banner ads? possible to disable, or opt out, or buy out?

[serendipitous journey]

Let me begin by thanking Peace Hill Press for providing these forums, moderating them, and supporting this online community. 

 

It seems as if the banner ads are a permanent feature.  I will not use this board so frequently at all if confronted by them on every page, though I am certain the Peace Hill Press folks are convinced the ads are both inoffensive/appropriate and likely to generate revenue or they wouldn't have started them; and perhaps the revenue is required for the maintenance of this site. 

 

Is it possible to opt our, or to simply buy out of them?  I would be happy to pay an annual fee, or something like that, for ad-free access to the forums.  I find the banners themselves very distracting and irritating, and also am not happy with the general advertising nature of them on a site with so many members (including myself) who ought to be watching our budgets very, very carefully and not purchasing anything we don't truly need.  $2.99 or not.  ;)

 

Also these forums are one place I come to when stressed by homeschooling and in need of recharging and at the moment it is completely stressful and unrelaxing to have this bright reddish-orange advertisement across the top of my screen. 

 

If it were possible to opt or to buy out, I would be very grateful and am certain that I will be a much more active member of the community than if they are an unavoidable part of the WTM forum experience. 

[serendipitous journey]

Oh, I found an add-on for my firefox to block them.  The one I've installed is here. 

[AmyontheFarm]

After you have installed it go check out facebook!  It amazes me when I go to a friends house and see facebook there because it is so cluttered and full of ads!