4 ms·

If someone decides against using an ad blocker, they can't mind being annoyed that much.

paulcole 8y ago
I don't use an adblocker because I don't like feeling like I'm taking something I'm not entitled to. I don't like most of the ads I see, but I understand why they're there and that they're the reason why I don't have to get out my credit card to visit the sites I like. Edit: Didn't realize that not being offended by ads was such a controversial opinion here.
- door3 8y ago
  > I don't use an adblocker because I don't like feeling like I'm taking something I'm not entitled to. ads are bad and pollute whatever space they are in. the internet would be much better without them. i would describe it as unethical to force someone to view an advertisement.
- nyolfen 8y ago
  that's interesting, i do use an adblocker because i don't like companies with business models oriented on surveillance and building profiles of my behavior across the internet that they're not entitled to
  - paulcole 8y ago
    So it's OK to take the product of a business if you don't like their business model? Why not just avoid visiting the sites you find so distasteful?
    - warent 8y ago
      Because businesses conform to customer wants/needs, not vice-versa.
      - cm2012 8y ago
        Customer: "I want a hamburger for free. Give it to me for free or I'll just take it and walk away without paying anyway." Business: "No. It's $2. Please pay for the burger" Customer: "Why aren't you conforming to my needs?!"
        Endy 8y ago
        There's a difference here - the transaction of physical goods. There's also a big difference between, "You offered me a burger, you have signs saying I could get burgers here, and there are large groups that index you as the best burger." "That was last week. Now you don't get to know about the burger until you pay $2."
        cm2012 8y ago
        On a developer forum devoted to software companies, the main argument is that physical products are by nature more valuable than non-physical products. (As opposed to the argument that non-physical products are easier to take and use without permission, regardless of effort put into it or value extracted).
        Endy 8y ago
        Yes, that is a primary argument. Information exists and is meant to be free. None of the "software companies" would exist without free access to data. I support public libraries over media retailers 100% of the time, as well. On top of that, I own my computer. I am responsible for the data which is transferred to my computer. I should have a fully-accessible offline copy of any and all data which is transferred to my computer, and not one bit of data should ever be transferred from my computer without my express consent. Adblocking comes to be a multifaceted statement. It is anticorporatism, it is privacy advocacy, and it is a declaration of data ownership & responsibility. And for some people, it's accessibility layered on top of one or more of those.
        gsich 8y ago
        Well, at least it's not a car comparison.
    - monochromatic 8y ago
      What contract did I sign agreeing to let ad companies access my eyeballs, let alone surveil me, in exchange for looking at a webpage? If they want to block me, they’re welcome to (or at least welcome to try), but I will cry zero tears over their lost spying opportunities.
      - cm2012 8y ago
        When you order food at a restaurant, there's no contract either. Just an implicit understanding by the restaurant owner and society that you'll pay at the end.
        JackCh 8y ago
        When somebody walks out of a restaurant without paying, the restaurant is free to call the cops. I therefore invite all website operators to call 911 when I use an adblocker!
        cm2012 8y ago
        So the only reason you pay at restaurants is to not break the law?
        JackCh 8y ago
        I also pay at restaurants because I want to. I don't watch ads because I don't want to. When I was a kid my family would flip through magazines and violently tear out the ads before bothering to sit down and read the articles. When watching television we would change the channel or mute the audio during commercial breaks on television (I don't even bother to download television shows with the advertisements edited out, because I've found product placement to be rampant.) Without calling for state violence to enforce your will on me, you will never stop me. You seem to have a very dim view of me because I refuse to willingly subject myself to advertisements. Let me assure you, this feeling is mutual. I look down on people who choose to submit themselves to corporate propaganda. Sometimes when I'm visiting people I see them watch television and they stare at the commercials with rapt attention; it disgusts me.
  - cm2012 8y ago
    "I hate McDonald's business model. That's why I go to eat there and try to sneak away with their burgers without paying."
    - genericid 8y ago
      You hate the business model of selling goods in exchange for money?
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- kjeetgill 8y ago
  I want to jump in and have your back on this one. I don't think it's a big deal to block ads but I support your sentiment: Not blocking ads is a respectful nod to the site owners who put them there. Sure, some sites I visit may feel undeserving but there is plenty of content I do respect (web comics, youtube channels, HN, etc.). I don't think anyone should feel super obligated but I get why you and others do. Edit: When I posted this the parent was downvoted to grey.

I don't use an adblocker because I don't like feeling like I'm taking something I'm not entitled to. I don't like most of the ads I see, but I understand why they're there and that they're the reason why I don't have to get out my credit card to visit the sites I like. Edit: Didn't realize that not being offended by ads was such a controversial opinion here.

door3 8y ago
> I don't use an adblocker because I don't like feeling like I'm taking something I'm not entitled to. ads are bad and pollute whatever space they are in. the internet would be much better without them. i would describe it as unethical to force someone to view an advertisement.
nyolfen 8y ago
that's interesting, i do use an adblocker because i don't like companies with business models oriented on surveillance and building profiles of my behavior across the internet that they're not entitled to
- paulcole 8y ago
  So it's OK to take the product of a business if you don't like their business model? Why not just avoid visiting the sites you find so distasteful?
  - warent 8y ago
    Because businesses conform to customer wants/needs, not vice-versa.
    - cm2012 8y ago
      Customer: "I want a hamburger for free. Give it to me for free or I'll just take it and walk away without paying anyway." Business: "No. It's $2. Please pay for the burger" Customer: "Why aren't you conforming to my needs?!"
      - Endy 8y ago
        There's a difference here - the transaction of physical goods. There's also a big difference between, "You offered me a burger, you have signs saying I could get burgers here, and there are large groups that index you as the best burger." "That was last week. Now you don't get to know about the burger until you pay $2."
        cm2012 8y ago
        On a developer forum devoted to software companies, the main argument is that physical products are by nature more valuable than non-physical products. (As opposed to the argument that non-physical products are easier to take and use without permission, regardless of effort put into it or value extracted).
        Endy 8y ago
        Yes, that is a primary argument. Information exists and is meant to be free. None of the "software companies" would exist without free access to data. I support public libraries over media retailers 100% of the time, as well. On top of that, I own my computer. I am responsible for the data which is transferred to my computer. I should have a fully-accessible offline copy of any and all data which is transferred to my computer, and not one bit of data should ever be transferred from my computer without my express consent. Adblocking comes to be a multifaceted statement. It is anticorporatism, it is privacy advocacy, and it is a declaration of data ownership & responsibility. And for some people, it's accessibility layered on top of one or more of those.
      - gsich 8y ago
        Well, at least it's not a car comparison.
  - monochromatic 8y ago
    What contract did I sign agreeing to let ad companies access my eyeballs, let alone surveil me, in exchange for looking at a webpage? If they want to block me, they’re welcome to (or at least welcome to try), but I will cry zero tears over their lost spying opportunities.
    - cm2012 8y ago
      When you order food at a restaurant, there's no contract either. Just an implicit understanding by the restaurant owner and society that you'll pay at the end.
      - JackCh 8y ago
        When somebody walks out of a restaurant without paying, the restaurant is free to call the cops. I therefore invite all website operators to call 911 when I use an adblocker!
        cm2012 8y ago
        So the only reason you pay at restaurants is to not break the law?
        JackCh 8y ago
        I also pay at restaurants because I want to. I don't watch ads because I don't want to. When I was a kid my family would flip through magazines and violently tear out the ads before bothering to sit down and read the articles. When watching television we would change the channel or mute the audio during commercial breaks on television (I don't even bother to download television shows with the advertisements edited out, because I've found product placement to be rampant.) Without calling for state violence to enforce your will on me, you will never stop me. You seem to have a very dim view of me because I refuse to willingly subject myself to advertisements. Let me assure you, this feeling is mutual. I look down on people who choose to submit themselves to corporate propaganda. Sometimes when I'm visiting people I see them watch television and they stare at the commercials with rapt attention; it disgusts me.
- cm2012 8y ago
  "I hate McDonald's business model. That's why I go to eat there and try to sneak away with their burgers without paying."
  - genericid 8y ago
    You hate the business model of selling goods in exchange for money?
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
kjeetgill 8y ago
I want to jump in and have your back on this one. I don't think it's a big deal to block ads but I support your sentiment: Not blocking ads is a respectful nod to the site owners who put them there. Sure, some sites I visit may feel undeserving but there is plenty of content I do respect (web comics, youtube channels, HN, etc.). I don't think anyone should feel super obligated but I get why you and others do. Edit: When I posted this the parent was downvoted to grey.