I Block Ads

#1

Post by cdme » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:04 PM UTC

Re: I Block Ads

#2

Post by gaudat » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:45 PM UTC

If you ever heard your friends complaining about the amount of ads they get on their phones and computers, gladly spend a while to help them install something like Ublock Origin. Let the less techy public know there is a way out.

Re: I Block Ads

#3

Post by chasebank » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:47 PM UTC

Advertising is so completely intertwined with everyday life, it’s impossible to block them. The worst kind of ads, IMO, are the non-intrusive, organic looking articles / news stories placed there by PR. The ultimate brainwash. Most of HN and Reddit content is advertisement whether you realize or not. Front page CNN, outside of weather events and sports, it’s closing in on 100%.

Re: I Block Ads

#4

Post by Brajeshwar » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:47 PM UTC

I'm about to reach this peak of enlightenment. I'm almost there. And yes, many family friends (non-technical and even a tad technical ones) are super happy with me setting up some form of ad-blocking, at least in their browsers. The internet has become a scary place.

Re: I Block Ads

#5

Post by stalfosknight » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:50 PM UTC

I wish it were possible to thoroughly ban all advertising and marketing. I have been that fed up with all of this crap for a long time now.

Re: I Block Ads

#6

Post by ltbarcly3 » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:50 PM UTC

Advertising based 'free' things cost you far more than a subscription ever would. This is because Advertising Works and it works on you too. You are being manipulated into buying things you wouldn't buy, manipulated into making poor decisions you wouldn't otherwise make. Generations of people lost decades with relatives from smoking and drinking that would not have happened but for advertising. Advertising makes people poorer by leading them to allocate their funds in a worse way.

I'm not saying we should outlaw advertising, there is no realistic way to do so that respects rights. However, you should absolutely refuse to consume advertising whenever possible. Block it, mute it, and refuse to consume content or use services where avoiding advertising is not possible!

Re: I Block Ads

#7

Post by moolcool » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:50 PM UTC

“Advertisement is the rich asking for more money. They disfigure their towns in order to decorate their houses.” — G.K. Chesterton

Re: I Block Ads

#8

Post by solarist » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:51 PM UTC

I fully on agree on all the points and I try to protect my home (network), but I feel that’s a lost cause both from technical (e.g. dns on http/3) and psychological (more subtle and mixed with the actual content) aspects. My only hope is to try to digitally vaccinate my kids that they become more self aware on what they are exposed to.

Re: I Block Ads

#9

Post by [deleted] » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:51 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: I Block Ads

#10

Post by paulryanrogers » Tue, May 23, 2023, 4:51 PM UTC

gaudat wrote: post #2

If you ever heard your friends complaining about the amount of ads they get on their phones and computers, gladly spend a while to help them install something like Ublock Origin. Let the less techy public know there is a way out.

Or they could boycott sites and services with the most intrusive ads. Ad blocking just encourages escalation, whereas a boycott of the hosting site sends a stronger and more ethical signal.