I've been blocking ads for so long that actually seeing them feels perverse

Corroded@leminal.space to [Outdated, please look at pinned post] Casual Conversation@lemmy.world – 1237 points –

I use ad blockers and open source privacy focused software whenever I can but occasionally I have to use computers that don't belong to me or an older phone where my usual applications aren't installed and seeing all the advertisements just feels dirty and dystopian.

I think the worst ads are the text to speech ones that say "Download this app today". The unblinking energenic people saying you can make a living at home are probably a close second.

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but occasionally I have to use computers that don't belong to me

Do them a favor and install an adblocker.

If i had a dollar for everytime I've done this and been asked why I "downloaded a virus" because Google Chrome has a little red icon in the corner and now things don't "feel right", I'd have like 7 bucks

I mean, don't do it against their will. At least put some effort into selling the idea of an internet without ads to them first. Then explain that Google and other companies are going to try to manipulate them into thinking that not viewing ads is a bad thing with false warnings and scare tactics like those. That it's fine, and if they read carefully the warning it doesn't say anything bad is actually happening.

I had a family member visiting that left early because their “games didn’t work right”

(Network blocking)

If they left for that reason, they weren't visiting you, they were visiting your internet connection. :-(

Most people don’t appreciate it when you install software on their personal devices without their permission.

Boy would this be the quickest way to make sure I never allow you to touch my electronics again.

Fine. I don't appreciate it when assholes inflict ads on me, so we'd be even!

I will occasionally suggest it if I am doing any kind of tech support but I don't push it. Occasionally it can cause issues with webpages and if they aren't savvy enough to have an ad blocker already I don't know if they would have the knowledge of when to toggle it on and off.