Comments on: Re: Why do I block ads?

By: Jorge

Jorge — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:34:42 +0000

How may I order in gmail certain mails adressed to me as “not spam” ?

Thank you

Jorge

By: Rubber Keypad

Rubber Keypad — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:32:42 +0000

I block them as much as I can, it`s frustrating when you want to get to some content on the web and a million pop_ups show up.

By: Bertfw

Bertfw — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:15:55 +0000

I block as many ads as I possibly can. Internet advertisers poisoned the well long ago. There *may* be some ethical advertisers out there nowdays who don’t try to visually block content, install spyware, spoof domains, etc. – but for me, it’s too little too late.

By: weaselspleen

weaselspleen — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:48:13 +0000

Theoretically, the solution to this problem is not to punish the sites which show a particular ad, but to punish the abusive advertiser who benefits from the ad. The problem is, that is just impossible, unless you live near the company, and can go to their office and punch them in their noses.

The only option is to affect them indirectly by reducing the effectiveness of ads which are disruptive and allowing ads which are not disruptive.

For example, many obnoxious flash ads with yapping salespeople, annoying noises, and in-your-face rudeness come from the company tribalfusion.com. Therefore I block that domain, and never see the annoying flash ads, no matter what site I’m visiting.

Static ads get through.

By: Tony Mechelynck

Tony Mechelynck — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:07:25 +0000

Even with Adblock Plus, I still see first-party ads (e.g. ads for other products by the same vendor) and they are usually much less intrusive: in sidebars left and/or right, or maybe a banner at top, and usually not so garishly animated that your gaze is drawn away from what you came to this page for in the first place.

I don’t feel any more “duty” to let ads into my browser window than I do to let spam into my mailbox; and I’ve seen enough ads which had a second “submit” button in the shape of a red square with a white X on it, located in the top-right corner, that I regard blocking ads (or at least some of them) as a security measure akin to anti-phishing.

By: Chris Ilias

Chris Ilias — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:09:49 +0000

Ian,
I understand that using an adblocker also prevents me from seeing ads on sites that don’t use intrusive ads. The solution to “simply don’t go to the sites that have intrusive ads” is too simple. It’s like me saying, “Just find a new business model. Get your revenue some other way.”

This is a greater issue than that. I never said that an adblocker is the perfect solution. I’m explaining why I block ads, so a long-term solution can be developed that doesn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. And for me, Adblock Plus is a better current solution than not visiting certain sites (especially if the site offers exclusive content).

By: voracity

voracity — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:34:56 +0000

As I’ve suggested elsewhere:

1) Develop a code of conduct for ad services;
2) Don’t block ad services that follow the code of conduct.

By: Ian Betteridge

Ian Betteridge — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:53:42 +0000

And I have to apologise for my their/there. Gah. It’s early.

By: Byron

Byron — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:52:07 +0000

Err looks like the comment sanitization has removed my pretend html element.. What I mean is why don’t we simply have a advertisement tag as part of html?

By: Ian Betteridge

Ian Betteridge — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:46:04 +0000

Chris, the answer to this situation isn’t an adblocker. It’s not going to sites that do this.

By installing an adblocker, you’re punishing all the sites that you go to which don’t accept intrusive ads of this sort just as much as the ones that do. In fact, you’re actually punishing them more – because they already miss out on business because they want to do the right thing for their readers.

So, rather than installing an adblocker, simply don’t go to the sites that have intrusive ads. And email them to tell them why you’re no longer going their.