4 ms·

I don't understand this overreaction. Ads are there, so what, they don't even make noise or tend to cover parts of the screen like they used to.

jordanpg 8y ago
The point is that I'm fundamentally disgusted by an incitement to spend money being thrust in front of me in any form, for any reason. I see it as exactly at odds with what I'm trying to do with my life and my attention. I do not consent to have my time and attention taken from me in this way. Yes, I am a free rider on much of the internet today, such as it is. That the entire internet is based on this absurd proposition is a symptom of its rapid growth and industries going after the lowest hanging fruit. I am confident that the internet will find another way forward.
_Understated_ 8y ago
You need to look at what powers the ads. It's never "just" an ad. Like the way you see an ad in a newspaper. It's the spyware that comes with it and the fact that tons of them are animated! And yes, I consider it spyware and virus-like behaviour to track me wherever I go and I will actively do what I can to stop it. Even if it means you don't get paid... you chose that seedy medium to make money, not me. It's not my job to validate your business model. By all means block me. I will go elsewhere. Browsing the internet without an ad blocker is actually impossible for me now... whenever I rebuild a machine I have those few hours or so before I get the ad blocker installed where the internet is a horrific assault on the senses with everything trying to steal my attention away from the thing I am there to see and slowing down the page load (significantly in some cases) I still remember when plenty of the internet was running fine from hobbyists and whatnot without resorting to ads and tracking... it costs practically zero to run a website (granted, at scale it's a whole other ball-game but how many people have that problem?) The internet would survive fine without ads. It would have a different mix of behemoths and hobbyists sites but it would survive just fine. That being said... I do remember trying to punch the monkey to win :D Edit: added stuff for clarity
RobertKerans 8y ago
The ones under discussion are the digital equivalent of junk mail

jordanpg 8y ago

The point is that I'm fundamentally disgusted by an incitement to spend money being thrust in front of me in any form, for any reason. I see it as exactly at odds with what I'm trying to do with my life and my attention. I do not consent to have my time and attention taken from me in this way. Yes, I am a free rider on much of the internet today, such as it is. That the entire internet is based on this absurd proposition is a symptom of its rapid growth and industries going after the lowest hanging fruit. I am confident that the internet will find another way forward.

_Understated_ 8y ago

You need to look at what powers the ads. It's never "just" an ad. Like the way you see an ad in a newspaper. It's the spyware that comes with it and the fact that tons of them are animated! And yes, I consider it spyware and virus-like behaviour to track me wherever I go and I will actively do what I can to stop it. Even if it means you don't get paid... you chose that seedy medium to make money, not me. It's not my job to validate your business model. By all means block me. I will go elsewhere. Browsing the internet without an ad blocker is actually impossible for me now... whenever I rebuild a machine I have those few hours or so before I get the ad blocker installed where the internet is a horrific assault on the senses with everything trying to steal my attention away from the thing I am there to see and slowing down the page load (significantly in some cases) I still remember when plenty of the internet was running fine from hobbyists and whatnot without resorting to ads and tracking... it costs practically zero to run a website (granted, at scale it's a whole other ball-game but how many people have that problem?) The internet would survive fine without ads. It would have a different mix of behemoths and hobbyists sites but it would survive just fine. That being said... I do remember trying to punch the monkey to win :D Edit: added stuff for clarity

RobertKerans 8y ago

The ones under discussion are the digital equivalent of junk mail