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I'm surprised every time I read about people's disappointment about ads, especially on HN. Not because I have problems with their disappointment, but because it

by oAlbe 8y ago

I'm surprised every time I read about people's disappointment about ads, especially on HN. Not because I have problems with their disappointment, but because it genuinely surprises me to discover people that don't use ad blockers, even more on HN. What's the reason for this? What moves so many people to opt against using an ad blocker? It surely can't be lack of awareness that such tools exist, not for an audience like that of HN.

matt4077 8y ago
Awareness that free content won’t exist in a world where everyone uses ad blocker? I sometimes find ads annoying when, fir example, they change the layout. But I leave it in by default. What I don’t understand is what you think you have to gain from advertising ad blockers? If people subsidize your entertainment, shouldn’t you be happy?
- peteretep 8y ago
  > Awareness that free content won’t exist The sooner ad revenue nosedives, the sooner someone will figure out micro-payments for content, the happier I will be to know the full cost of what I'm paying for content, rather than opaquely giving up my privacy.
- gpvos 8y ago
  As far as I'm concerned, I'm not using an ad blocker, I'm using a third party tracker blocker. A reasonable number of ads, even in the middle of an article, are fine with me (well, as long as they don't pop up, obscure content, move or animate, or make sound). The name of the former extension "RequestPolicy" neatly sums up what I want: to be able to tell my browser to contact only hosts that I want it to contact. Also, malware blocker and CPU cycle saver.
- thecatspaw 8y ago
  I would be happier if that subsidizing wouldnt require a invasion of my privacy. I am aware that there's no such thing as 'free content'. However I would be much happier if I could pay 5$ a month or so to some 'we'll distribute that to the websites you frequent' type of service.
tonyedgecombe 8y ago
I abandoned ad blockers, they caused more problems than they solved for me. Now if the adverts are that intrusive then I just leave the site and don't go back.

by oAlbe 8y ago

matt4077 8y ago

Awareness that free content won’t exist in a world where everyone uses ad blocker? I sometimes find ads annoying when, fir example, they change the layout. But I leave it in by default. What I don’t understand is what you think you have to gain from advertising ad blockers? If people subsidize your entertainment, shouldn’t you be happy?

peteretep 8y ago
> Awareness that free content won’t exist The sooner ad revenue nosedives, the sooner someone will figure out micro-payments for content, the happier I will be to know the full cost of what I'm paying for content, rather than opaquely giving up my privacy.
gpvos 8y ago
As far as I'm concerned, I'm not using an ad blocker, I'm using a third party tracker blocker. A reasonable number of ads, even in the middle of an article, are fine with me (well, as long as they don't pop up, obscure content, move or animate, or make sound). The name of the former extension "RequestPolicy" neatly sums up what I want: to be able to tell my browser to contact only hosts that I want it to contact. Also, malware blocker and CPU cycle saver.
thecatspaw 8y ago
I would be happier if that subsidizing wouldnt require a invasion of my privacy. I am aware that there's no such thing as 'free content'. However I would be much happier if I could pay 5$ a month or so to some 'we'll distribute that to the websites you frequent' type of service.

tonyedgecombe 8y ago

I abandoned ad blockers, they caused more problems than they solved for me. Now if the adverts are that intrusive then I just leave the site and don't go back.