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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[–] Acters@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How about choosing the ad you want to watch? instead, you have "random personalized from harvested data" ad feed to you at intervals that are becoming ever imposing in the normal content you wish to enjoy. The only option is to skip, watch, or turn off the device/service. There isn't an option to choose your ads. Like a social media feed where anyone who pays can enter your feed, and you just have to skip them or look at them. It is not good enough and purposely limits your control. Plus, blocking ads should be considered a form of skipping ads indefinitely. Also, they don't even allow skipping ads in some situations and force you to watch them. F that noise. Some will even go out of their way to force you to watch ads or mask links with tracking.

Even then, ads are terribly made content wise because of the forced randomness of placement and viewership. Moments where youtubers do sponsor driven ad breaks are a decent change, but that relies on the youtuber matching up the content with the sponsor, and the sponsor allows creative freedom. Even then, I desire to have content I search for. Instead of serving me random content in between everything as a general strange form of psychological torture.

Most ads I see are for products I don't ever want to buy. It is just noise and an eyesore.

You are wrong. There is no choice given.

[–] cubedsteaks@lemmy.today 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, I've seen services where they let you choose what ad to watch before the program.

Also I only see ad's on YouTube TV which was my choice to purchase. So I went into that purchase knowing that I would be getting ad's. It was my choice entirely.

[–] Acters@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I still disagree because I doubt the services I use will implement that kind of system ever. Also, I am interested in hearing more about the services that do offer that benefit. Maybe elaborate some more instead of a blanket lazy statement. Youtube TV and cable TV are all commercial driven with monthly costs. I hate that I have to pay and still get advertising stuff shoved up my face. On the other hand, congrats to you for making that "choice." 👏 As I stated, either you are allowed to skip, forced to watch/listen, or remove yourself from the "platform." In a dystopic future, you will not be able to make that last one as there will be no true alternatives, only fake another "iteration" of the same stuff. Can see it happening to some streaming platforms and especially TV broadcasts.

[–] cubedsteaks@lemmy.today 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

blanket lazy statement? Sorry, I just wanted to respond and be concise.. but here.. let me write you a fucking essay I guess.

It was awhile ago but I was at a friends place and she was watching a version of Hulu that had ad's but she was being prompted to pick an ad instead of the ad's just coming on. She got like three choices and after you picked one and watched the ad, there would even be a survey for the ad.

Now, this is something that happened probably a year ago now cause I don't hang out with her anymore. So I could be wrong in that it was Hulu, I think it could have also been an ad version of Amazon's streaming service. She was one of those people that uses a ton of other people's passwords to stream stuff. You know before a lot of them blocked that. Again, like a year or so ago.

I mentioned YouTube Tv because that's what I have. And I did choose to get it fully knowing it had ad's and that I wanted there to be ad's. Please let me know how that isn't a choice or how that isn't me choosing to see ads.

I also have a ton of VHS recordings spanning back to fucking late 70s that have ads in them! And I have those because of the fucking ads!

Like sorry but this is a choice for me. I think ads from the past are interesting and I like being able to compare them to now. Sorry I'm just that rare kind of nerd.

but I get it. You're worried the world has been taken over by ad's and that's why we're living in a dystopia. You said future but I'm in the US lmao. It's already dystopian here. Like too late.

Also I've heard a lot of people are like, falling out of favor with shitty streaming services and they're doing what I've been doing for years now. Going back to physical media. See, I'm not worried cause where I'm at, its fine to watch cable tv and collect VHS tapes and DVDs.

Nostalgia's a great feeling.

[–] Acters@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

blanket lazy statement? Sorry, I just wanted to respond and be concise… but here… let me write you a fucking essay I guess.

I understand, I felt insulted how you mention that there are services offering a choice in viewing selection of ads that was offhandedly thrown it out there like it is the norm. From your statements it was obviously not a different way of watching advertisement/commercial content but instead it was to gain feedback on what ads work and which do not.

Please let me know how that isn’t a choice or how that isn’t me choosing to see ads.

you decided to join that streaming service, and while it is a choice, my issues is that is the only choice available, either join or do not. there is almost no inbetween. There is no further choices in commercial content, it is just hammered in and the only way it can have meaningful targeted ads is by harvesting a shitload of personal data all the time. I believe that having to either join or not join as a choice is Orwellian like. If there is a oligopoly or monopoly formed you are essentially trapped in or out. I see no freedom in this path.

I’m in the US lmao. It’s already dystopian here. Like too late.

Feeling hopeless, I do too. Hopefully there is an alternate reality or a future where the world stops being invasive and learns to prosper. at least movie theaters are better than Cable TV. those premovie ad reels are annoying but a quick bathroom break and back to my reserved paid seat is a great feeling.

Also I’ve heard a lot of people are like, falling out of favor with shitty streaming services and they’re doing what I’ve been doing for years now. Going back to physical media. See, I’m not worried cause where I’m at, its fine to watch cable tv and collect VHS tapes and DVDs.

I am not sure why cable tv is getting roped into vhs and dvd. Cable tv is most certainly not the same as having unedited full featured, high definition(as high as possible lol), free of external influence physical copies. you have a good heart, I hope you paid for getting those instead of burning them from online copies or recordings of cable TV. i would support those creators for their content instead of dealing with the noise of cable TV, the throwaway nature of streaming services, or support commercial ridden subscription platform models.

[–] cubedsteaks@lemmy.today 1 points 1 year ago

I understand, I felt insulted how you mention that there are services offering a choice in viewing selection of ads that was offhandedly thrown it out there like it is the norm

Sorry about that. I guess I think of it as the norm here because its a package that's offered. Anyone in the US can go get it if they have the funds for it and want to pay for it.

What other choice do you want there to be? I'm all for being middle of the road. I mean, I'm bisexual. I'm a fence sitter. I like the third option or the pick all option the most.

But when it comes to ads, how do you get a middle ground? To me, an ad is just that. You see it, or you don't see it.

From everyone in this thread, it seems like most people just choose not to see the ads. And that's a fine choice isn't it? Or do you want the ad's to not exist at all? Like is it upsetting that you have to decline because its like a yes or no question?

I'm not actually feeling too hopeless cause I'm in big favor of that writer's strike and I hope it goes on as long as possible. I don't give a fuck about new media. Halt that shit forever. We clearly needed a break.

I am not sure why cable tv is getting roped into vhs and dvd

Because that was an era. Back when we had Cable TV, we bought VHS tapes and DVDs. It's like living in 2004 in my apartment. Its like the closest I can get to a time machine.

And both VHS and DVD's had ad's on them. VHS tapes always started with trailers and ad's for either merch or production companies. DVD's would often have extras that were just ad's!

My VHS recordings are actually from a site I don't have access too anymore but I'm not the person who recorded them. They're also from like decades ago. No one at Adult Swim is hurting cause I have a tape from one of their blocks in like 2003 that has all the ads in tact and includes shows they don't even run anymore.