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We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

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Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#152
post #97

I accepted cookies, watched an ad, dismissed a popup for a newsletter to watch a video about ads. That really nails it.

The funny thing is that we fought so hard against pop-ups throughout the 90's and 2000's only to re-implement pop-ups in javascript as soon as we could.

Google began as a search engine with a popup blocker extension for a competitor's browser. Now they're a display ad company with a browser that includes a built in popup blocker extension blocker.

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#153

I feel like these issues can be countered by a reasoning AI that runs locally and I can configure to operate in my best interest. e.g, Filter out political posts on X. Fact check opinion videos on the fly. I hope future computing devices will have neutal engine at the center, and CPU as secondary. And I should be able to teach it to take actions on my behalf.

It absolutely is a good idea. User-controlled smart automated filtering of outside content is clearly the future. Not sure why you're being downvoted.

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#154
post #152
post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The funny thing is that we fought so hard against pop-ups throughout the 90's and 2000's only to re-implement pop-ups in javascript as soon as we could.

Google began as a search engine with a popup blocker extension for a competitor's browser. Now they're a display ad company with a browser that includes a built in popup blocker extension blocker.

Google began as a company that cared about users. Now they're a company that cares about advertisers.

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#156
post #99
post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The funny thing is that we fought so hard against pop-ups throughout the 90's and 2000's only to re-implement pop-ups in javascript as soon as we could.

At least, generally, they no longer open hundreds of windows above or below the current window, which may or may not have browser control bars, may ‘warn’ on exit etc etc If a page wants to cover itself in noise and dialogues, sure it’s annoying but it’s not quite on the same level as back then.

Why do I keep seeing, "it's not as bad as that" as a defense? It's still bad!

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is absurdly false. The serfs can become kings as evidenced by newly minted millionaires every year. However, the reverse is also true as there are plenty of fortunes lost as well.

Yes, yes, we're all temporarily-displaced millionaires.

You surely won't become one by griping about the unfairness of other people's success to a bunch of strangers.

500k new millionaires in 2023 in the US. Why can't you be one of them in a coming year?

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#159

I am actively moving as many of my workflows as possible to the terminal. I've always loved automation, but now it has become a quest.

The terminal helps automation? How?

Most input is text, most output is text, commands are text. Vast majority of programming languages can process and produce text out-of-the-box. There are countless utilities for processing text. You can store, load, split and join text easily. Send and receive it through most channels.

When everything is text, text files become libraries. Text editors become macro processors.

Re: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads [video]

#160

I have been groaning about income inequality a lot but it is amazing how much of this can be explained by it. People do not have the disposable income to spend on services so you make people pay with attention. Give them the carrot for free so they don't notice. On top of that, the product is free so there is no expectation of support for the end user. You're getting it for free so what are you complaining about?

What would be the point of showing an ad to someone without disposable income?

It would change the way they spend their nondisposable money.
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