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Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

imlefthanded.com

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Re: Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

#291

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I feel zero guilt about ad blocking. There was some period of discussion on the subject back in like 2003 but the ad companies went to war against human civilization and there's been no going back. It corrupts and twists everything it touches into a constant hustle for eyeball-cash and an entire generation has now reached adulthood knowing nothing but that hustle touching every bit of media they ever interact with. W…

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Reading some of your other content, it feels like you're presenting this false dichotomy between "free content" and "content supported by the most disgusting and shitty ads possible".

There's a world of a difference between a Linus Tech Tips style sponsored segment and some jarring ad that constantly interrupts your YouTube video to scream at you about KFC.

Same for text content where they'll insert outright scams that use disgusting or offensive images to farm clicks throughout the article.

If advertising wasn't so obnoxious, people wouldn't go to such lengths to block it.

Re: Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

#292

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One market where this has always been a problem is tools. So almost 20 years ago we were told in shop class that the industry magazines and reviews were basically all paid for by manufacturers. The solution we learned was to always buy the cheapest option first. If it breaks or fails to meet your needs understand how and why and then move on to a more costly tool that you can demonstrate is better in the specific way…

This is why I really appreciate YT channels like Project Farm.

That guy gives masterclasses on fast, efficient data presentation with every video. I really appreciate his approach.

Re: Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

#294

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Who is saying they expect free content? I'd pay a monthly fee for unmolested search results. I pay for Youtube Premium. I only watch ad-free content that I pay for. I don't want the content for free - the free stuff is usually worse in quality anyway. I just want to be left alone by advertisers. I don't need what they are selling and the reduce my ability to think. The sheer amount of noise they add to the world make…

> Who is saying they expect free content? Anyone using an adblocker is expecting free content.

Do I also must feel obliged to read every ad page on a magazine? Can't change to another tv channel during the half time? Was I stealing when in the nineties I recorded movies on VHS skipping commercials?

I would say no, and I think websites are not different from media I listed above. If they make or don't make enough money it's not my business. I am free to consume their freely distributed products as I like.

Re: Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

#295

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who is saying they expect free content? I'd pay a monthly fee for unmolested search results. I pay for Youtube Premium. I only watch ad-free content that I pay for. I don't want the content for free - the free stuff is usually worse in quality anyway. I just want to be left alone by advertisers. I don't need what they are selling and the reduce my ability to think. The sheer amount of noise they add to the world make…

> Who is saying they expect free content? Anyone using an adblocker is expecting free content.

Remember when the internet was just a bunch of weirdos dialing in and communicating with each other / creating documents about subjects of mutual interest? Who should have been getting paid back then?

I feel like there are some IRC channels that owe me some dividends.

Re: Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

#296
post #47

I've had YouTube Premium since its inception. Whenever I'm around someone else who puts on a free-tier version of YouTube its rather shocking how frequent and intrusive the commercial ads are.

I ran ad blocking on Youtube for years, and I've been a Premium member since it came out (as Red back then). I can't stand ads and avoid them like the plague. Some ads still sneak into my world though. My current peeve is when going to a restaurant and they have "the game" on full blast. I'm perfectly fine with people watching/listening to the game - and half the time the restaurant is considered a "sports bar", so I…

> My current peeve is when going to a restaurant and they have "the game" on full blast.

Get a TV-B-Gone.

Re: Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

#297

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If you're on Android, try out https://vancedapp.com/ - it's an "Advanced" YouTube player, but they removed the "Ad"s (get it?) Also, there's an option to enable SponsorBlock, which can automatically skip over ads, introductions, etc. that are part of the original video. Vanced and Firefox's addons are two of the main things keeping me off of iOS.

This looks neat. But how do I know this won't isnt malware itself (or will become malware in the future)

Well, they have a pretty active subreddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/Vanced/ so you can see a few folks besides me championing it.

But ultimately, you can either examine the binary yourself or else trust them.

One point of note is that it does not automatically update. Whether you install it directly or use the manager app, there is always some manual process involved in updates. (The manager just notifies you when there is an update available.)

Re: Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

#298

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel zero guilt about ad blocking. There was some period of discussion on the subject back in like 2003 but the ad companies went to war against human civilization and there's been no going back. It corrupts and twists everything it touches into a constant hustle for eyeball-cash and an entire generation has now reached adulthood knowing nothing but that hustle touching every bit of media they ever interact with. W…

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I'm not owed content, I simply don't believe in copyright because it's impossible to actually restrict it practice. I base my morality on my conscience, not the law. I don't feel wrong at all to get information without paying to it.

"Information wants to be free" used to be part of the hacker ethos.

Re: Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

#299

I wanted to show a video on YouTube to a friend. He passed me his cellphone. I searched and found the video and then something very strange happened: a completely unrelated something started playing. I said "Sorry I don't know what is this. This has nothing to do with what I wanted to show you." He then explained me that was just an advertisement and the video would play soon. People are used to abuse. My internet is…

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Re: Adblocking people and non-adblocking people experience a different web

#300
On an adjacent note, my mother is someone who doesn't do any streaming—just regular old cable TV with constant commercials. I've asked her why she puts up with it and she just says the commercials give her a nice break to get up and go to the kitchen, the bathroom, do chores, etc. In reality, I think it's just inertia more than anything.

Recently though, she's been spending more time with my grandpa who streams everything. Last I talked to her, she said she felt very spoiled being able to watch whatever she wants, whenever she wants, with no ads. I'd tried explaining how great it is to her before, but I guess she had to live it to really understand how much better the other side is.

Blocking or avoiding ads in every facet of my life is almost a point of pride for me. I'm always alarmed when other people are just cool with it.

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