My recent article on getting the IP address into a Javascript got noticed over at Digital Point. There was one proponent, the poor soul who started the thread, but he was quickly reprimanded by a flurry of detractors, including the respected writer and AdSense authority Jenstar, who wrote:

"The michaelthompson method is *against* the AdSense terms, so be warned before using it."

Imagine the electric thrill of having anything I have ever done being referred to as the "michaelthompson method". What a rush. I replied politely asking for more of an explanation but I think she is referring to this particular paragraph from the AdSense Program policies:

Code Modification Any AdSense ad code, search box code, or referral code must be pasted directly into Web pages without modification. AdSense participants are not allowed to alter any portion of the ad code or change the layout, behavior, targeting, or delivery of ads for any reason.

If so, she is correct. However, a number of people have been instructed by the Google AdSense team to add the line google_adtest='on' to the AdSense script when the situation merits it. For me, I feel it is merited whenever I am visiting my own site. And there is this from the Gooogle AdSense Help Center article 'What can I do to ensure that my account won't be disabled?':

AdSense offers a wide variety of approved formats, colors, and features in your AdSense account. Once you've generated your code, however, we ask that you do not alter any portion of the code or change the layout, behavior, targeting, or delivery of ads for any reason, unless specifically authorized to do so by Google.

I gave it some further thought and updated the method so now it is a lot simpler to implement and nothing needs to be added to directly to an AdSense script (but if you are curious here is the original, now deprecated AJAX based version.) Meanwhile, I am still waiting for an answer from Google as to the validity of the technique.

I've been a Jenstar groupie since I started researching AdSense but now that she has actually noticed me... *sigh*