Please ATS Members and Non-Members alike, STOP Blocking Ads- Or there may be NO ATS at ALL

a reply to: stargatetravels


From what Ive been reading, it only refuses the request when a site sends and ad request. So yeah, it's not altering the website. It's only altering what you see and tell it to on your own system.

It's like parental controls on a tv or pc.

No one ever said that THOSE were illegal

a reply to: StallionDuck

It just boils down to money, plain and simple.
Which is completely understandable when you're running a business and your goal is to grow your site and increase your revenue - no problem.

But the scare stories and rumors and misinfo about adblockers is OTT IMHO.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Maybe it would be a good move to make it a subscription service, then maybe you won't have so many idiotic kids on here who all seem to think the world is coming to an end every time someone has a bad dream?

ATS has been so watered down and polluted by bs and political extremism it's become a joke. It's why members like me who used to be so active only come here about once a week at most. We're fed up with the constant American politicizing over EVERY F-ING ISSUE, the constant conspiracies created out of everything, the low IQ members who think every conspiracy video on YouTube is Gospel and must be woven into their big grand NWO story...

Make it paid, get rid of all the nonsense, then maybe you'll be making more money from people who actually appreciate REAL conspiracies?

originally posted by: stargatetravels
a reply to: nonspecific

I don't think they're removing stuff - they're modifying it so you don't see ads, that's literally all.
They change the code before it gets to your end so you don't see ads, they don't change anything on ATS and they don't remove or censor anything, except ads.

It's a conspiracy site remember!

If it can remove the coding for ads then is it not plausable that it can filter other things if needs be?

originally posted by: StallionDuckI'm certain I could find software that will let me bypass the restrictions while still blocking ads and any content

As I wrote before: either the owners here have granted me special privileges (kudos to them then) or my software is capable of circumventing the blocker blocker stuff. In the latter case you can be sure that there exists software that bypasses the restrictions as I do not see ANY ads, logged in or not, nor do I have any problems uploading images.

The ethical issues are important here, and I will gladly discuss them, all within a set of assumptions that may - as it is with assumptions - be true or false. These assumptions are that you are right and there exists software that can circumvent the restrictions. You may also assume that I know where that software exists, hence I could provide an URL, either on the Darknet or on the Internet and you could simply download the software and install it - and enjoy ATS again.

Now, first question: would it be ethical to provide that URL (e.g. here)?

BTW: I have a very busy day ahead of me so I probably won't respond for a while, I have a life too

originally posted by: Rocker2013
a reply to: TrueAmerican

Maybe it would be a good move to make it a subscription service, then maybe you won't have so many idiotic kids on here who all seem to think the world is coming to an end every time someone has a bad dream?

ATS has been so watered down and polluted by bs and political extremism it's become a joke. It's why members like me who used to be so active only come here about once a week at most. We're fed up with the constant American politicizing over EVERY F-ING ISSUE, the constant conspiracies created out of everything, the low IQ members who think every conspiracy video on YouTube is Gospel and must be woven into their big grand NWO story...

Make it paid, get rid of all the nonsense, then maybe you'll be making more money from people who actually appreciate REAL conspiracies?

THIS!

All the way. Cost incentive will drive away the trolls.

originally posted by: nonspecific

It's a conspiracy site remember!

If it can remove the coding for ads then is it not plausable that it can filter other things if needs be?

Of course it's possible/plausible - I mean the mic on your phone or notebook or tablet could be listening to you the entire time and selling info to whoever, your mic is passively listening most of the time for you to say 'OK Google' or 'Siri' or whatever - so why not to target ads or sell personal data etc.

There's been a few things recently that made me question that.
Also Google change/censor search results depends on where you live and probably a lot worse.

I think adblockers could potentially remove some code to stop you seeing a really juicy conspiracy or something but I highly doubt it.
Google or ATS themselves would be far more likely to censor that.

originally posted by: stargatetravels

originally posted by: nonspecific

It's a conspiracy site remember!

If it can remove the coding for ads then is it not plausable that it can filter other things if needs be?

Of course it's possible/plausible - I mean the mic on your phone or notebook or tablet could be listening to you the entire time and selling info to whoever, your mic is passively listening most of the time for you to say 'OK Google' or 'Siri' or whatever - so why not to target ads or sell personal data etc.

There's been a few things recently that made me question that.
Also Google change/censor search results depends on where you live and probably a lot worse.

I think adblockers could potentially remove some code to stop you seeing a really juicy conspiracy or something but I highly doubt it.
Google or ATS themselves would be far more likely to censor that.

The tracking aspect of our reality is why I am currently wondering why ATS is unaware of Maidsafe. They make ad block apps look like a hide and seek game...and will provide an economical way to replace ads..

Or maybe people here will recognize Ethereum. They are doing the same thing but for FinTech. Just saying...

a reply to: stargatetravels
What you say is very interesting to me at the moment. My Mom brought her cell phone to me yesterday, she was very confused. She was watching TV in her room when she remembered that a friend of mine had called earlier and she had forgotten to tell me. She called out from her room, "I forgot to tell you I got a call from Debbie." I called back, "Debbie who?" She answered back, "Your friend." At that, her cell phone started talking. Google popped up with a search page on "Friends", and gave a verbal definition of the word "friend".

My mother was a little startled. She is not very tech savvy, and she doesn't use her phone that often, so she was really surprised when the phone that was lying on the table started talking to her.

I think they are listening, and if they are listening, they are recording. If they are recording, they are storing and data mining.

PS: She has a Droid Mini, given to her by my Brother over 2 years ago. First time this has happened as far as she knows.

a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn

Night,

I gave you a star for posting this information. I'd give you more if I could.

I agree. They're listening. They're recording. And God knows what they'll do with it.

originally posted by: SkepticOverlord

originally posted by: StallionDuck
It's not like my blocker is going to your webpage and removing the ads.

Actually, it is.

The way it blocks the ads is by modifying the website's code BEFORE it's rendered in your browser.

While the exercise in semantics would prove fascinating, I think the key point being made is that the changes only effect the unique copy of the page delivered to the user.

That aside, what would the ethical standpoint be in relation to a script that essentially sandboxes adverts?

This is based purely on a situation where someone used both an Adblocker and a scripting system. That scripting system, acting outside of the scope of the adblocker, could conceivably duplicate the necessary responses to the advertising system to appear as if ads are not blocked.

You get your advertising money, the user of the system doesn't get the adverts, some of us get to appreciate the irony of the advertising companies getting lied to... should ethics really be allowed to get in the way of a win-win situation?

a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn


For sure - I was going to start a thread but it just sounds paranoid and you'd probably be shouted down at ATS but I really think there's something to it.
I was talking about camping on the phone, didn't google it, haven't emailed about it, just a phone conversation and then I started getting camping ads the next day.
Another one was me and a couple friends were talking bikes, cycling and where we did it and what bikes etc and again, later that night I had ads on a couple of sites, including ATS and eBay, for bikes, tyres and a general cycling website.

Of course it could be coincidence but a couple other friends say similar things and although it's merely anecdotal, it's still happening to a few people, maybe lots.
Hopefully people will share their experiences on here too.

It seems a poor way to sell ads and not exactly targeted marketing and the sheer volume of data there would be is staggering - my logical self says it's purely coincidental and far fetched but there's a nagging feeling from my more crazy side that thinks there's something to it.

a reply to: MemoryShock

You should message them about it - weren't you a mod here back around 06/07?

a reply to: stargatetravels
12 years ago I ran across a web site that was talking about Agenda 21, Data Mining, Government Corruption and the erosion of our Constitutional Rights. I felt exactly the way you described.

So maybe it isn't as far fetched as you think.

originally posted by: stargatetravels
a reply to: MemoryShock

You should message them about it - weren't you a mod here back around 06/07?

I did that before I posted...

On a side note. I miss the old emoticons. I like blockchains, not blockfaces...

originally posted by: stargatetravels

originally posted by: nonspecific

It's a conspiracy site remember!

If it can remove the coding for ads then is it not plausable that it can filter other things if needs be?

Of course it's possible/plausible - I mean the mic on your phone or notebook or tablet could be listening to you the entire time and selling info to whoever, your mic is passively listening most of the time for you to say 'OK Google' or 'Siri' or whatever - so why not to target ads or sell personal data etc.

There's been a few things recently that made me question that.
Also Google change/censor search results depends on where you live and probably a lot worse.

I think adblockers could potentially remove some code to stop you seeing a really juicy conspiracy or something but I highly doubt it.
Google or ATS themselves would be far more likely to censor that.

I do not have a smart phone for that exact reason, call me a tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy nut if you must but I do not wish to pay a montly fee to carry around a gps tracking system with a build in camcorder and microphone that is constantly hooked up to the internet...

I just think its a really clever idea to get people to willingly install software that removes things if a company or organisation does not want them to see it.

a reply to: stargatetravels

This came up in a thread a couple of days ago and a few members said the same thing, talking about something and then ads pop up.

It could be that you are zoned out to ads but when they become of interest you notice them, like when a certain number keeps apprearing eveywhere because you recognise it.

Link

originally posted by: nonspecific
I do not have a smart phone for that exact reason, call me a tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy nut if you must but I do not wish to pay a montly fee to carry around a gps tracking system with a build in camcorder and microphone that is constantly hooked up to the internet...

I just think its a really clever idea to get people to willingly install software that removes things if a company or organisation does not want them to see it.

It is possible to manage that by the way. Not only does the latest Android version (Marshmallow) allow you to deny excessive app permissions but there are a ton of security minded apps available. You can always do basic things like maintain airplane mode while not on a home wifi network.

Being connected does not mean compromising your security. Ton of options available (I even have encrypted phone calls/text through the "Signal" app...not that I think I need it but because I want it).

originally posted by: MemoryShock

originally posted by: nonspecific
I do not have a smart phone for that exact reason, call me a tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy nut if you must but I do not wish to pay a montly fee to carry around a gps tracking system with a build in camcorder and microphone that is constantly hooked up to the internet...

I just think its a really clever idea to get people to willingly install software that removes things if a company or organisation does not want them to see it.

It is possible to manage that by the way. Not only does the latest Android version (Marshmallow) allow you to deny excessive app permissions but there are a ton of security minded apps available. You can always do basic things like maintain airplane mode while not on a home wifi network.

Being connected does not mean compromising your security. Ton of options available (I even have encrypted phone calls/text through the "Signal" app...not that I think I need it but because I want it).

I suppose it comes down to the issue of trust with me.

I do not trust the smartphone companies not to use my phone for elicit means and do not trust that the blocking software is not made by the same companies to make those who are concerned feel safe.

A lot of people I know use encrypted texts not because they are doing anything wrong but in a n attempt to annoy the snooping authorities who cannot read an encrypted message about not forgetting to buy milk.

a reply to: nonspecific

Then you should love trustless protocols like Maid...

; )