←back to thread

990 points smitop | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.251s | source
Show context
tlogan ◴[] No.44333733[source]
Why do we justify blocking ads, even when we know the content we’re consuming isn’t free to create and even if the content is free, it still costs money to store and distribute?

We often rationalize using ad blockers because ads can be intrusive or annoying. But let’s asking ourselves: Why do we feel entitled to get this for free?

This isn’t a moral judgment. I genuinely want to understand the reasoning.

replies(49): >>44333779 #>>44333788 #>>44333809 #>>44333847 #>>44333851 #>>44333917 #>>44333925 #>>44333935 #>>44333977 #>>44333979 #>>44334008 #>>44334026 #>>44334039 #>>44334057 #>>44334068 #>>44334120 #>>44334256 #>>44334258 #>>44334326 #>>44334366 #>>44334430 #>>44334456 #>>44334488 #>>44334625 #>>44334645 #>>44334677 #>>44334690 #>>44334714 #>>44334842 #>>44334900 #>>44334969 #>>44334990 #>>44335255 #>>44335327 #>>44335367 #>>44335440 #>>44335725 #>>44335854 #>>44336166 #>>44336167 #>>44336232 #>>44336588 #>>44336691 #>>44336977 #>>44337218 #>>44337527 #>>44339047 #>>44340657 #>>44374533 #
1. Borgz ◴[] No.44335725[source]
Perhaps one justification for blocking ads is protecting users from personal information harvesting, tracking, and malware delivered through advertising networks. Aside from that, I can't think of a justification.

I actually think it would be good if there were filter lists that whitelisted ads that were not harmful to users in those ways, but that sounds difficult/impossible to fairly maintain, and I doubt anyone else wants it.