this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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I literally haven't seen anyone even mention it anywhere on the internet as if it never existed, when it comes to Ad blockers I always see uBO recommended with absolutely no mention whatsoever of ABP why? What makes it better than ABP? What happened to it? or maybe I'm wrong and ABP is not as well known as I think it is.

I have been using ABP for many years until someday don't remember when I switched to uBO because I read that it is "the best ad blocker".

I maybe need a history lesson as everything on the matter seems so vague to me and the whole situation is super weird

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (4 children)

it blocks all ads

Am I the only one that has a problem with this? Unless you're paying for use of a site then aren't you basically being entitled to someone else's labor?

Someone made the site, created the content, and hosted it for consumption. Until money isn't necessary for survival it seems reasonable to make sure they're compensated for it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Ads nowadays are

  1. More and more obnoxious and obtrusive
  2. Also serving as trackers

That's a no from me

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Honestly, back when most normal sites just had banner ads, I wasn't too concerned.

It was only when they started intruding inside actual videos and making every news site look like the sites we were warned never to visit back in the 90s that I ever considered using an ad blocker.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you're blocking them all how do you know how obtrusive or obnoxious they are?

Secondarily, why do you think that is? Have they gotten more or less instant since ad blockers have been an option?

I'm not at all against ad blockers. I've got a Pi-hole myself. I just think blocking every ad ever is doing a lot more for the problem than it is to help

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you're blocking them all how do you know how obtrusive or obnoxious they are?

Every now and then, I deactivate my blocker because I'm curious to see, and I almost throw up

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds like a pretty weak constitution if you can't stomach looking at something so mundane. I hope you don't drive.

And great job ignoring the other part.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Aren't you a nice fella

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

@Doug @LinkOpensChest_wav I used to think this way but so much advertising today is malware. I'm happy for sites to write simple text or image ads that won't even be detected by adblockers, much less actually blocked. It's the pile of JavaScript that's the problem, and it's the pile of JavaScript that adblockers block.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not in a position nor pay grade to subsidize someone else's income with my time or attention

I try to find freely contributed materials when I can; for instance, I try to watch non-monetized YouTube channels and visit sites that are freely made and shared, but I'm not so high on my horse that I'm above clicking a link to a news article on a site like this one and using an ad blocker

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you have so little attention to spare that an ad along side or even within content is too far for you how did you find the time to comment?

Good on you for looking for free options. On the other hand that furthers the question about how much attention would really cost you...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

how did you find the time to comment?

I enjoy commenting. I don't enjoy ads.

Good on you for looking for free options

Yeah, like YouTube for instance -- that was the cool part: It was free.

how much attention would really cost you

I imagine that is up to each person. Fortunately, no one is mandating that you use an adblocker, so you are free to do as you please. Far be it from me to condescend to you for something so inconsequential to me.

I've donated to keep this server running because I'm willing to do so. If the admin asked me to watch ads instead, I'd decline.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I do feel bad about it on occasion. But then. I remember getting the ol’ rootkit/worm combo from gamefaqs and forgive myself. These sites have long since lost my trust.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So you got screwed once and that's it for everyone ever? How do you not live in a hut in the mountains?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You are right, I’m sequestering myself by avoiding malvertising on my expensive electronics. If you have any additional tips to aid in sequestering further, I’ll listen to those.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We're obviously not on the same page here.

I object to blocking "all ads".

You responded to that by stating you lost trust for, presumably, everyone after a specific incident.

To extend that it seems implausible that you could trust anyone, about anything, ever. If one instance of a thing can break your trust for everything like it, what other possibility could exist.

On the other hand, if you're blocking malicious ads, which is to say not every ad across the whole of the Internet, that's a very different thing which I do not object to.

Are we more clear now?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

If there were an assurance of safety in advertising then I’d be fine with accepting ads. Insurance or somesuch. Credit card stolen by a pickpocket in a crowded street? Cancel, reverse charges, out an hour, a card replacement fee, and a few weeks of fuming as police do nothing. Multiple compromised devices on your network? Tough luck, buddy. Shouldn’t have used a well trusted site. Enjoy your months of confusion and hundreds spent.

I lose nothing from blocking ads. Ads aren’t an experience to try out, as if pusillanimity has something to do with it. When sites go back to stock banner ads, I’m back in.