5 ms·

Is it also unethical to not read the ads in a newspaper? Or to not watch the commercials on TV?

paulryanrogers 3y ago
If it was automated and you still consumed the other resources (paid largely or entirely by ad impressions) then that case could be made.
- thomasahle 3y ago
  Why does it matter whether it's automatic?
  - paulryanrogers 3y ago
    Because if you have to manually notice, recognize, then look away, then arguably you've already paid with your attention. If someone or something is doing it for you (and others) automatically then it eliminates the 'payment' and undermines producers ability to produce.
    - janalsncm 3y ago
      For the record, a lot of ads in newspapers are in separate inserts which easily be separated and tossed out. Grocery store bundles for example.
      - paulryanrogers 3y ago
        True but that still requires the would-be reader to take action, and likely read something printed on them
    - thomasahle 3y ago
      > If someone or something is doing it for you (and others) automatically then it eliminates the 'payment' and undermines producers ability to produce. Doesn't it also undermine producers ability to produce if you just get really good at quickly looking away? It seems from your argument the "case could be made" that it's at least a little unethical to not spend at least a little while paying attention to each ad when reading a newspaper. Like there's some scale where the left side has "0 attention spent, 0 ethical" and the right side has "maximum attention spent, maximally ethical".
      - paulryanrogers 3y ago
        Fair point. I think advertisers understand people will learn to gloss over and mentally filter yet the impression is still something. And in aggregate that's enough. I don't think anyone expects people to feel like consumers must give their full, undivided attention, with eyelids taped open and hands bound.
- bee_rider 3y ago
  One way to figure out if a case could be made, or if something is “arguably” true, is to try and make a case or argument and see if it works. Just speculating that it might be possible to make a case is kind of weasel-wordy.
- 5e92cb50239222b 3y ago
  I actively avoid ads in print and other media where it's not possible to just block them, and skip through paid for posts in Telegram channels without reading a single word from them. Once you get used to doing this, it becomes second nature — pretty much automatic behavior.

If it was automated and you still consumed the other resources (paid largely or entirely by ad impressions) then that case could be made.

thomasahle 3y ago
Why does it matter whether it's automatic?
- paulryanrogers 3y ago
  Because if you have to manually notice, recognize, then look away, then arguably you've already paid with your attention. If someone or something is doing it for you (and others) automatically then it eliminates the 'payment' and undermines producers ability to produce.
  - janalsncm 3y ago
    For the record, a lot of ads in newspapers are in separate inserts which easily be separated and tossed out. Grocery store bundles for example.
    - paulryanrogers 3y ago
      True but that still requires the would-be reader to take action, and likely read something printed on them
  - thomasahle 3y ago
    > If someone or something is doing it for you (and others) automatically then it eliminates the 'payment' and undermines producers ability to produce. Doesn't it also undermine producers ability to produce if you just get really good at quickly looking away? It seems from your argument the "case could be made" that it's at least a little unethical to not spend at least a little while paying attention to each ad when reading a newspaper. Like there's some scale where the left side has "0 attention spent, 0 ethical" and the right side has "maximum attention spent, maximally ethical".
    - paulryanrogers 3y ago
      Fair point. I think advertisers understand people will learn to gloss over and mentally filter yet the impression is still something. And in aggregate that's enough. I don't think anyone expects people to feel like consumers must give their full, undivided attention, with eyelids taped open and hands bound.
bee_rider 3y ago
One way to figure out if a case could be made, or if something is “arguably” true, is to try and make a case or argument and see if it works. Just speculating that it might be possible to make a case is kind of weasel-wordy.
5e92cb50239222b 3y ago
I actively avoid ads in print and other media where it's not possible to just block them, and skip through paid for posts in Telegram channels without reading a single word from them. Once you get used to doing this, it becomes second nature — pretty much automatic behavior.