas we wouldn't be one. Life isn't fun without a good debate.



But politics isn't the point... This is YOUR site. You advertise whatever you'd like and whatever will make you the most economically viable. (Well, if you can keep the porn down, it will save an explanation to my boys for a couple years.) I hope to get some good mileage out of my Lifetime Membership. If people are noodle-spined enough to let a banner ad fluster their political feathers... t'hell with 'em.



Since everything in life relates back to The Godfather in one fashion or another... this isn't personal, it's business. If you need more cash, let us lifetime members know... we'll be happy to kick in again!

I think ads are just that ads. You can click on them or not. If I see something I am interested in I click and if not then I don't.



In conclusion.....Go Cubbies!!

Think people think too much into things, I don't even look at the ads truth be told I'm here for your work. You will always upset someone and never please everyone. Continue as you are.



T.

I've seen similar posts on other friends blogs... where a visitor who happens to see ANY political ad (either placed there on purpose, or not) says: I'm never coming here again.

IMO, that's just plain idiotic if someone is so insecure about seeing others opinions (even in the form of an ad) they feel the need to avoid a site for its true content. If thats the case, get off the internet as a whole while you're at it.

I come to this site because I appreciate your art. I am not interested in the ads, nor am I concerned about the content of said ads. As you mentioned it is a business, and if having ads on the page will keep the price of membership at the "too low" cost of 25 dollars, then I am more than fine with it. Keep up the good work. And, Happy Birthday.

You have ads on your sight? hmm...never noticed them.



I love the sight and don't care what kind of ads you put on I will still keep coming back to enjoy your great work.



Now having said that I would say that as the owner/operator of this fine establishment you should know what kind of ads are being run on your site. As others have pointed out some might see it as a reflection upon your business, that is, what you are willing to advertise.



For those "thin-skinned" individuals who can't accept other's viewpoints I say:



"Why are you on the internet, why do you watch TV? Put down that magazine, newspaper or book you are reading. Drop your Ipod and never leave your house. Forget any type of social interaction so that way you will never overhear, see or read a viewpoint or discussion that is different than what you want to hear/believe."



Ryan, post the usernames of all those who cancelled their membership over this political ad and we'll pony up the money for your lost revenue. Then we can post our add that says:



"Paid for the people who are intolerant of others and don't like Obama adds".

Political ads will offend some - and if you can't distinguish the types of ads you promote - some business will be lost, no matter how well you explain that it's not your opinion/choice.



On the other hand... if business is not going well and you make a substantial amount on the ads the monetary benefit outweighs the negative impact.



If you could just say "no political ads allowed" that would be the best option... however everything is political now-adays, right?

First and foremost, Happy Birthday!!



As for the topic, my view is to go ahead and leave them. The thing about presidential ads is that they should only be running until the election occurs, after that -- there shouldn't be a problem.



If people are bothered by them, they should just ignore them. I don't think I can count the number of ads I've seen on various sites, message boards, that have 'bothered' me -- I simply don't look at them. I realize that hosting the ads assists the site owner in covering costs, and most of the time they don't have too much of a choice in what gets showed. It's a case of weighing the pros and cons. Is a small little ad enough to disuade a person from enjoying all the wonderful pieces of art? It wouldn't be enough to disuade me.

I don't even realize you had ads on your site...I use Adblock, so it is very, very rare that I see ads anywhere on the internet.



Happy birthday! Enjoy your game.

I see no problem with the ads. Thye're just .....ads. You can agree or disagree with their content....then move on.

I suppose those same people who said they were leaving the site are also complaining to every TV station that runs an ad against their candidate? Have they complained to their cable provider, asking them to remove those dastardly, offending channels from their lineup? Can you say "overreact"? How about "ass-ume"? Sure...I knew you could.



BTW...Happy Birthday!

Hi Ryan,



I am sorry to say this, but as a twenty something that has grown up with the internet, it appears that I have learned to ignore online ads, and until your blog post - I didn't actually realize that you had ads on your web site...that being said, you can't please everyone, I say do what you can to run your business the way that reflect who you are and supports your family. If two or three folks run away because they feel that they have a moral obligation to, that is their right.



Side Note: JohnCee53 - preach it! As a combat vetran myself, I am please to say that I am not one of the individuals that you irritated.

I would not leave the site because of this, I love it too much, however if you could turn off the political ads I would. When the ad is at the top and it is the first thing you see when you come to the site, it may give off a strong impression you feel one way or another. Don't turn off the ads completely through, its like free money for you.

This sort of debate reminds me of some of the many social comments made by Chris Rock on his 'Never Scared' HBO Special DVD. As for me in the UK, I generally try to stay as clear of party politics as possible - a former boss on mine once saw some grafiti that read 'No matter who you vote for, the government gets in' - about sums it up for me.



Anyway, on a lighter note, hope you have a great birthday.

I you, or any of your loyal fans, have seen the file "Idiocracy", you'll know my exact opinion of where this country is headed. I retired after 20 years in the Navy; grew up in the 50's and 60's (Yeah, I'm a Boomer!); been around the world, etc., etc., etc.. Ryan, you run an excellent site, and you have to make money somehow to pay for your equipment, your internet connection, your web site, your mortgage, your food, and various and sundry other items. I'm a liftime member of your site. You go ahead and do what you have to do to survive! I, and others like me, served to give you the freedom to do exactly that, and to support your rights to live free, think freely, and speak freely. This also goes for the ad companies. I may or may not agree with them. My choice. I'm just glad I HAVE that choice. I'm glad I served so that others could have that choice as well.



To all of the whiners out there crying about some silly ad they didn't agree with - GET OVER IT! You have the choice to look at it or not. You made the desision to look at it. Nobody twisted your arm. Grow up, move on, get a life, and while your out and about in your daily life, thank a vet for insuring that you had freedom.



If I've ticked anybody off...



I meant to!



;-)

Face it, no matter what you do, you aren't going to please everybody. Ads for Obama are going to tick off McCain supporters, ads for McCain are going to tick off Obama supporters, ads for toothpaste are going to tick off the pro-tooth decay people, ad nauseam. Even innocuous things such as simple words are pissing *someone* off these days (it's to the point where I think that George Orwell's Newspeak would be not only preferable, but necessary).



Short of getting rid of the ad banners entirely, you could insert a small disclaimer along the lines of "the contents of these Burst ads do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the omnipotent god-like entity that rules this website with an iron fist." :-)



I'd draw the line at ads for blatantly illegal and/or disgusting things (like child pornography), of course...

Frankly, it's nonsense to suggest that DB was associated with either campaign. People that jump to that conclusion don't take the time to often think it through and see if ads are put up intentionally by the web site administrator, or not.



I would hope you wouldn't lose too many customers, and I doubt you will as the whole thing seems silly to me.



By the way, if you were to start reviewing all ads that the "ad network" put across, you would be swamped and have to develop a "moral and ethical ad-posting code". You can't please all of the people all of the time, but I think that most people with a hamsters IQ will "get" that DB isn't a political site or making a statement. ;-)



Keep up the good work!



- Gabe

...get rid of them. This site relies on imagination & fantasy; politics just get in the way.

If people TRULY care about what banner ads they see or don't see, they should take the fight to the advertising networks. Airing their rants at the site owners that are simply billboards for the network is futile, and only serves to advertise the fact that they are stupid or ignorant.



Maybe they'll stop watching television channels or reading newspapers too. Ignore posters in public places, avert their eyes from the sides of buildings, turn off the radio, unplug the internet and go live in a dark cave until it's all over.

Google's ad network?



Google ads are almost always VERY tame and professional.



They recently have been expanding their banner/image ads too...



Maybe they would be a better match for DB?

I would say that those people who where offended were thin-skinned and obviously something got in their craw about anti-McCain ads. Those are the people who need to go away...not just because of the political issues but because those people thrive off the drama of the situation and are too selfish to realize that others have opinions different from their own, and they think that only their opinion matters and that others are wrong. We all know the world is not black and white...it is very grey, especially on the internet. It's amazing what one sees when one's head is out of the sand.



Thanks Ryan for all you do, I will support you whatever your political beliefs are because I am confident in my own beliefs. Oh, and I come here (and pay) for the backgrounds, not politics. Glad you addressed the topic, and explaining that you have no control over the ads - sounds like an opportunity for those people to pay for a membership!

don't sweat it, lots of people turn into raving idiots every four years.

You should make a generic donkey/elephant wallpaper for the election!

I didn't even see the ads, but I wouldn't be too offended by them. Oh, and GO CUBS! Let's hope they get out of this slump!

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Hope you enjoy it.



Ads—whatever. Beggars can't be choosers. I didn't know you ran ads since I've been subscribing soon after I first stumbled on your site.I'd personally be embarrassed to complain about anything while visiting a free web site. Oh well. Good luck with the public anyhow.



Cheers!

Ian

Hi Ryan



Without going into politics, my feeling is if they help you, fine. I can ignore them.



Pete

I have no problem ignoring all ads with equal vigor. I think it's very silly to worry about which ads are on the site you're visiting. The ad networks chose the ads, not the site owner.

I have to admit that I browse the web with Firefox's Adblock extension running an extended public block list so I never actually see these ads. That makes the ads my choice to see, or not. Any visitor here has the same choice.



I realise that doesn't help you out, Ryan, which is a shame but I'm also not interested in reading the ads and I support DB year-on-year with a subscription (really, I should have bought a lifetime subscription as I'd have saved money by now...).



Now, Adblock can be defeated (though I run No Script so the combo is pretty resilient) and if I started to find Adblock-defeating ads showing up I'd probably be dropping you a note to ask that to be reined in. But that'd be because I don't want to see the ads at all, not because I object to a particular one.



As for a specific run of any sort of ads, political or not, I guess the real question is "do my visitors want to read this stuff?" and, if not, "will including it make a significant proportion of them stop visiting (as much)?)" and a choice to be made accordingly.



Either way, I'm here for duration. My computers would be dull and boring without your wallpapers!

I use Firefox and AdBlock Plus so I don't see most ads. Regardless, unless the ads were for something illegal I don't think I would really care.

Dude, don't sweat it. If your ad provider is running political ads from a campaign because they purchased them, then don't worry about it. Leaving a site because of a political disagreement I think is silly and petty. But, if suddenly we start seeing some highly inappropriate ads, well, then you might have to intervene and make sure you maintain the integrity of your site.



Anyway, Happy Birthday!

If someone was turned off to your website just for an ad, then they were not really a DB fan anyway. Political ads are just part of the election process in this day and age. Every side has the right to state their platform in every media he/she chooses to purchace. More and more that media is the internet. Ryan, you should not edit your ads just to please a few, and keep up the awesome work. :)

Happy Birthday!

I'm not really a fan of politics to being with. I'm the type of guy that gets offended just being in mixed company and someone brings up politics. So to come here and see ad for a particular candidate can be a bit of a turn off. But on my part iIve learned to just ignore these things.



However, like you said before. I won't refuse to watch, say LOST...or even all of ABC just because during a commercial break they ran an ad for someone I'm against.



So I say leave the ad there, its just good business.

If someone visited your site and the first thing they saw was a political ad, it might influence them to leave. I'll be completely honest; If I was unaware that you used an advertising service and didn't chose the ads yourself, I would probably not become a member assuming I saw an ad going against my candidate.

First of all, I'm a paid-up lifetime member, so none of this affects me. :-) However, I'd like to say that the ads you run do reflect the reputation of your site, like it or not. How well do you know the Burst clientele? What happens if, say, the Church of Scientology starts a major campaign to counter the 4-chan people and takes out ads all over the net? What if "punch the monkey" comes back? What if big, flashing "100000th visitor! no, really, honest!" banners start showing up?



there's no easy solution to these issues, especially not with a site as expensive as this must be to run; i'm just saying, starting thinking about what the ads you let run will say about your site, because they will say something.