The parent comment seems to rely on the all-too-common assumption that the only means by which a software author can be paid is through internet advertising. W

The parent comment seems to rely on the all-too-common assumption that the only means by which a software author can be paid is through internet advertising. With that assumption, the argument against advertising then can be shifted to arguments for or against paying software authors for their work. Of course, this was not the issue that triggered the action or resulting commentary. It was advertising. It is an evasive shift from one issue to another, a rhetorical trick. There is no debate for or against paying for software. There is a debate against advertising via internet. That debate has existed since the network opened to the public.