> They are legitimately useful, but they are also legitimately harmful by creating needs that you didn't have. > They are categorically not just about informin

> They are legitimately useful, but they are also legitimately harmful by creating needs that you didn't have. > They are categorically not just about informing people. > And saying you received value from ad-supported stuff strikes me as very backwards. You still pay, but you pay through being manipulated into buying stuff you don't need. This was the ancestor comment I was responding about. This person is suggesting that an advertiser can make you buy things you wouldn't otherwise want. My point is that it isn't true - you have to want the product at some level to be interested. If you'd read my comment you'd realise that I agree that they can influence your decision, but not if you weren't at least mildly interested in the product in the first place.