YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin • Hacker News Board

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#531

Post by least » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:20 AM UTC

caconym_ wrote: post #397

least wrote: post #355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I suggest that these people express their criticism by not using the software in question. Do you also suggest that when an application is ad-ridden or potentially malware-ridden to also just not use the app? Naturally that's an option, but the review is to warn other users of their experience. I don't think death threats or calling people slurs is appropriate, but the review being complained about it is pretty mun…

> Do you also suggest that when an application is ad-ridden or potentially malware-ridden to also just not use the app? Naturally that's an option, but the review is to warn other users of their experience. Is a restaurant owner pissed off about a one star review by somebody who didn't like the decor in the bathroom implicitly suggesting that people who receive food poisoning at a restaurant have no right to communic…

I think there's even greater utility in telling people about minor things that might annoy them, because those minor things aren't going to get a developer's application pulled from the app store, but have a meaningful impact on the user's experience.

That is, in fact, exactly what reviews are for.

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#532

Post by jeroenhd » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:20 AM UTC

dantyti wrote: post #208

jeroenhd wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think most people use adblockers, people who don't know what browser extensions are just suffer the ads. If users would want to make Youtube change its policy, there's a better way: get together and start acting like a click farm. If you click every ad on every page and immediately open the tabs you opened, advertisers will start paying Google for nothing. Something like a subreddit coming together would defi…

The issue with this is that google might show you ads that distribute malware.

It's possible, and that's why I wouldn't broadly recommend it. It's been a while since I heard anyone use browser 0days through ads, but it's still rather annoying to have to keep in mind.

I ran AdNauseam for a while but in combination with a PiHole the result wasn't interesting. Every clicked link ended up blocked by PiHole anyway. Perhaps it's for the best.

I wonder if one could set up an isolated VM that can click these links for you in a Firecracker style 5 second VM isolated from anything important. It could probably run in the cloud, all you'd need to do is forward the GET/POST request the Google Ads redirect causes and let a virtual browser do its thing.

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#533

Post by k8sToGo » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:21 AM UTC

throwaway5959 wrote: post #526

Look, just say you’re a cheapskate if you use Adblock and don’t pay for Premium. Just say “I want to get something for nothing”. There are people that refuse to tip because they think the tipping system in the US is immoral. No, they’re just cheap. People are here writing tomes on why they don’t want to pay with attention or $$$ when they’re really just cheap. Edit: Look if you’re going to downvote, at least provide…

Well since you are not cheap you can just buy premium for all of us. Thanks in advance.

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#534

Post by amadvance » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:25 AM UTC

eqvinox wrote: post #427

This is of course bringing up the discussion on the "morality" of Adblocking. I'd like to point out something that I don't think is getting enough attention. There was a point in the past where video platforms were competing, and by no means was it clear that YouTube would end up dominating this area to the point of being close to a monopoly. When YouTube won that race, they won it with a given set of parameters, inc…

I'm also a heavy user of ad blockers, but there is something to be said in defense of YouTube.

Creators have the final decision on the ads shown. I have a YouTube channel, and I always disable monetization on all my videos, so no ads are ever shown on my channel.

If you see an ad, it's because the creator decided to include one. YouTube is simply the platform that enables this choice.

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#535

Post by gitaarik » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:26 AM UTC

yukkuri wrote: post #78

A lot of absurd moralizing here about "you're stealing by not watching ads". I keep adblock on for most sites because ads are so intrusive and often malware vectors. If advertisers want my eyes they need to not be obnoxious. I started blocking YouTube ads in particular because it kept serving me ads that were brazenly homophobic ("how gross and smelly is gay sex? Find out!") I feel no moral problem with this, if you…

The time and money I save by using ad blockers, I use for helping other people, the world, the environment. I don't feel morally guilty for blocking adds.

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#536

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:27 AM UTC

k8sToGo wrote: post #533

throwaway5959 wrote: post #526

Look, just say you’re a cheapskate if you use Adblock and don’t pay for Premium. Just say “I want to get something for nothing”. There are people that refuse to tip because they think the tipping system in the US is immoral. No, they’re just cheap. People are here writing tomes on why they don’t want to pay with attention or $$$ when they’re really just cheap. Edit: Look if you’re going to downvote, at least provide…

Well since you are not cheap you can just buy premium for all of us. Thanks in advance.

[deleted]

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#537

Post by Doxin » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:28 AM UTC

throwaway5959 wrote: post #526

Look, just say you’re a cheapskate if you use Adblock and don’t pay for Premium. Just say “I want to get something for nothing”. There are people that refuse to tip because they think the tipping system in the US is immoral. No, they’re just cheap. People are here writing tomes on why they don’t want to pay with attention or $$$ when they’re really just cheap. Edit: Look if you’re going to downvote, at least provide…

How about "I want to get something for the price previously agreed"? I didn't start out blocking ads because there was a reasonable amount for them. There no longer is. Youtube broke their implicit agreement with me, so I really don't feel bad for doing the same in return.

If youtube ever manages to actually block adblockers I'll simply stop using youtube.

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#538

Post by bongobingo1 » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:29 AM UTC

amadvance wrote: post #534

eqvinox wrote: post #427

This is of course bringing up the discussion on the "morality" of Adblocking. I'd like to point out something that I don't think is getting enough attention. There was a point in the past where video platforms were competing, and by no means was it clear that YouTube would end up dominating this area to the point of being close to a monopoly. When YouTube won that race, they won it with a given set of parameters, inc…

I'm also a heavy user of ad blockers, but there is something to be said in defense of YouTube. Creators have the final decision on the ads shown. I have a YouTube channel, and I always disable monetization on all my videos, so no ads are ever shown on my channel. If you see an ad, it's because the creator decided to include one. YouTube is simply the platform that enables this choice.

Is it an on-off switch, or a slider for how many and when?

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#539

Post by throwaway5959 » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:31 AM UTC

Doxin wrote: post #537

throwaway5959 wrote: post #526

Look, just say you’re a cheapskate if you use Adblock and don’t pay for Premium. Just say “I want to get something for nothing”. There are people that refuse to tip because they think the tipping system in the US is immoral. No, they’re just cheap. People are here writing tomes on why they don’t want to pay with attention or $$$ when they’re really just cheap. Edit: Look if you’re going to downvote, at least provide…

How about "I want to get something for the price previously agreed"? I didn't start out blocking ads because there was a reasonable amount for them. There no longer is. Youtube broke their implicit agreement with me, so I really don't feel bad for doing the same in return. If youtube ever manages to actually block adblockers I'll simply stop using youtube.

What do you mean by implicit agreement? Why can’t companies change how many ads they run over time? It seems entitled to use a product you’re in no way paying for. Like if this were water or food, and corporations made it impossible for people to be able to afford it, I could see an argument for stealing it. But this is YouTube. No one _needs_ YouTube.

Re: YouTube's Anti-Adblock and uBlock Origin

#540

Post by josteink » Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 7:31 AM UTC

fennecbutt wrote: post #345

crop_rotation wrote: post #9

Apart from the Youtube stuff, the post also highlights something else, entitlement towards free services like uBlock origin. > It’s one thing to play cat and mouse with YouTube. It’s quite another to deal with a wave of angry users. > And then one of the moderators actually deleted their Reddit account. “The ID in the post wasn’t updated because my mother was hospitalized,” they said. It’s sad to see them leave becau…

Doesn't the same apply to YouTube then? People who want to block ads are entitled imo. Those people outright refuse to pay or to simply not use the service if they don't like ads. And it enrages so many people when this is pointed out. Google made a mistake in offering free drive, gmail, Google docs, etc etc. Imagine telling someone in the 90s all the shit we get for free with a couple ads/our data being sold. People…

> Those people outright refuse to pay or to simply not use the service if they don't like ads. And it enrages so many people when this is pointed out.

YouTube used to offer “Premium Lite” which was reasonably priced and only offered ad-free YouTube.

But now Google has shut down that subscription and only offer is one more than twice the price which includes lots of things people don’t want. I can see why some people refuse to pay for that.