Morality of Adblock

ten out of ten · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 1:21 am

So, I can't stand internet ads. I can't stand anything that gets in the way of my regular internet surfing, such as obtrusive headers. So, naturally, I use Firefox's adblock feature to remove anything I don't want to see.

Now, my friend refuses to use this feature because she says that the advertisments finance the websites she goes to, and she really likes not having to pay for it.

It's simply not true that you need ads to finance your website. Many sites run right off of merch. Websites don't need to sell adspace, do they? I mean, they just do because they are greedy and want more money.

BUT, just because myspace and yahoo! are greedy and sell ads, they still serve the sites for free.

Is it actually wrong to block these ads? Does my right to control the content I view superseed their rights to make money?

It's such a crazy business model. What do you think?

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 1:26 am

Um, most sites don't have merch, so yes, ads are their only revenue. That said, they put their content on the internet and you are not especially obligated to finance the sites you visit. If you weren't blocking the ads, you probably still wouldn't click them (I barely notice ads on sites anymore). And if they're showing obtrusive, flashy ads, then you could perhaps say that they are being unfair to you in some way.

So basically, there's no real moral obligation, but it might be a good idea to financially support sites you like if you want them to be able to keep afloat.

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 3:30 am

My slant on the issue:

Ads suck SOOO bad.

Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 279

Quote:

Is it actually wrong to block these ads? Does my right to control the content I view superseed their rights to make money?

Although you have a right to filter what you personally see, advertisers don't actually have an inherent right to make money, so you're pretty much in the clear. Blocking website ads is similar to skipping TV commercials; you're not obligated to watch them, and even if you did the actual transaction has long since occured and nothing you do will take that money from the site/program. Also, just as you're not obligated to buy every product advertised on television, don't feel obligated to click on ads. Website owners aren't getting revenue from the sales advertisers make; rather, advertisers pay them for the opportunity to shill their products on some webspace. Whether you go along with it is up to you, and shouldn't be considered acting against the better interests of a website you enjoy.

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 10:25 am

Aaron D, do you know that life exists outside "The Internet Knows My Secrets"?

We've got general discussion, art, music, some comics...Brotha, you gotta check it out. Tell 'em Unwinder sent you.

Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 12:55 pm

While I believe internet ads are different from TV/radio ads(those ads are already paid for - you don't need to watch them, whereas internet ads usually require people clicking on them before they pay the webmaster), I don't think there is anything wrong with people blocking ads. The websites are provided for us for free. We can view them however we want.

Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 7:37 pm

At first my thoughts regarding blocking ads were, like eating meat, "well I consider it immoral but hell if I'm not going to carry on doing it anyway".

However, Aaron D, your comments about my rights versus the advertisers' have changed my mind! You've made me feel better about myself! Instead of God, the next time I do something bad, I'm going to pray to you for forgiveness; at least your arguments are backed up by logic!

Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 16347 Location: TaBB Graveyard

i don't find the ads on any of the sites i visit particularly intrusive and i like to support the sites i like a lot, sometimes by clicking on the ads

but i don't think there's anything wrong with blocking them if they bother you, and you certainly aren't under any obligation to click them, like everyone has pretty much said, whether or not they are in some way different from tv or radio ads