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Using ad blockers is theft (lemmy.sdf.org)
submitted 5 months ago by juergen@lemmy.sdf.org to c/unpopularopinion@lemmy.world
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Most free web sites pay for their upkeep with ads. It has been an unwritten agreement since forever (or at least as long as there have been ads on the web) that if you consume the content, you pay the creator by looking at the ads on their site.

Consuming the content without looking at the ads is like shoplifting because you don't like the way a store's checkout counter works and/or the fact that they want money from you at all.

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[-] cerement@slrpnk.net 38 points 5 months ago
  • you pay the content creator by buying their content, not by browsing ads on their site – ads are a really annoying tip jar being waved in your face when you’re trying to hand money to the cash register
  • advertisers have been given plenty of warning to behave themselves and they refuse, they are parasitic leeches bleeding both creator and purchaser
  • adblockers are the effect, not the cause
    • original websites were ad free
    • banner ads were added and we tolerated them
    • advertisers then added in distracting flashing effects, loud audio cues, broke security with Flash, broke accessibility
    • adblockers invented
    • advertisers shed crocodile tears and pretend to be contrite
    • advertisers start pushing tracking, malware, phishing, crypto-miners
    • adblockers are now as important as antivirus for the safety of your computer/tablet/phone
[-] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 11 points 5 months ago

Definitely was one of the ones way back who said "If they keep it classy I won't disable my adblocker. I want to say, generously, that maybe 10% of sites made ads that weren't intrusive. Ad companies can't handle themselves, they have to take over the entire page and distract from the content. It's their own fault we use ad blockers.

this post was submitted on 02 Jun 2024
-26 points (41.4% liked)

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