3 ms·

I'm struggling to think of a site I use regularly that could function without either adverts or someone else (businesses, donations, or the site owner) putting

I'm struggling to think of a site I use regularly that could function without either adverts or someone else (businesses, donations, or the site owner) putting money to fund it, and I honestly can't think of one. The modern internet just wouldn't function if we took entrepreneurship out of it.

ben_w 3y ago
Someone has to put some money into everything, but the number can be low enough to be entirely donations. > The modern internet just wouldn't function if we took entrepreneurship out of it. I think the modern internet is specifically what we're all upset about here? That the "entrepreneurship" isn't the grand visions of spaceships and androids and electric driverless cars of Musk, it's not the "app for that" of Jobs, it's not "connecting the world" (who even said that, Zuckerberg?), it's not "organising the world's information" like early Google… it's cramming as many ads as possible into someone's field of view at all times like the villain in Ready Player One.
ramraj07 3y ago
Almost Every single useful site I use is not powered by business. It’s either government funded or donation based.
carlosjobim 3y ago
Better than ads, sites can make money by selling products and services. A website with information on gardening, that also sells the equipment and seeds you need. A website with travel information that also sells tours. A website with any programming and IT information that also sells software. These kind of sites make much better money than ad and affiliate sites, but people haven't understood it yet. The online ad industry – especially on social media – is a huge scam. Small and medium size businesses can't resist throwing in some bucks in the ad casino, and Facebook will tell them they had so many thousands of impressions, funny that it didn't turn into any sales? Online ads are also very comfortable and easy for some worthless manager who has a set advertising budget. Just throw away the money into social media ads instead of thinking through a campaign.
- TerrifiedMouse 3y ago
  > Better than ads, sites can make money by selling products and services. A website with information on gardening, that also sells the equipment and seeds you need. A website with travel information that also sells tours. A website with any programming and IT information that also sells software. That would compromise the neutrality of the site. Also not everyone who want to publish information about stuff wants to run a freaking retail business to support the publishing/hosting.
  - carlosjobim 3y ago
    > That would compromise the neutrality of the site. So what? Competitors exist also. Brick and mortar stores exist and nobody complains that they aren't "neutral". > Also not everyone who want to publish information about stuff wants to run a freaking retail business to support the publishing/hosting. They can continue then with their garbage ads, if they so please. But for those who aim to make more money than paying for their hosting, I think selling some product or service is better for their bottom line and for the web at large, than relying on ads. Strictly talking about people who publish online with the goal of making money.

ben_w 3y ago

Someone has to put some money into everything, but the number can be low enough to be entirely donations. > The modern internet just wouldn't function if we took entrepreneurship out of it. I think the modern internet is specifically what we're all upset about here? That the "entrepreneurship" isn't the grand visions of spaceships and androids and electric driverless cars of Musk, it's not the "app for that" of Jobs, it's not "connecting the world" (who even said that, Zuckerberg?), it's not "organising the world's information" like early Google… it's cramming as many ads as possible into someone's field of view at all times like the villain in Ready Player One.

ramraj07 3y ago

Almost Every single useful site I use is not powered by business. It’s either government funded or donation based.

carlosjobim 3y ago

Better than ads, sites can make money by selling products and services. A website with information on gardening, that also sells the equipment and seeds you need. A website with travel information that also sells tours. A website with any programming and IT information that also sells software. These kind of sites make much better money than ad and affiliate sites, but people haven't understood it yet. The online ad industry – especially on social media – is a huge scam. Small and medium size businesses can't resist throwing in some bucks in the ad casino, and Facebook will tell them they had so many thousands of impressions, funny that it didn't turn into any sales? Online ads are also very comfortable and easy for some worthless manager who has a set advertising budget. Just throw away the money into social media ads instead of thinking through a campaign.

TerrifiedMouse 3y ago
> Better than ads, sites can make money by selling products and services. A website with information on gardening, that also sells the equipment and seeds you need. A website with travel information that also sells tours. A website with any programming and IT information that also sells software. That would compromise the neutrality of the site. Also not everyone who want to publish information about stuff wants to run a freaking retail business to support the publishing/hosting.
- carlosjobim 3y ago
  > That would compromise the neutrality of the site. So what? Competitors exist also. Brick and mortar stores exist and nobody complains that they aren't "neutral". > Also not everyone who want to publish information about stuff wants to run a freaking retail business to support the publishing/hosting. They can continue then with their garbage ads, if they so please. But for those who aim to make more money than paying for their hosting, I think selling some product or service is better for their bottom line and for the web at large, than relying on ads. Strictly talking about people who publish online with the goal of making money.