The Philosophy Discussion Forum

Ads for things you really need.

Like FJ's Brave Browser ad.

It's not valuable for Rick, unless he wants to avoid seeing ads on his own site.

phyllo wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2026 3:56 pm Ads for things you really need.

Like FJ's Brave Browser ad.

It's not valuable for Rick, unless he wants to avoid seeing ads on his own site.

I almost never see ads for things I need. And when I do, I have never thought - oh, I didn't think of that - and I know where to get things or can google my way to them. I did once see an organization announcement that was useful - in a newspaper of all things. It has a free service. I don't know if that counts as an ad.

I almost never see ads for things I need.

That's a problem with ads ... only a tiny percentage of them are for something that a person needs. Even with algorithms that target mined preferences.

And when I do, I have never thought - oh, I didn't think of that - and I know where to get things or can google my way to them.

I've had revelations ... "oh, there is a widget for that" and "so that's how I should do it" and "I wouldn't mind seeing that show". But it's rare.

phyllo wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2026 6:41 pm That's a problem with ads ... only a tiny percentage of them are for something that a person needs. Even with algorithms that target mined preferences.

Yes, I can see that they are monitoring me. But they tell me things I know at best. And I still get car ads. I need a car as much as I need a kangaroo, and a car would cost me so much more in upkeep.

I've had revelations ... "oh, there is a widget for that" and "so that's how I should do it" and "I wouldn't mind seeing that show". But it's rare.

Well,that's positive. I tend to see those things when cruising reels/shorts. Also once in a blue moon.

There's a suspicious ad that only says, "Activate your account now". On my phone. It takes up a big block at the top of the page. One mistap and who knows where I'll end up. I don't want my phone hacked. I hope the ads aren't from shady sources. They're kind of annoying.

Philosophy and advertising seem like a mismatch of interests. However, if there wouldn't be a site without them, then I can live with inconvence. Bottom line, I'd rather there be a Philosophy Now forum than not.

Interesting, I only get the ads on my cell phone, not on my desktop. I think I have a popup blocker on my desktop. So ads are no problem to me, I won't be bothered by them. Have as many as you want. I'll just try to refrain from surfing PN on my cell phone.

Iwannaplato wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2026 7:39 pm

phyllo wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2026 6:41 pm That's a problem with ads ... only a tiny percentage of them are for something that a person needs. Even with algorithms that target mined preferences.

Yes, I can see that they are monitoring me. But they tell me things I know at best. And I still get car ads. I need a car as much as I need a kangaroo, and a car would cost me so much more in upkeep.

In reference to you mentioning that the ads seem to be "monitoring" you,...

...that reminded me of being on a different forum a long time ago where one of the members started complaining about what a sick forum it was because it allowed for ads that referenced porn sites --> not realizing that if those are the types of ads he is seeing,...

(something of which no one else was seeing)

...it's because he obviously has a history of visiting porn sites.

I'm guessing that he is still too dumb to realize what he was inadvertently admitting to the public.

Anyway, how about we stop bellyaching about the addition of ads and let Rick do whatever he feels he needs to do to keep the forum up and running for us.
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seeds wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2026 10:13 pm In reference to you mentioning that the ads seem to be "monitoring" you,...

Not the ads, though who knows, but facebook, youtube, Google. They are the ultimate gossips and surveillance.

...that reminded me of being on a different forum a long time ago where one of the members started complaining about what a sick forum it was because it allowed for ads that referenced porn sites --> not realizing that if those are the types of ads he is seeing,...

OK, lol.

(something of which no one else was seeing)

...it's because he obviously has a history of visiting porn sites.

I'm guessing that he is still too dumb to realize what he was inadvertently admitting to the public.

Anyway, how about we stop bellyaching about the addition of ads and let Rick do whatever he feels he needs to do to keep the forum up and running for us.
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I'm pretty darn sure we're not stopping Rick from doing whatever he feels he need to do. So, you could stop bellyaching about that.

Yep, I'm a wild man and usually even I don't know what I'm going to do next....

Adverts, passive adverts, are one thing.

However earlier this morning there was something trying to induce the downloading of software. I consider that a hostile act, since obtaining software anywhere but directly from the trusted source is just asking for trouble.

That ad just takes you to a site with a signup offer for something a bit like trading212 or Robinhood, it doesn't actually download anything.

FlashDangerpants wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 5:21 pm That ad just takes you to a site with a signup offer for something a bit like trading212 or Robinhood, it doesn't actually download anything.

But that was NOT what it was saying the link was going to do. In a way, worse.

RickLewis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 1:51 am Yep, I'm a wild man and usually even I don't know what I'm going to do next....

Philosophy as an extreme sport.

MikeNovack wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 6:24 pm

FlashDangerpants wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 5:21 pm That ad just takes you to a site with a signup offer for something a bit like trading212 or Robinhood, it doesn't actually download anything.

But that was NOT what it was saying the link was going to do. In a way, worse.

Which ad was that? I'll take a look. (Though what Flash says is somewhat reassuring).

It's probably the "Download Manuals (PDF)" ad