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AdBlock is a good comparison. But why isn't the web subject to "contractual exchange" like anywhere else? Like AdBlock, one could make the case that this is le
by satyrnein 5y ago
AdBlock is a good comparison. But why isn't the web subject to "contractual exchange" like anywhere else?
Like AdBlock, one could make the case that this is less about "contain[ing]" these companies, and more about some sophisticated players finding loopholes they can use to free ride, like using tax experts to shield your assets or something.
- mindslight 5y agoWhat do you mean "like anywhere else" ? Family, friends, schools, libraries, breathing oxygen, interacting with nature, volunteering, writing this comment. Taking into account non-interaction such as hobbies and DIY, I'd say that contractual exchange comprises a minority of our existence. Contractual relationships are just easy to focus on because they fit into a simple mold, and we're overly focused on them due to needing to run on the economic treadmill encouraged by the government. But just because people are bringing the economic treadmill to the Internet does not mean we have to respect that. Whether something is a "loophole" relies on what happens if the standard is applied universally. I for one advocate that everyone install Adblock, not just "sophisticated players". When I set up computers for family, they get it by default (people's answer to "do you want to block ads" is invariably "yes"). When I get around to installing eg PiHole, it will be on by default for the entire network. I hope that ad blocking becomes popular enough that ad companies become unprofitable. The web was much better twenty years ago, and while we can't just go back, advertising dollars are the major source of energy powering negative sum interactions.