Who or what is to blame for adblocking?

[Torolol]

Other reason i block ads is because the ads providers are trying to interfere to what the site can display/service.

About 4 years ago some blogger posted this: http://l7world.com/2010/04/google-sponsors-child-pornography.html

He made allegation that fictional imageries are indeed 'child pornography'.

Google take that article seriously and began to force websites that at that time using google ads to not displaying related or similar fictional contents.

As most sites still want the revenues from google ads, they comply to Google demands.

That decisions made some sites members furious, and i decided to retaliates by blocking all google ads related, their adsense, analytics, etc..

and of course, I promoting to other members how to do that.

Realising that their revenues from google ads are declining those websites are began to move on into another ads providers, and reversing most their Google sponsored decisions.

I'm not blocking the new ads provider as long its not annoying and not trying to interferes like what Google ads did.

And yes, i still blocking Google ads even now.

[Gone]

totally forgot about the ads on download sites like "download.com" that look like the button or link that you wanted to click on to download what you intended.. but instead has you downloading something else.

 

edit. i actually switched over to palemoon on this site because the ads were doing that expanding thing.

This. I hate that ad that covers the menus and the rest of the site, I never buy what is in an ad anyway.

[compl3x]

Advertising is pretty sophisticated. I know people like to think it doesn't influence them in anyway, but that is nonsense.

[Raa]

It's a bit of both, but mainly on the advertisers.

 

The users part (and this is my view) : I pay for my internet. I pay to see what I want. Not what you want me to see. If I want your product or service, i'll seek it out. I don't need you wasting my time and money showing me things that aren't relevant to me - which leads to...

 

The advertisers. I'm not interested in seeing ads that aren't relevant to me. For the most part, this is almost every ad I see.

I don't need a new telecommunications service. I'm not interested in travelling, or funeral services. I'm definitely not interested in any medical product that promotes better sexual performance, thank you!!

 

I don't think I need to mention how annoying it is when advertisers serve up malware, whether intentional or not.

 

I also shouldn't have to bring up the fact that a 30 second video clip may have another 30 seconds of advertising preceding it, and usually unskippable. In fact, I got caught with this only last night that I was about to watch a game review, and it wouldn't play, after a bit of waiting, the ad showed a fun game... that I couldn't get out of until I finished a stupid round, then played a 30 second clip of the ad anyway... Grrrr!

[John.D]

I would avoid download.com and cnet like the plague. If youre going tp download from cnet, dont get / run their install. Its full of malware

[blerk]

I block ads because

a)Security

b)I think webpages look better with them (I don't use adblocks just for ads, I also block out parts of websites I don't want to see)

 

c) I don't like personalized advertisements. If I start researching on Google some topic that I need to know, perhaps for a presentation, say the topic is herpes virus infections vs. some other problem, I really hate it when all webpages start serving up advertisements for condoms. Just because I'm researching a topic for a presentation does not mean that I am in desperate need of protection.  (Yes, I have now turned off Google's personalized ads :p)

[Skiver Veteran]

I think I put adblocker on originally for Youtube, getting rid of the stupid 5-10 second clips before you could skip was ruining some playlists.

[Guest]

They. Everyone from advertisers to web designers / developers / admins.

 

Oh, and as long as you keep using JavaScript show me ads, I will keep on blocking them and your services. ###### off with my resources, use your crappy servers to serve ads, not my processing power.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Obnoxious ads, pop-ups (remember the days before pop-up blockers were a browser feature?). I have no problem whitelisting sites I care about, but for the most part I am running an adblocker - and have done so since the first release of Adblock for the Mozilla Suite.

[simonlang]

advertisers easily. i remember when i started using the internet. you had the typical homepage, on the left side top you had your company/private logo, then on the middle or right side top you had an advertising banner. below that you had the homepage filled up with content. this was fine with me, i never thought about using an adblocker.

years later you had banners EVERYWHERE.... in the middle of the pages, in the middle of the text, even those annoying keyword-links, flash banners leading to 100% cpu usage of your browser, ......

now you google for lets say "the westwing series". 2 days later i get amazon emails recommanding me westwing stuff.

facebook shows me ads for scientology (i am an atheist!) and other freaky stuff.

 

it has gone too far. i accept moderate ads. i donated for ubuntu, i bought windowblinds, and years ago there were some adware you could use. but these days you cant do that anymore. i use adblockers even on my android smartphone, and even if a homepage is now showing only one small ad, i will block it because i know to what it will lead later.

 

same with tv. it used to be 3 or maximum 4 mins of tv ads. that was ok. its now 7 mins. i often just switch the tv off and load the stuff from the internet.

[The Dark Knight]

It's a bit of both, but mainly on the advertisers.

 

The users part (and this is my view) : I pay for my internet. I pay to see what I want. Not what you want me to see. If I want your product or service, i'll seek it out. I don't need you wasting my time and money showing me things that aren't relevant to me - which leads to...

 

The advertisers. I'm not interested in seeing ads that aren't relevant to me. For the most part, this is almost every ad I see.

I don't need a new telecommunications service. I'm not interested in travelling, or funeral services. I'm definitely not interested in any medical product that promotes better sexual performance, thank you!!

 

I don't think I need to mention how annoying it is when advertisers serve up malware, whether intentional or not.

 

I also shouldn't have to bring up the fact that a 30 second video clip may have another 30 seconds of advertising preceding it, and usually unskippable. In fact, I got caught with this only last night that I was about to watch a game review, and it wouldn't play, after a bit of waiting, the ad showed a fun game... that I couldn't get out of until I finished a stupid round, then played a 30 second clip of the ad anyway... Grrrr!

 

EXACTLY! :)

[derkim]

I miss an option: Privacy. Ads are tracking and profiling.

[Charisma Veteran]

I voted advertisers.

 

I have a blog, and I spend a fair amount of money (not a lot, but a not-insignificant amount) on supplies for creating content. It is a hobby I enjoy, but the idea of making money from it is really appealing and would enable me to spend more on getting the latest products and providing more relevant content for my audience, therefore making them more interested and likely to visit... etc etc. Upward spiral, win-win.

 

I held out for a long time before finally deciding to try out advertising, having been convinced of its merits by a trusted friend. They are small, non-intrusive, text-based ads that only show things relevant to the type of blog it is and related products/services. I know most people block them and don't even know they are there, but the little bit I do get helps and doesn't interfere with anyone's viewing experience. I blocked all types of ads that would be offensive or inappropriate for all ages.

 

In short, I think there is a right and wrong way to do it. The right way can help you discover new products, services, and websites you might have never found otherwise. The right way benefits the person spending time and sometimes other resources to provide content, without being detrimental or inconvenient to the visitor. It's just that for so long, it's been done the VERY wrong way and it's put people off the idea altogether. The expanding, pop-up ads are especially bad. If your business model relies on me accidentally clicking your ad while I was trying to go for something else, you are doing it wrong.

[compl3x]

I miss an option: Privacy. Ads are tracking and profiling.

 

I suppose that is the fault of advertisers. They are responsible for employing those techniques.

[Top Qat]

How I feel has pretty much all been said, to sum up:

 

-- Advertisers crossed a line!

-- Distracting, inappropriate and over-sized ads (covering site content)

-- Slows down web browsing, adds extra data usage that I'm paying for!

-- Another vector for drive by downloads and malicious content.

-- I never look at ads, if I want something I will do my own research for what I want.

[LittleNeutrino Veteran]

To be honest the only reason i started blocking them (and Yes i do Whitelist certain pages that i know i can trust) is that anymore Advertisements are the leading way to get a malware infection on your computer. there are just some Ad companies you cannot trust and they will try to inject all sorts of horrible things into your computer.

 

I do not mind seeeing ads and it would make sense for them to be there to help support the web page. The same way you find ads in a news paper or magazine.

[Dane]

totally forgot about the ads on download sites like "download.com" that look like the button or link that you wanted to click on to download what you intended.. but instead has you downloading something else.

 

edit. i actually switched over to palemoon on this site because the ads were doing that expanding thing.

 

 

This ad is annoying, that's all it did for me too.  

[LimeMaster]

Thing is, during 2006/2007 a lot of sites tried to replace ads with offers, which in my opinion were a lot worse. This was an attempt to continue keeping the site up whilst not serving any ads. Of course it didn't work out as a lot of people didn't trust offers and tended to avoid them most of the time. So whilst ads can be annoying, no-one has found a good alternative to replace them with. :)

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

Advertisers in my opinion are their own demise. I am perfectly happy to see ads on the internet, as long as they don't interfere with my browsing experience. However most adverts in their current form:

1. Distract from actual website content (too flashy, interactive, etc)
2. Rarely provide anything other than malware. ("Download PC Cleaner Pro, by clicking on this sketchy looking advert", "You've 'won' a free iPad", etc)
3. Slow down page load times horrifically, especially on mobiles.

The result of the three points above is that I block ads by default, and enable ads on the few sites that I wish to support (Neowin being one of them). My own browsing experience trumps any advertising shenanigans.

 

I can't remember who said it, but some guy once said "People don't look at adverts, people look at things that they're interested in, and sometimes that thing is an advert". Basically, people don't deliberately look at adverts, they look at things that appeal to them. So the most influential adverts are the ones that interest people.

[Anibal P]

I miss an option: Privacy. Ads are tracking and profiling.

 

Someone doesn't understand the concept of targeted advertising, the least annoying version that can be helpful

[Max Norris]

Advertisers.  Unobtrusive ads are one thing, but more often than not they're anything but.  Hovers, popovers, popunders, etc etc.. obnoxious beyond belief. If I have to click around just to view the content, I'll find such content elsewhere thanks.  Advertisers need us, not the other way around.  More importantly is security though.. until they can guarantee there'll never be any ads trying to exploit a users system, I can guarantee there'll be an adblocker and other countermeasures in place.

[McKay]

I think its a vicious cycle. Ad companies made obnoxious ads, like the blasted smiley ads that start screaming "Hey you!" At you, users blocked these annoying, obnoxious ads and in turn the ad makers had to resort to even more annoying, even more obnoxious ads to hit the users still viewing them even harder. 

[Vykranth]

Advertisers. This is a no brainer for me.

Advertisers do not verify or check the contents of the ads they propose: hence a truckload of malicious software delivery via this way: the 'optimize your PC' or '4000+ smileys for your IM'

 

Tracking is also something I have a problem with. I go to Amazon, search for something. I go browse somewhere else: the ads are tailored to my previous search. This is scary the amount of datas each sites exchange.

[Draconian Guppy]

Invasive ads ( eg advertisers)

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

I hate all ads, but lately my least favorite ones are the ads that have been popping up on a lot of the gaming websites I tend to visit. A video just launches without me prompting anything at all, and even worse they have volume. It has made me surfing the internet at work in a stealth manner very difficult to say the very least.

 

Annoying ads are one thing.

Annoying video based ads with their audio on by default?

Well they are an extension of the hand of Beelzebub himself.