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Well, obviously people who aren't opposed to ads per se won't use extensions like this. I, personally, believe that the whole point of ads is to manipulate you

Well, obviously people who aren't opposed to ads per se won't use extensions like this. I, personally, believe that the whole point of ads is to manipulate you into making purchasing decisions that are irrational, i.e. decisions that aren't in your own best interests. Therefore I think all ads are unethical. I realize that's a minority position, but it's an example of one way in which someone could come to the position that all ads are bad and should be blocked. Note - someone might respond that in theory an ad could be designed to be genuinely useful by helping you make a more informed choice. I'm not denying that that's possible, just that you're imagining a very different world than the one we in fact live in.

ajayyy 7y ago
Yea, I agree. However, companies need to advertise to get there product out there. Well, even I did by posting about this extension on hacker news. I think there are ways to make ads more ethical than the average ad out there, and I appreciate those that do that. - Developer
- codeisawesome 7y ago
  Why do you sign every comment with “- Developer” at the end? Just post a comment to your submission stating you’re the developer?
  - ajayyy 7y ago
    As far as I know, there is no easy way to tell who the OP is on this site.
jasode 7y ago
>I, personally, believe that the whole point of ads is to manipulate you into making purchasing decisions that are irrational,[...]. Therefore I think all ads are unethical. If I invent something I truly believe will improve the lives of others that they might pay for, how would I let the world know about it other than ads? Examples... I'm wearing $350 noise-isolating earphones at this moment because I learned about the product from an ad 20 years ago. There was nothing else on the market that combined audiophile sound quality with 25+ dB ambient noise reduction. (It was a small company that specialized in hearing aids that expanded their product line into consumer hifi.) I wouldn't have learned about them through "word of mouth" because nobody I knew had them. I loved them so much that I've bought 3 replacement pairs over the last 2 decades as they've worn out. That ad for earphones saved my hearing and sanity at noisy offices. I applied to the high-paying job that paid for my house because of an ad the company ran looking for my particular technical skills. I went to performances of classical symphonies and piano recitals because of ads highlighting the local orchestra and the upcoming season's schedule. I also went on memorable helicopter tours because of ads. Yes, _most_ ads (including most Youtube ads) are harmful/intrusive/irrelevant but saying _all_ ads manipulate you against your best interest can't be right. >in theory an ad could be designed to be genuinely useful It's not theory though. In my case, my earphones/job/concerts were genuinely useful to me. Unfortunately, it's the minority of cases where ads connect me to products that improve my life. Therefore, I do block all ads at the DNS level but I'm still receptive to ads relevant to my interests like 3d printing, home building & construction, aviation, etc.

ajayyy 7y ago

Yea, I agree. However, companies need to advertise to get there product out there. Well, even I did by posting about this extension on hacker news. I think there are ways to make ads more ethical than the average ad out there, and I appreciate those that do that. - Developer

codeisawesome 7y ago
Why do you sign every comment with “- Developer” at the end? Just post a comment to your submission stating you’re the developer?
- ajayyy 7y ago
  As far as I know, there is no easy way to tell who the OP is on this site.

jasode 7y ago

>I, personally, believe that the whole point of ads is to manipulate you into making purchasing decisions that are irrational,[...]. Therefore I think all ads are unethical. If I invent something I truly believe will improve the lives of others that they might pay for, how would I let the world know about it other than ads? Examples... I'm wearing $350 noise-isolating earphones at this moment because I learned about the product from an ad 20 years ago. There was nothing else on the market that combined audiophile sound quality with 25+ dB ambient noise reduction. (It was a small company that specialized in hearing aids that expanded their product line into consumer hifi.) I wouldn't have learned about them through "word of mouth" because nobody I knew had them. I loved them so much that I've bought 3 replacement pairs over the last 2 decades as they've worn out. That ad for earphones saved my hearing and sanity at noisy offices. I applied to the high-paying job that paid for my house because of an ad the company ran looking for my particular technical skills. I went to performances of classical symphonies and piano recitals because of ads highlighting the local orchestra and the upcoming season's schedule. I also went on memorable helicopter tours because of ads. Yes, _most_ ads (including most Youtube ads) are harmful/intrusive/irrelevant but saying _all_ ads manipulate you against your best interest can't be right. >in theory an ad could be designed to be genuinely useful It's not theory though. In my case, my earphones/job/concerts were genuinely useful to me. Unfortunately, it's the minority of cases where ads connect me to products that improve my life. Therefore, I do block all ads at the DNS level but I'm still receptive to ads relevant to my interests like 3d printing, home building & construction, aviation, etc.