5 ms·

The internet needs better rules, not stricter referees

13 points by aml183 5y ago

aml183 5y ago
This is hands down one of the worst takes I have seen in a while. I'm a big fan of Substack, but advertising isn't bad. I run a business that makes money from advertising. It's a good business model that benefits consumers and companies. I'm happy to go into detail if anyone cares.
- MildlySerious 5y ago
  > It's a good business model that benefits consumers and companies. I think that can be true, but comes with some big IFs attached which tend to ruin it in practice. Privacy is the big one. I don't think that needs any further explanation at this point. Attention span and lack of a way out are the other ones. As a user, I know and respect that creators and services need to make money. But if the only option is to turn me into the product by monetizing my data, screen estate and attention span, which is already running low anyway, I'm out. I'm sorry, but I'm just over it and I will instead spend five minutes of my time to find an alternative and spare future me from the constant brain and data drain. Unless, that is, I can give you money to never see another ad, at a price that feels appropriate for the value I get out of being able to continue using that site.
- convolvatron 5y ago
  please. how does it help me as a consumer?
  - jjk166 5y ago
    Do you have material needs and desires but weren't born with a priori knowledge of all possible goods and services that might satisfy those needs and desires?
    - smadge 5y ago
      Most newborns do not rely on commercial advertisements to learn how to satisfy their needs and desires.
      - lillecarl 5y ago
        We're not newborns our entire lives either, that logic doesn't work. Advertising is "natural", targeted AI curated reaction trash isn't though.
      - jjk166 5y ago
        Okay, well I'm sorry you're too young to benefit from advertising, but your parents who change your diaper and everyone else old enough to be considered a consumer certainly do.
  - blvcklotcs 5y ago
    Keeps free shit free
teitoklien 5y ago
I understand how important it is , to monetize things for one’s livelihood. But 9/10 times, the best content comes from people who dont care a cent about how much people will pay them for what they write, and instead just focus on writing well and making a point. I appreciate every open blog/newsletter/rss feed out there, who keeps its content up 24/7 for people to read and see through. Thanks to all of you who do that, its always been one of the best ways to get great content. And i wish the segment who’s overly obsessed about monetising every single interaction of human civilisation, good luck.
- atom_arranger 5y ago
  Agree. Always felt the best content comes from people who aren't interested in profiting off it, aside from reputationally. Blogspam authors: If you block ads we won't be able to afford to make content. Me: Good, I'd rather your "content" not exist.

13 points by aml183 5y ago

This is hands down one of the worst takes I have seen in a while. I'm a big fan of Substack, but advertising isn't bad. I run a business that makes money from advertising. It's a good business model that benefits consumers and companies. I'm happy to go into detail if anyone cares.

MildlySerious 5y ago
> It's a good business model that benefits consumers and companies. I think that can be true, but comes with some big IFs attached which tend to ruin it in practice. Privacy is the big one. I don't think that needs any further explanation at this point. Attention span and lack of a way out are the other ones. As a user, I know and respect that creators and services need to make money. But if the only option is to turn me into the product by monetizing my data, screen estate and attention span, which is already running low anyway, I'm out. I'm sorry, but I'm just over it and I will instead spend five minutes of my time to find an alternative and spare future me from the constant brain and data drain. Unless, that is, I can give you money to never see another ad, at a price that feels appropriate for the value I get out of being able to continue using that site.
convolvatron 5y ago
please. how does it help me as a consumer?
- jjk166 5y ago
  Do you have material needs and desires but weren't born with a priori knowledge of all possible goods and services that might satisfy those needs and desires?
  - smadge 5y ago
    Most newborns do not rely on commercial advertisements to learn how to satisfy their needs and desires.
    - lillecarl 5y ago
      We're not newborns our entire lives either, that logic doesn't work. Advertising is "natural", targeted AI curated reaction trash isn't though.
    - jjk166 5y ago
      Okay, well I'm sorry you're too young to benefit from advertising, but your parents who change your diaper and everyone else old enough to be considered a consumer certainly do.
- blvcklotcs 5y ago
  Keeps free shit free

teitoklien 5y ago

I understand how important it is , to monetize things for one’s livelihood. But 9/10 times, the best content comes from people who dont care a cent about how much people will pay them for what they write, and instead just focus on writing well and making a point. I appreciate every open blog/newsletter/rss feed out there, who keeps its content up 24/7 for people to read and see through. Thanks to all of you who do that, its always been one of the best ways to get great content. And i wish the segment who’s overly obsessed about monetising every single interaction of human civilisation, good luck.

atom_arranger 5y ago
Agree. Always felt the best content comes from people who aren't interested in profiting off it, aside from reputationally. Blogspam authors: If you block ads we won't be able to afford to make content. Me: Good, I'd rather your "content" not exist.