Morality of "adblocking"

[spling]

I'd assume that the majority of the people who use firefox have heard of, or use, the "adblock" extension. I also know that there are things for IE that do the equivalent of adblock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buuuttt.. What are your opinions on it? Is it moral? I mean.. You're cutting off the revenue for the website that your viewing- even if just a little bit. One could even go so far as to say it's stealing- but that's a little far fetched. :wink:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think?

[____]

Blocking ads is hardly stealing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyohw, i'll block ALL ads from ANY site if the following happen, even once:

 

 

 

- Tries to install ANY software

 

 

 

- Has Sound

 

 

 

- Pops up

[Dark_Tigra]

This is the funniest thing I've ever seen...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe first you should ask the question: Is it moral for a company to have pop-ups and ads shoved down your throat for hours a day when all you're trying to do is your homework? Is it moral for them to install software on your computer, without your knowledge, that steal information about you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ad-blocking is LOGICAL. I don't want to see that crap. No, I don't want to buy your Viagra. No, I don't want to enlarge my extremities. No, I do not want to see Britney Spears nak--....Okay, maybe I do, however, I'll look for it myself if I want to!

[Greatsilverwyrm]

I, scarily enough, scaring myself included, agree with Dark Tigra on this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As soon as ad companies become moral themselves, I will return the favor. But until then, I see no amorality in protecting computer from intrusions, and myself from the mental anguish that results from pop-ups, and especially annoying, repetative noises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder if any of these companies realize that a lot of those sound ads will make people less likely to want to visit their website, let alone consider giving them any money.

[spling]

I, scarily enough, scaring myself included, agree with Dark Tigra on this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As soon as ad companies become moral themselves, I will return the favor. But until then, I see no amorality in protecting computer from intrusions, and myself from the mental anguish that results from pop-ups, and especially annoying, repetative noises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder if any of these companies realize that a lot of those sound ads will make people less likely to want to visit their website, let alone consider giving them any money.

 

 

 

Do you block the ads on these forums?

 

 

 

What about sites that don't have annoying ads, install things, etc. Take deviantart- I don't really think any of thier subscription ads are annoying- some of them are actually entertaining- what about those?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And also just a general note to everyone- I haven't even given my opinion on this yet, so please don't flame me 8)

[Vape]

I agree with blocking flash ads & popups, but blocking all ads completely is a little rude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please see the "read more" link for the editor's review of adblockon UMO;) I added that a couple of weeks back :)

[kix]

Only times I have clicked ads are these, when I clicked them by accident. I hate to see ads, so I just block them. I don't care about the morality about it.

[Dark_Tigra]

I, scarily enough, scaring myself included, agree with Dark Tigra on this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As soon as ad companies become moral themselves, I will return the favor. But until then, I see no amorality in protecting computer from intrusions, and myself from the mental anguish that results from pop-ups, and especially annoying, repetative noises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder if any of these companies realize that a lot of those sound ads will make people less likely to want to visit their website, let alone consider giving them any money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You love me. 8)

[Arcticrunite]

Ads are a main reason why we have so many security flaws etc because the things in the ads are whats killing us, i for one do not block ads because i dont view many sites that have popups, however i believe it is moral to block them because of so many security standards these days and your trying to protect yourself from it, even though it is killing the revenue of the business/company the ad is produced from, your protecting yourself from whats in that ad, thus i think its perfectly moral and standard and should preached to everyone on the internet to block ads for your safety

[Herr]

I don't mind passive advertising, such as plain banners without sound, that don't flash like they're going to cause a seizure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's the same for me, I'll block ads if they are intrusive, which includes installing software, sounds, popups, flash banners, and anything which hinders my browsing experience.

[Eeeeediot]

I don't mind passive advertising, such as plain banners without sound, that don't flash like they're going to cause a seizure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's the same for me, I'll block ads if they are intrusive, which includes installing software, sounds, popups, flash banners, and anything which hinders my browsing experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreed, everything said there is purely logical. Unfortunately some sites put profit ahead of users and load the site with ads. I'm fine with normal text ads/ normal graphic ads but hate flash ads with/without sound. pop-ups etc.

[Mercifull]

This is an interesting subject, there was once I time where I went a little crazy and HOST blocks pretty much every ad server under the sun. I have now since laxed slightly and unblocked many of the more legit advertising companies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The problem lies in the way ad companies are now conducting their business. Gone are the day of the simple banner ad. Being replaced by seisure enducing flashing green and red flash adverts with sound. Bombarding users with popup adverts and forcably installing spyware.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any company that knowingly serves spyware should be shut down. It should be illegal and i perminantly block any ad company that deal in this grey trade, this unfortunatly includes tip.it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People that run websites need money and adverts are one of the main ways to make some of the money back after paying hosting bills etc. I use advertisements on my own sites. However I am very careful what advertising companies i choose to deal with, I research every company to make sure theres no cases of malpractice and eventually i settled with Google as my main ad partner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look as how unintrusive google ads are compared to most other ad companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The google advert also shows targeted adverts relevant to the content on the page. The google ad shows is taken from an article about bicycles. Targeted adverts are great because the people are more likely to click on and purchase the product shown, therefor more potential revenue for the person whos site it is.

 

 

 

The flashing banner adverts are a complete turn off and they are the things that force people to turn to ad blocking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is an example of what happens when i got on tip.it using Internet Explorer (at work)

 

 

 

 

 

 

each of the three adverts shown on the front page are flashing and intrusive. And not to the fault of tipit but the ad company they have chose also serves spyware, some of it pretty nasty stuff too. It has let me to block all burstnet and advertising.com adverts which means i see no adverts on the tipit forums or the tipit site. I know tipit needs they money but im not risking the integrity of my computer security to earn tipit a few more pennies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have never bought anything displayed on a regular banner advert or popup EVER anyway so you have to ask yourself are they worth it?

 

 

 

I have however bought stuff from google ads and targeted affiliate banner advertisements. Maybe thats the direction that tipit should follow. By running your own adverts choosing what partners wou want to deal with you eliminate the possibility fo spyware and intrusive ads and you have full control over what people see. I stongly thing that if tipit shows ads for computer games sites, music sites and computer upgrade parts they'd have far more money than the pennies they get from the unfortunate few that have the spyware installed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mm ive ranted for too long lol. but thats my 2c

[DaN]

Some people are so selfish that they cannot think beyond themselfs and whats good for them it costs money to keep web services (websites, irc, email, messengers) operational it is stealing revenu to block advertisments people put alot of work and money into operating webservers free of charge without these people their would be NO internet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ask your self what contribution to the internet have you made? chances are most people here dont even pay for their email but instead use services such as hotmail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To contact this website my computer passes thru 28 routers one i own and 3 my isp owns all the others are owned by people who let me use their router free of charge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What of websites such as google who provide me with hours worth of valuble service wich I dont pay for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

all most webmasters ask for is some revenu to help cover some of their costs such as bandwith by blocking their ads you are taking a free service and leaving the webmaster with nothing this is stealing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you dont like the ads simply dont use the service (dont wanna pay for fuel dont put any in your car)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

99% of users on this board probably dont even know how the internet works their is more than just servers displaying websites required to hold the internet togather you may only visit 50 websites today but your computer maybe talking to hundreds of name servers just to locate these few websites for you and these nameservers dont even have a means of gaining revenu for the work they do yet without them you couldent connect to anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spam emails, popups, banners with sound. are intrusive and for that reason ok to block.

 

 

 

Anything posing potential threat is also ok to block.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But I find it wrong to block banners wich are just helping the webmasters/operators to bring you the services we all enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p.s This is from a webmasters point of view I know what im talking about here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To tip.it if you can find some new ads wich arnt damaging I will be more than happy to unblock them from my system.

[DaN]

 

 

 

The problem lies in the way ad companies are now conducting their business. Gone are the day of the simple banner ad. Being replaced by seisure enducing flashing green and red flash adverts with sound. Bombarding users with popup adverts and forcably installing spyware.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to point out that the reason for this. Is because banners dont make enuth money these days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone want to know why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because to many users block them cutting revunu thus webmasters are forced to place more revenu making advertisments on their webpages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kinda ironic endusers dont like ads so they make the webmasters put more on their pages just to keep up with hosting costs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Im a website owner and I have no ads on my sites because I dont like them anymore than anyone else does but I know oneday I will have to adopt ads to keep my sites live once they expand beyond a certain point.

[Mercifull]

I would like to point out that the reason for this. Is because banners dont make enuth money these days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone want to know why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because to many users block them cutting revunu thus webmasters are forced to place more revenu making advertisments on their webpages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kinda ironic endusers dont like ads so they make the webmasters put more on their pages just to keep up with hosting costs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Im a website owner and I have no ads on my sites because I dont like them anymore than anyone else does but I know oneday I will have to adopt ads to keep my sites live once they expand beyond a certain point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertisers got nasty way before adblockers came to be. The flashing gif adverts are what started all this. Webmasters can make a nice amount of money using their own advertising software such as the free phpAdsnew or iJuggler and selecting advertisers themselves. It is the malicious ad companies looking for profit profit profit rather than the users fault for all this. The ad companies were still making money from banner ads but they felt it wasnt enough. For these companies breaking even is not even a thought. money money money profit profit profit is all they think about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My advice to tip.it and all webmasters n general, run your own ads using chosen affiliate schemes and commission partners. Mix that in with targeted google ads and no popups and you will see your ad income spiral upwards as the users dont feel so intruded and feel more inclined to click on things that interest them.

[DaN]

speaking of iJuggler I notice webhostingtalk uses it ive clicked on quite a few ads served there and never had to use a blocker

[Evilperson]

Okay im going to post a short answer unlike dan and merciful :wink:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fly swatter and the camera sounds (ads from THIS forum) drive me insane. It is like the water torture. I HAVE to refresh the page to get a new add otherwise ill have to go crazy and pull my hair out and eat with it a side of jello. And i tried cilck on it..but oh noo it doesnt make the sound go away....I dont know why they think the "flashy" ads catch your attention and make you want to click it. THey just piss me off more :lol:

[Herr]

and these nameservers dont even have a means of gaining revenu for the work they do yet without them you couldent connect to anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the way you accuse others of not knowing how the internet works when you clearly aren't exactly a tome of knowledge on the subject yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My DNS is paid for by the ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã30 my family pays each month to our ISP.

[Mercifull]

speaking of iJuggler I notice webhostingtalk uses it ive clicked on quite a few ads served there and never had to use a blocker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note how those are highly targeted ads with non intrusive designs and yet they most likely get more click throughs than most of the ones shown on tipit.

 

 

 

Targeted ads are they way forward. Leaving it up to 3rd party companies only ends in disaster for both publishers and users.

[devilheart14]

Some people are so selfish that they cannot think beyond themselfs and whats good for them it costs money to keep web services (websites, irc, email, messengers) operational it is stealing revenu to block advertisments people put alot of work and money into operating webservers free of charge without these people their would be NO internet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ask your self what contribution to the internet have you made? chances are most people here dont even pay for their email but instead use services such as hotmail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To contact this website my computer passes thru 28 routers one i own and 3 my isp owns all the others are owned by people who let me use their router free of charge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What of websites such as google who provide me with hours worth of valuble service wich I dont pay for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

all most webmasters ask for is some revenu to help cover some of their costs such as bandwith by blocking their ads you are taking a free service and leaving the webmaster with nothing this is stealing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you dont like the ads simply dont use the service (dont wanna pay for fuel dont put any in your car)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

dude firstly i hate ppl that thing we should have thousands of popups flashing that every1 is their millionth person and woot ive won 50 links to a prize no1 gets. if they want ads they should use the google adds like merciful that at least relate to the topic and are their and not atrusive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

how in the hell is it stealing that i dont look at thier stupid pop ups i have the right not to and they should destroy websites that have them, do u take every handout ppl give u at escalators and shops if no then ure stealing u dont want that paper well i dont want ure adds on the internet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

u have the worst example with a car and petrol, they are completly different and its not like its mining petrol and people have to be paid and plants built and having it shipped round the world and people choose to pay and drive a car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

web site owners that have these pop ups are greedy and should be ashammed they only care about their pocket and not others they can pay the site of with other not seizure banners and pop ups so i would reckomend people use the google ads instead as i actually look at these as they relate and dont tell me ive won an ipod or a trip to Hawaii for being the millionth visiter every time i go on

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

philly

[Mercifull]

At B3ta they also have this scheme whereby instead of adverts all over the place to make money (they have one google ad on the front page) they have "donation icons"

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you donate you get to chose a little icon to put in your sig/name. the more you donate the more mini icons you get to choose from. this is a great way of making money. It means that on b3ta we dont get horrible adverts all over the place and we all get to have cool little icons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip.it could perhaps do a similar thing here and have something put into the avatar section for when we post. It would encourage donating and then if it works well maybe even tipit can remove the despisable adverts.

[Phil]

Tip.it could perhaps do a similar thing here and have something put into the avatar section for when we post. It would encourage donating and then if it works well maybe even tipit can remove the despisable adverts.

 

 

 

Why not do the same thing that offtopic.com does. To have an avatar(or sig) you have to buy it or donate something. I know I'd buy one here :)

[Mercifull]

 

Tip.it could perhaps do a similar thing here and have something put into the avatar section for when we post. It would encourage donating and then if it works well maybe even tipit can remove the despisable adverts.

 

 

 

Why not do the same thing that offtopic.com does. To have an avatar(or sig) you have to buy it or donate something. I know I'd buy one here :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dam right. I love my avatar ^_^ I needs it, the precious. would be willing to pay to keep it :P

[Herr]

Perhaps the subject should not be the morality of adblocking, but the morality of serving intrusive adverts?

[Mercifull]

Perhaps the subject should not be the morality of adblocking, but the morality of serving intrusive adverts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 x Popups ads

 

 

 

1 x Flash ad

 

 

 

1 x Fake windows box, also flashing

 

 

 

:(

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thats why i block tip.it adverts. If you charged $5 per year for an avatar and $15 for a sig you'd soon make some decent money. Im sure I personally dont raise $20 a year in adverts but i would with the privalidge system. Its something that should be seriously considered by the staff.