5 ms·

Open Letter to Wired

24 points by jackgavigan 10y ago

daveloyall 10y ago
I have sent emails to mail@wired.com ("letters to the editor") that described how I don't use an ad-blocker, but I do nullroute hosts I don't like, which triggers their adblocker-blocker. I encouraged them to figure out some other way to keep the lights on. This open letter is better written, but it's from the point of view of an adblocker. Somebody should re-do this from the point of view of a reader.
Fomite 10y ago
"While we hope you will reconsider your malicious stance against human rights"...and you've lost me.
- imglorp 10y ago
  You didn't read the article, did you? Ads are all about privacy, malware, and arbitration of _you_. Also, did you read today's other post about ad networks and malware? https://kalkis-research.com/clickbait-and-traffic-laundering-how-ad-tech-is-destroying-the-web https://kalkis-research.com/clickbait-and-traffic-laundering...
  - bllguo 10y ago
    It was flagged. Not to mention it was a poorly written, heavily biased piece from a sketchy source.
  - Fomite 10y ago
    I did read the article. And while I don't particularly care for ads, I think suggesting they are a "malicious stance against human rights" and that ad-supported media content is an unethical business model is, well, headed well into the realm of the absurd.
    - sago 10y ago
      Odd that you read the article, and came to the conclusion they were against 'ad-supported media', since one of the three possible business models they recommended was ad-supported! The clue was in the first line of the article: "You don’t get it: It’s not about ads, it’s about behavioural targeting and tracking."
      - Fomite 10y ago
        Non-behavioral ads that don't track people are just "worse ads". And sure, they could use worse ads - but they'll need more of them to make up the difference. And that still doesn't make it a malicious violation of human rights.
jlgaddis 10y ago
Somewhat related: any recommendations for a good adblocker I can install on my iPad (where I do most of my casual browsing) as well as my and my girlfriend's iPhones (not as important)? Or, on that same note, any that I should avoid, for whatever reason?
- edoceo 10y ago
  Firefox + Ghostery
- youngtaff 10y ago
  I use Focus by Mozilla, works well for me

24 points by jackgavigan 10y ago

I have sent emails to mail@wired.com ("letters to the editor") that described how I don't use an ad-blocker, but I do nullroute hosts I don't like, which triggers their adblocker-blocker. I encouraged them to figure out some other way to keep the lights on. This open letter is better written, but it's from the point of view of an adblocker. Somebody should re-do this from the point of view of a reader.

Fomite 10y ago

"While we hope you will reconsider your malicious stance against human rights"...and you've lost me.

imglorp 10y ago
You didn't read the article, did you? Ads are all about privacy, malware, and arbitration of _you_. Also, did you read today's other post about ad networks and malware? https://kalkis-research.com/clickbait-and-traffic-laundering-how-ad-tech-is-destroying-the-web https://kalkis-research.com/clickbait-and-traffic-laundering...
- bllguo 10y ago
  It was flagged. Not to mention it was a poorly written, heavily biased piece from a sketchy source.
- Fomite 10y ago
  I did read the article. And while I don't particularly care for ads, I think suggesting they are a "malicious stance against human rights" and that ad-supported media content is an unethical business model is, well, headed well into the realm of the absurd.
  - sago 10y ago
    Odd that you read the article, and came to the conclusion they were against 'ad-supported media', since one of the three possible business models they recommended was ad-supported! The clue was in the first line of the article: "You don’t get it: It’s not about ads, it’s about behavioural targeting and tracking."
    - Fomite 10y ago
      Non-behavioral ads that don't track people are just "worse ads". And sure, they could use worse ads - but they'll need more of them to make up the difference. And that still doesn't make it a malicious violation of human rights.

jlgaddis 10y ago

Somewhat related: any recommendations for a good adblocker I can install on my iPad (where I do most of my casual browsing) as well as my and my girlfriend's iPhones (not as important)? Or, on that same note, any that I should avoid, for whatever reason?

edoceo 10y ago
Firefox + Ghostery
youngtaff 10y ago
I use Focus by Mozilla, works well for me