I personally do not like google ADsense too, but there are not many alternatives. With only one false-click you can already be kicked out of the network. I have already been kicked twice, but after discussing the data my Account was re-enabled.
I am currently trying to switch over to
Etology. They pay you 75 % of the money which advertisers invest and also have a feature where advertisers can directly buy advertisments on your website. This is really good for finding new partners. Have a look
here to see how paying would look like. I find it very handy but I just have started with etology aswell. Before I have been trying to use ADbrite or Zanox. I did not like both very much. Zanox is an affiliate program, you get money if people buy something over the ADs on your website, usually about 15 %. Well I have not been paid for 2 months that's why I skipped it....
Google ADsense is very good for displaying Content realted Advertisments and is unique currently with that feature. There is no other AD-Program which can display as content-related-Advertisments as Google-ADsense. Unfortunately google has strict rules (3-ADs per page, ban on 1 click) and only pays 50 %. I got about 120 clicks per day and only get 10 $, that is not very much.
To pit it into a nutshell, try using etology or zanox =). And yes, your forum is awfull, you need to rework it =). On my website (d3scene.com) only guests see Advertisments which is very handy for members as they keep visiting your website.