5 ms·

The only options here are 1. deal with ads, 2. pay to support the service without ads, 3. use adblocking and be a free rider off people doing #1, or 4. expe

by caesil 3y ago

The only options here are 1. deal with ads, 2. pay to support the service without ads, 3. use adblocking and be a free rider off people doing #1, or 4. expect web services to be given to you as an act of charity You and I are both doing #3, but let's not pretend it's some act of noble civil disobedience. It is good for us that others are subjected to ads, as it allows us to get useful services for free without having to be.

Retr0id 3y ago
I do block ads as an act of civil disobedience. I also pay for services, when I consider it to be appropriate. The problems with the ad industry run much deeper than ads merely being annoying to look at. It is bad that anyone is ever subjected to ads. We're talking about this right now on a web service given to us as an act of charity (modulo the occasional sponsored job listing), and I'd like more of the web to be like that. Refusing to participate in the ad revenue model makes sites like this more likely to arise.
- hiq 3y ago
  > We're talking about this right now on a web service given to us as an act of charity (modulo the occasional sponsored job listing) I think your modulo is missing some aspects. How many VCs are as famous as YC among tech workers? How many of them have as much credibility in the tech scene as YC? How much of that comes from this site? I don't know how much it costs to run it, but I assume it's peanuts compared with what YC gets out of it. I wouldn't confuse altruistic charity (e.g. donating anonymously to a cause you don't personally benefit from) with what boils down to sponsorship and getting the goodwill that comes with it.
ozim 3y ago
First of all YT and other companies hooked people on free stuff and after years are doing bait and switch - it is totally on them - not on the people wanting free stuff. They should not offer free stuff in the first place to be fair. Which is also now they are abusing their market position built by cutting all other companies that could do the same but simply could not get past dumping price of free by VC fueled "startups". Which I believe some government org should look into. Second of all they benefit by externalizing all negative effects of their platforms where they don't handle moderation of offensive comments towards creators which causes lots of psychological damage. There is whole load of evidence they even set it up in ways to specifically get people dependent on dopamine from watching just one more video. Lastly - cable TV in US was paid with no ads and when they found out they can earn more money they still put in ads. For me it is noble act of civil disobedience.
- otteromkram 3y ago
  If you hate YouTube this much, then stop using it.
- bdzr 3y ago
  > First of all YT and other companies hooked people on free stuff and after years are doing bait and switch - it is totally on them - not on the people wanting free stuff. So you're addicted and can't stop now?
- caesil 3y ago
  >They should not offer free stuff in the first place to be fair. Plenty of people are perfectly content with the model of free ad-supported services. Who are you to step between them and those services and say no?
tcfhgj 3y ago
Adblocker users aren't free riders, they still pay the money google gets for showing ads

by caesil 3y ago

Retr0id 3y ago

I do block ads as an act of civil disobedience. I also pay for services, when I consider it to be appropriate. The problems with the ad industry run much deeper than ads merely being annoying to look at. It is bad that anyone is ever subjected to ads. We're talking about this right now on a web service given to us as an act of charity (modulo the occasional sponsored job listing), and I'd like more of the web to be like that. Refusing to participate in the ad revenue model makes sites like this more likely to arise.

hiq 3y ago
> We're talking about this right now on a web service given to us as an act of charity (modulo the occasional sponsored job listing) I think your modulo is missing some aspects. How many VCs are as famous as YC among tech workers? How many of them have as much credibility in the tech scene as YC? How much of that comes from this site? I don't know how much it costs to run it, but I assume it's peanuts compared with what YC gets out of it. I wouldn't confuse altruistic charity (e.g. donating anonymously to a cause you don't personally benefit from) with what boils down to sponsorship and getting the goodwill that comes with it.

ozim 3y ago

First of all YT and other companies hooked people on free stuff and after years are doing bait and switch - it is totally on them - not on the people wanting free stuff. They should not offer free stuff in the first place to be fair. Which is also now they are abusing their market position built by cutting all other companies that could do the same but simply could not get past dumping price of free by VC fueled "startups". Which I believe some government org should look into. Second of all they benefit by externalizing all negative effects of their platforms where they don't handle moderation of offensive comments towards creators which causes lots of psychological damage. There is whole load of evidence they even set it up in ways to specifically get people dependent on dopamine from watching just one more video. Lastly - cable TV in US was paid with no ads and when they found out they can earn more money they still put in ads. For me it is noble act of civil disobedience.

otteromkram 3y ago
If you hate YouTube this much, then stop using it.
bdzr 3y ago
> First of all YT and other companies hooked people on free stuff and after years are doing bait and switch - it is totally on them - not on the people wanting free stuff. So you're addicted and can't stop now?
caesil 3y ago
>They should not offer free stuff in the first place to be fair. Plenty of people are perfectly content with the model of free ad-supported services. Who are you to step between them and those services and say no?

tcfhgj 3y ago

Adblocker users aren't free riders, they still pay the money google gets for showing ads