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> or that being shown (relevant) ads is the user's interest when browsing the web. the author brushes this off as unlikely. certainly it's not in my interest,

> or that being shown (relevant) ads is the user's interest when browsing the web. the author brushes this off as unlikely. certainly it's not in my interest, but especially from non-tech friends, i hear this a lot. they actually enjoy the high-quality, targeted ads > unreadable, pre-processed JavaScript this is where i'm starting to switch off. yes, let's forbid any improvement in DX, so that a user can inspect the source and understand it. seems like the perfect tradeoff

Bluestein 2y ago
> actually enjoy the high-quality, targeted ads Word. I can also attest, strangely. It does exist.- PS. Even if in a "quaint" "would you believe what happened to me the other day? Facebook started showing me x-gizmos just as I was talking about them with so and so the other day ..." (Out loud, of course. Within earshot of an open mic ...)
8organicbits 2y ago
I suspect that I have ADHD and I get distracted really easily on the web. It can be pretty frustrating when I'm trying to get something done, like submitting an application form, and I end up elsewhere. Ads compete for your attention and distract you. Well targeted ads compete for your attention most effectively. So to me, targeted ads are even worse than irrelevant ads. Well targeted ads also require the ad agencies to surveil me...
- _heimdall 2y ago
  This gets to one problem area the article doesn't dig into - the expectation that everyone has access to, and chooses to, use the internet. If you find the internet distracting and frustrating to use, you should be able to get those same basic tasks like an application form done in other ways. The internet is definitely convenient, and there are tasks that are going to be unique to the internet, but we shouldn't be locked in. We're ruining financial transactions in the same way, the idea that places refuse to accept cash assumes that everyone is interested in using a bank account and credit card company.
  - Bluestein 2y ago
    You know? Good point, re: Internet use.-

Bluestein 2y ago

> actually enjoy the high-quality, targeted ads Word. I can also attest, strangely. It does exist.- PS. Even if in a "quaint" "would you believe what happened to me the other day? Facebook started showing me x-gizmos just as I was talking about them with so and so the other day ..." (Out loud, of course. Within earshot of an open mic ...)

8organicbits 2y ago

I suspect that I have ADHD and I get distracted really easily on the web. It can be pretty frustrating when I'm trying to get something done, like submitting an application form, and I end up elsewhere. Ads compete for your attention and distract you. Well targeted ads compete for your attention most effectively. So to me, targeted ads are even worse than irrelevant ads. Well targeted ads also require the ad agencies to surveil me...

_heimdall 2y ago
This gets to one problem area the article doesn't dig into - the expectation that everyone has access to, and chooses to, use the internet. If you find the internet distracting and frustrating to use, you should be able to get those same basic tasks like an application form done in other ways. The internet is definitely convenient, and there are tasks that are going to be unique to the internet, but we shouldn't be locked in. We're ruining financial transactions in the same way, the idea that places refuse to accept cash assumes that everyone is interested in using a bank account and credit card company.
- Bluestein 2y ago
  You know? Good point, re: Internet use.-