What do you think about Adblock?

[ZenErik]

I use it on my PC. Not on my phone and tablet because Safari for iOS doesn't support it.

Honestly, for sites I frequent I'd rather pay a small subscription fee than see any ads.

[Erik_Twice]

The worst: ads on download sites that are disguised as a big DOWNLOAD NOW button

I saw the most hateful variant of this: After clicking on the download link you are taken to a page full of these DOWNLOAD NOW buttons and you don't know which one is real. Seems fine except the answer was none, all were fake and the download started automatically after some seconds.

[Meldarion]

I have it installed, but keep it disabled by default. Then if I come across a website with annoying or obtrusive ads I have the option to switch it on. I like to support the places I visit on the web, its their problem if they use ads so irritating I have to block them.

[marurun]

The big problem with this is that using an Adblocker forces a choice on the website. "I don't like how you do things so I'm going to make you give me your content the way I want to". It's a shitty thing to do, really.

That's actually fundamental to the design of the web. HTML markup code is uncompiled, and between that and style sheets, the browser is supposed to be able to influence, even control, the content it takes in. Unlike a TV, which is a passive receptacle for content, your web browser is intended to manipulate the content of web sources. That's why you can increase or decrease font sizes and page zoom, turn off image display, and decline to use plugins like Flash or Silverlight.

You are not obligated to consume blindly. Find other ways to support sites you like. Many have donation buttons or sell things like subscription services.

[Pichu]

I can never go back to pre-Adblock times. Well except on my iPod/Nook, and it pisses me off to browse the internet on there because of shit ads. Ads that are text-only are okay, ads that are small boxes on the sides are okay, but if they're large, flashy, pop-up, and don't go away, then it just reinforces my happiness with Adblock.

What's been annoying me lately is that Google has paid Adblock to still show search-result ads when doing certain searches, but so long as other sites don't follow suit I can deal. Really though, the only times when I feel bad for using it is when sites have the "Please disable Adblock if you like us" thing, but even then I don't care nearly enough to do so.

Yeah...I hate ads. It's why I stopped listening to the car radio and watching TV.

[Duke.Togo]

Personally, I use it selectively. If I like your content and I visit regularly, I allow ads. I feel that content creators do deserve to earn money from their creations as long as the ads aren't intrusive or extreme.

[Sano]

What's your opinion on Adblock? I am a avid user of the program and support use of it.

I love it, especially for videos. Doesn't get ALL of them, but about 90% I would say. Which is pretty damn good IMO.

[fastbilly1]

The worst: ads on download sites that are disguised as a big DOWNLOAD NOW button

I wish I would have thought that one up, I would be rich right now living in my own country.

[Aramonde]

Personally, I use it selectively. If I like your content and I visit regularly, I allow ads. I feel that content creators do deserve to earn money from their creations as long as the ads aren't intrusive or extreme.

This is what i do as well. If i like a sites content then i'll disable it for that site.