rogerd - 6:07 pm on Jan 4, 2011 (gmt 0)

I think my previous comment and Brett's comments show the tricky situation site operators find themselves in.

Brett's quite right in saying that a statement that the site makes money from Google ads, or even from clicks on those ads, is pure disclosure. Just because WebmasterWorld can spot an Adsense-monetized site a mile away doesn't mean the average user knows what Adsense is or how it works.

But, particularly in a community site, even the most bland, neutral disclosure could be interpreted as encouraging members to click the ads to support the site. Any non-brain-dead member can figure out that clicking some ads will help keep the site viable. This can be further exacerbated by members who bring up the ads in their posts.