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Should I Block Ads?

shouldiblockads.com

21–30 of 161 posts

Re: Should I Block Ads?

#21
post #14

With ad blocking, some sites present you with an overlay, preventing you from accessing content. A really nice Chrome and FF extension to scrub overlays is named Behind The Overlay: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/behindtheoverlay/l...

Also a shameless plug for the extensible, amalgamated hosts file I actively curate:

https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts

Re: Should I Block Ads?

#23
I have actually turned off my Adblocker for LinkedIn and Facebook ad they ads can actually be quite relevant.

I would be willing to on the news sites as well if they didn’t spam them so heavily into the page and they didn’t shift content to load them. The news sites also allow a surprising number of low quality ads. I’m willing to see ads for Tide or a bank, but no fake download buttons please.

Re: Should I Block Ads?

#24
post #2

How many people actually disable their adblockers when sites don't allow you to access them if you have one enabled? It's just much easier to close the tab.

I've done it for a small number of sites that I frequently visit and they ask nicely. If a site outright blocks me, then I never get to the point of frequently visiting them anyway.

Re: Should I Block Ads?

#25

I think this article downplays the downsides of ad blockers too much. If ad blockers become the norm, much of the current web will no longer be viable. Facebook, YouTube, Google, Reddit, StackOverflow, and countless other sites are fundamentally based on advertising and can't survive without it. The article tries to address this a little bit with the "Ad blockers do not block all advertising" section, but I don't thi…

Years ago before Google got into advertising I said I would pay for Google.

I would now, if it meant that I could have an ad-free (legitimately, I use an adblocker) privacy-guaranteed experience.

Would I pay for YouTube? I don't know, I pay for Netflix though, so maybe? I support some YouTube channels on Patreon, so there's definitely money there.

Facebook? Nope, but then I am half a beer away from deleting my Facebook account at any time anyway.

Re: Should I Block Ads?

#27
post #7

I was on a fresh setup recently and caught a glimpse of the raw internet on my way to install uBlock Origin and uMatrix. There are still fake download buttons everywhere. I can't understand how the non-ad-blocking world tolerates that stuff - no choice and no voice I guess? The amount of autoplaying videos was disturbing as well.

I've had this when dealing with family members computers. It's an absolute disaster.

Re: Should I Block Ads?

#28
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't remember ever disabling my blocker in response to such a request. What I do do is look for donation options when it's a valuable resource, but it's often hidden or nonexistent.

They will still show ads. Paying users are more valuable and the ones you actually want to show ads to.

There's no rule saying I can't pay them money, and continue to use an ad blocker as well.

Re: Should I Block Ads?

#30
Can I possibly be the only person here who doesn’t use an adblocker?

I like buying things. I like seeing ads that interest me. I don’t care who tracks me or monetizes data about me that is 100% worthless to me. I like not paying money out of my own wallet to read websites and watch videos.

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