Adsense inconsistent on "inappropriate content?"

[dickbaker]

I have a site that deals with guns. I don't sell them on the site, just have tons of pages with photos and specifications, as well as pages for stores that sell guns to advertise their services, etc.

Last year I applied to Adsense and was rejected because guns are regarded as inappropriate content. So, I just accepted their decision.

Recently I've noticed a large number of gun-related sites that have Adsense on them. There are even some gun-related sites in the Google Directory that are running Adsense.

I emailed the Adsense folks again, asking if I could run ads on pages that only deal with archery products. I also mentioned finding many gun sites with Adsense on them.

They replied a couple of days later, saying that my site still dealt with guns and that they don't allow sites with inappropriate content to run Adsense on select "appropriate" content.

I realize it's their program to do with whatever they want, but I don't understand the inconsistency.

Anyone care to explain?

[malachite]

Can't explain, but I've noticed the same inconsistency when it comes to beer. Lots of sites about beer and beer-related products with Adsense on them (and seemingly no shortage of advertisers), yet it's one of the "prohibited" items according to G's TOS.

[EarleyGirl]

Perhaps they applied using a different site, added the code to their gun-related site and Google hasn't caught on yet...

[johnblack]

Malachite,

Can I ask where in the TOS does it say that beer sites cannot use Adsense.

All I can find is

'any Web site that contains any pornographic, hate-related, violent, or illegal content;'

I can't seem to find any mention of alcohol-related sites anywhere. Am I looking in the wrong place?

Cheers John