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uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

addons.mozilla.org

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Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#61

Post by irrational »

jandrese wrote: post #14
Buttons840 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Option 3, let the ad funded internet die and keep the remaining good parts.

The problem is that the most popular alternative, microtransactions, doesn't work. Turns out there is a big psychological barrier between free and literally any payment at all, even a few pennies. People are sensitive to the danger of being nickled and dimed to death. And that's before you get into the problem of how to set up a clearinghouse where you can handle microtransactions without being eaten alive by fees.

> People are sensitive to the danger of being nickled and dimed to death.

And yet, people will sign up for multiple subscription services (Netflix, Disney plus, HBO max, Amazon prime, etc), which I consider to be the same as being nickeled and dimed.

Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#62

Post by toastercat »

How do ya'll feel about the idea that adblock can be morally equivalent to theft[1]? I see this argument pop up from time to time in relation to people who use alternative clients to services such as YouTube. But if you're using uBlock Origin, you are probably browsing many, many sites that rely at least partially on ad revenue, so it's a similar case.

[1] https://twitter.com/LeaVerou/status/518154828166725632

Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#63

Post by frankharv »

telchior wrote: post #49
alarmingfox wrote: post #15

I instantly install this extension whenever I work on a new machine as I could not imagine browsing the web without it. For that reason I just went looking for a donate button to help fund the project and it turns out they don't even accept donations https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Why-don't-you-accept-...

"Have a thought for the maintainers of the various lists. These lists are everything. This can't be emphasized enough." So you can fund the project -- by donating to the lists it relies on.

While I agree on supporting the things you use. I don't think "the lists are everything". Quite the opposite, Its the blocking features. For me I like uBlocks disabling Javascript with an easy click and the other granularity (popups, multimedia) it allows on a site by site basis.

Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#64

Post by thatguy0900 »

the_other wrote: post #39
thatguy0900 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really like the concept but I would be concerned about having my Google account banned the instant it becomes popular

Time to diversify your supply chain then.

I mean, I say Google but I can't imagine any website will allow a logged in user who is committing rampant ad fraud.

Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#65

Post by visarga »

coldpie wrote: post #31
jandrese wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is that the most popular alternative, microtransactions, doesn't work. Turns out there is a big psychological barrier between free and literally any payment at all, even a few pennies. People are sensitive to the danger of being nickled and dimed to death. And that's before you get into the problem of how to set up a clearinghouse where you can handle microtransactions without being eaten alive by fees.

If ad-based business models truly become unviable, they will find a new one. Ad-based businesses suck all the air out of the room, preventing other models from even forming. It'll take effort to find better models, but they'll come. But TBH, I don't see the ad-based model dying any time soon.

There are plenty of reasons to post good content that are not related to ads, and very weird incentives to write good content otherwise. Content for ads is riddled with SEO, hyped headlines, short shallow and unoriginal articles.

Good content is posted by people and companies for indirect benefits: a researcher makes videos about papers to motivate and held himself accountable to the public, a company publishes documentation and tutorials that are related to their business, a hobbyist does the same for pure fun. A teacher posts lesson plans to collaborate with other teachers. We'll be fine without content-for-ads.

Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#66

Post by wongarsu »

dotcoma wrote: post #30

The most popular extension, and the 2nd most popular, just like the 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th most popular, are ad-blockers. I guess it's only marketers that love targeted ads...

I like targeted ads (if I ignore the general threats to privacy and democracy they pose). There are certainly ads I've enjoyed seeing, mostly ads for specialized software, tools or machinery that I wouldn't have known about if not for targeted ads.

I still hate ads. Youtube has maybe five interesting, relevant ads a month it can show me, and I'm willing to see each one maybe twice. That's ten ads a month. But Youtube has hundreds of ad slots to fill every month if they want to show me two pre-roll ads before each video and a couple within the video. Those slots have to be filled with something, and the few relevant ads mostly get drowned by the garbage. Other platforms have the same problem.

Ads on the internet have fallen to the tragedy of the commons. If there was just a couple of them they would be more relevant and less distracting, but every advertiser and platform is incentivized to increase the number of ads without end, leading to where we are now.

Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#67

Post by systemvoltage »

How do people reach technical audiences on Google search when the said technical audience has Adblock installed? Do any founders or tech startups use Google Ads? I don't know any tech person that doesn't use uBlock Origin.

I've seen people recommending StackOverflow ads to reach exact people that might be interested in your product, but I've never ever seen ads on StackOverflow - thanks to uBlock Origin.

Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#68

Post by pwdisswordfish9 »

runjake wrote: post #52

What do people use to block garbage domains from their Google results? Google results, especially for developer stuff, is so awful -- cluttered with junk sites ripping off content from blogs and Stack Overflow, etc. I've been trying to figure out some rules for uBlock Origin, but haven't gotten there, yet. Edit: Multiple fantastic options in the replies, below. Thanks, people!

⠀

Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#69

Post by csa »

2pEXgD0fZ5cF wrote: post #35
lalaland1125 wrote: post #2

I think it's only a matter of time until adblock is legally banned. The current situation, where the vast majority of the internet relies solely on ads and an increasing number of people use adblock year over year is unsustainable. The system can support a certain number of free riders (people who consume the product but don't contribute back in ad eyeballs), but at a certain point the math will no longer work. Event…

> certain number of free riders This implies that ads means paying/sutaining for the service, and no ads means not paying/sustaining. This hasn't been the case for a long long time. Even paying customers get ads piled on them. Sure for many sites ads is the whole business. But there are also many business that 1. Never had a business plan to begin with, even the ads won't sustain them. The goal is just to be bought b…

> Even paying customers get ads piled on them.

Often times more… they have demonstrated that their wallet is open.

If you want an example of this in the US, make a small political donation.

The amount of money that will be spent coming after more of your money is mind-bending.

Re: uBlock Origin becomes top addon on Firefox

#70

Post by chii »

toastercat wrote: post #62

How do ya'll feel about the idea that adblock can be morally equivalent to theft[1]? I see this argument pop up from time to time in relation to people who use alternative clients to services such as YouTube. But if you're using uBlock Origin, you are probably browsing many, many sites that rely at least partially on ad revenue, so it's a similar case. [1] https://twitter.com/LeaVerou/status/518154828166725632

it is no more theft than smelling the cooking of a restaurant.
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