I really don’t get the hate he got for that take.
Circumventing the method of payment could be argued as being a form of piracy. From that point of view, adblock is piracy.
Like them or not, YouTube is not a charity and requires the serving of ads to continue funding the service. You could argue about how they go about it, but it’s a fact they need some sort of income to continue to exist.
Same goes for YouTubers. They get a percentage of that ad revenue. And they also need some form of income.
But just because he said so doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand why adblock is used. He didn’t say “don’t use adblock.” He’s shown how to use adblock before and since. He’s also mentioned that buying something from their webshop gives them a lot more money than turning off adblock.
Saying “watching movies for free is pirating” isn’t the same as saying “you shouldn’t pirate movies”.
Using adblock isn’t engaging with YouTube on YouTube’s terms.
A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Adblocking isnt piracy, from any point of view.
Its protection. Protection from sudden loud noises and visual diarrhea. Protection from malware and viruses from random website ads, and protection from Right Wing Extremist Propaganda like PragerU videos detailing how the black man should be grateful for the history of slavery and oppression (which has had a documented, factual effect on driving people into right wing extremist behavior, and the violent rhetoric and actions that inevitably follow)
As long as all of that exists, Adblocking will never be piracy. Adblocking is, and will be, mandatory protection.
And if Linus, or anyone else, wants to clutch pearls and cry about adblocking… They can take their complaints to Google/Facebook/Other Ad services, because their lack of moderation and policing content on their services are directly responsible for creating the necessity for adblocking.
helenslunch@feddit.nl 2 months ago
I don’t understand how these are mutually exclusive? It’s both.
papertowels@lemmy.one 2 months ago
To tack onto your list, ad blocking also deprives a source from an intended revenue stream associated with the content, which is probably why it’s being compared to piracy.
I’m all on board with ad blockers, let’s just at least acknowledge the economic reality surrounding their use.
A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The economic reality is that I have to use adblocking because ad services refuse to police and moderate their system. Its the economic reality that they created.
Having a problem with the end user protecting themselves from what they themselves created is just trying to shift blame.
Its literally nothing but rich assholes crying about how unfair it is that the poor are protecting themselves.
tb_@lemmy.world 2 months ago
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t piracy?
Downloading old Nintendo ROMs because the company refuses to redistribute them is also piracy, even though I would say it’s morally justified.
papertowels@lemmy.one 2 months ago
You…really don’t have to.
Again, I’m all for ad blockers, I use Firefox, I’ve ran my own pihole instance, etc.
I’m just going to be frank, you’re being a little melodramatic. Do you just get vaporized when you use someone else’s computer and an ad blocker isn’t installed? Likely not.
Ironically, by framing what is just a quality of life thing as a mandatory reaction to content providers actions, it sounds like you’re the one trying to shift blame onto them. Your entire argument has very strong “LOOK AT WHAT YOU MADE ME DO” energy.
60fpsrefugee@lemm.ee 2 months ago
That’s where Youtube premium comes in. To protect you from ads with a cost per month.
tb_@lemmy.world 2 months ago
From your point of view, yeah. Not from the point of view of the creator and the platform.
Linus isn’t clutching his pearls nor is he crying, he’s just pointing out you are circumventing the method of payment to the platform. It is detrimental to both the platform and the creator. That is a fact. Your choice has an impact and you should be aware of that.
But at no point did he say “you’re a bad person if you use adblock”.
What has got you so worried?
steel_nomad@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Found the Liberal