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Completely un-scientific analysis; people don’t mind ad targeting if it’s relevant to them. Example - don’t show me ads for swim suits and beach umbrellas if I

Completely un-scientific analysis; people don’t mind ad targeting if it’s relevant to them. Example - don’t show me ads for swim suits and beach umbrellas if I live in Montana. What people object to is the detailed, strange and onerous collection and dissemination of this data - eg, the location data controversy...

goldcd 8y ago
However if you've been furiously googling for holiday destinations in Maui - maybe I'd slip you some adverts for swimwear, but hold-off on beach umbrellas as you'll never get one on the plane.
BucketSort 8y ago
Actually, from my experience, the people that get creeped out by this get creeped out the most when an ad is extremely relevant to them. I would also like to see a baseline of how many people think ads in general are immoral. We find it normal, having grown up with it, but I personally detest the constant psychological manipulation waged by ads in general. It gets even worse when those ads are personalized.
- a1369209993 8y ago
  I agree with your actual point, but from what I've seen, people get creeped out by ads that: a: are clearly based on personal information ("I just bought a washing machine, now I'm getting ads for washing machines."), and b: are extremely irrelevant to then ("I already bought a washing machine, I don't need another.").
- PavlovsCat 8y ago
  I'm actively reading ads since puberty or so, that is, I look at what they're saying, what they're trying to imply, compare with the reality, and what they generally are doing to language and communication. I used to consider it just being a smartass prick, a hairsplitting, literally-taking party pooper... but without knowing it, since I can think I tried all I could to innoculate myself against this: > Because we are lied to all the time, in ways so routine they are beneath conscious notice, even the most direct lies are losing their power to shock us. -- Charles Eisenstein, https://charleseisenstein.org/essays/the-ubiquitous-matrix-of-lies/ https://charleseisenstein.org/essays/the-ubiquitous-matrix-o... I take many things into account, but the judgement of those who aren't that active and hostile in their interaction, who just soak in it, is not one of those things. That many people do see a problem makes me think better of them, but it doesn't influence my opinion of the ad landscape, that's something between me and the ads.
- goldcd 8y ago
  I can't find the damn thing now, but I believe you're right - I mentioned some other anecdotal "being pursued across the internet incorrectly" comment in this thread. Solution to diffuse the feeling was to insert the identified item, between a couple of other semi-random items on the banner.
supercanuck 8y ago
I think this is more along the lines of, show me Skiing Ads in an Skiing Enthusiast magazine/website. Don't show me ads on the brand of tampons I'm considering that you gleaned from a conversation you picked up from my Echo or Microphone.
dmortin 8y ago
Also, if you ask people if they want targeted ads or pay some money to visit the same sites (because untargeted ads pay less) then most people will choose free browsing with targeted ads. People don't want to pay if they don't have to, and most people don't care about targeted ads.

goldcd 8y ago

However if you've been furiously googling for holiday destinations in Maui - maybe I'd slip you some adverts for swimwear, but hold-off on beach umbrellas as you'll never get one on the plane.

BucketSort 8y ago

Actually, from my experience, the people that get creeped out by this get creeped out the most when an ad is extremely relevant to them. I would also like to see a baseline of how many people think ads in general are immoral. We find it normal, having grown up with it, but I personally detest the constant psychological manipulation waged by ads in general. It gets even worse when those ads are personalized.

a1369209993 8y ago
I agree with your actual point, but from what I've seen, people get creeped out by ads that: a: are clearly based on personal information ("I just bought a washing machine, now I'm getting ads for washing machines."), and b: are extremely irrelevant to then ("I already bought a washing machine, I don't need another.").
PavlovsCat 8y ago
I'm actively reading ads since puberty or so, that is, I look at what they're saying, what they're trying to imply, compare with the reality, and what they generally are doing to language and communication. I used to consider it just being a smartass prick, a hairsplitting, literally-taking party pooper... but without knowing it, since I can think I tried all I could to innoculate myself against this: > Because we are lied to all the time, in ways so routine they are beneath conscious notice, even the most direct lies are losing their power to shock us. -- Charles Eisenstein, https://charleseisenstein.org/essays/the-ubiquitous-matrix-of-lies/ https://charleseisenstein.org/essays/the-ubiquitous-matrix-o... I take many things into account, but the judgement of those who aren't that active and hostile in their interaction, who just soak in it, is not one of those things. That many people do see a problem makes me think better of them, but it doesn't influence my opinion of the ad landscape, that's something between me and the ads.
goldcd 8y ago
I can't find the damn thing now, but I believe you're right - I mentioned some other anecdotal "being pursued across the internet incorrectly" comment in this thread. Solution to diffuse the feeling was to insert the identified item, between a couple of other semi-random items on the banner.

supercanuck 8y ago

I think this is more along the lines of, show me Skiing Ads in an Skiing Enthusiast magazine/website. Don't show me ads on the brand of tampons I'm considering that you gleaned from a conversation you picked up from my Echo or Microphone.

dmortin 8y ago

Also, if you ask people if they want targeted ads or pay some money to visit the same sites (because untargeted ads pay less) then most people will choose free browsing with targeted ads. People don't want to pay if they don't have to, and most people don't care about targeted ads.