Why I Turned on AdBlock Today
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 18th Aug 2010 14:02 UTC
Internet & Networking We're still in the slow news period, so let's talk about something we discussed before: blocking advertisements on websites. Up until, well, today, I didn't block ads - not because of some ethical objection or whatever, but simply because I couldn't be bothered to setup AdBlock. Today, after taking a closer look at some of the websites I frequent, I decided to take the plunge and install AdBlock on all my machines. The following set of screenshots should pretty much explain why.
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RE[2]: Ars Content
by Thom_Holwerda on Wed 18th Aug 2010 20:57 UTC in reply to "RE: Ars Content"
Thom_Holwerda
Member since:
2005-06-29

No, I don't use adblocker because last thing I want to see is amount of news sources to get smaller and smaller. So maybe next time you see original article in OSnews, Engadget or any damn site turn off your adblock and give something back to them, support the hungry journalist.


I'm extremely tolerant when it comes to these things, but at some point, a limit is reached. When my web browser shows NO content above the fold, then something's wrong. Plain and simple. It'd be like going to the movies, and have 3/4 of the screen permanently covered in advertisements. You'd be pretty pissed, right?

I simply draw the line here. Good sites will be unblocked, obviously.

Agree, I really laughed when Thom compared OSnews, site that rips other sites news and rewrites it with opinions like BLOG, to Engadget which EMPLOYES atleast 3-5 people and makes original reportages. So yes they have more ads because everything costs more to them, but atleast they benefit economy.


Nonsensical comparison. Engadget isn't a small endeavour contrary to OSNews, Engadget is part of a rather large company, owned by AOL, with boatloads of funds on their side. The same goes for Ars Technica.

You're basically comparing the local bakery (us) to WalMart (Engadget/Ars).

Reply Parent Score: 3

OSnews Content
by Doc Pain on Thu 19th Aug 2010 03:22 in reply to "RE[2]: Ars Content"
Doc Pain Member since:
2006-10-08

I'd like to mention that you, Thom, were a bit fast with your blue color on the OSnews screenshot. :-)

http://www.osnews.com/img/23698/osnews_edit.png

In my opinion, the right side of the screen, titled "News", would deserve a green colour, or maybe green/blue striped. Allow me to explain: As there is no "Read More" that leads to more content extending the few lines short summary on the main page, the right side is the content (which gets enriched by the comments section when selected); maybe it's just secondary content (in opposite to primary content that you coloured green), but still, it's much more than navigational elements.

I furthermore may express that I agree with the amount of navigational content stupidly integrated with the main content. Where is this for? To substitute the browser's navigational functionalities which often are much better? For example, when publishing pictures, what's the deal of NOT just opening the picture (as if you typed the picture's address into the address bar directly)? Why does there have to be a stupid animation slowing everything down, taking exclusivity (blocking everything else), showing a "waiting time entertainment object" (jumping ball, spinning wheel, whatever), and then finally loading the picture in a sized-down version, preventing the "go back" functionality of the browser? Today's browsers do handle such basic navigational things much better than the built-in stuff in some web pages - and depending on the browser, customized keyboard or mouse actions are allowed.

Reply Parent Score: 3

RE[3]: Ars Content
by Karitku on Thu 19th Aug 2010 06:48 in reply to "RE[2]: Ars Content"
Karitku Member since:
2006-01-12


I'm extremely tolerant when it comes to these things, but at some point, a limit is reached. When my web browser shows NO content above the fold, then something's wrong. Plain and simple. It'd be like going to the movies, and have 3/4 of the screen permanently covered in advertisements. You'd be pretty pissed, right?

I simply draw the line here. Good sites will be unblocked, obviously.

How about not just going those sites, instead of ripping them!

Nonsensical comparison. Engadget isn't a small endeavour contrary to OSNews, Engadget is part of a rather large company, owned by AOL, with boatloads of funds on their side. The same goes for Ars Technica.

You're basically comparing the local bakery (us) to WalMart (Engadget/Ars).

FFS these analogies, firstly Wall Mart is a fucking store not bakery but that's not important. Are you just silly or blind? Engadget might be part of big company but it's valued as individual part, make no profit and they are cut out.

Reply Parent Score: 2

RE[3]: Ars Content
by Cirel on Thu 19th Aug 2010 11:50 in reply to "RE[2]: Ars Content"
Cirel Member since:
2010-08-19

It'd be like going to the movies, and have 3/4 of the screen permanently covered in advertisements. You'd be pretty pissed, right?

Going to the movies cost you money.

Watching the free channels on TV usually do get your screen 100% covered in ads from time to time tho ;)

(I also use adblock btw)

Reply Parent Score: 1