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> Kill advertising and you'll take the content with it

Good. Let it die.

There's enough better content available for free and without ads. Somehow, it so happens that people who have something interesting or meaningful to say tend to say it anyway, and either pay for it themselves or ask nicely for something in return.

I honestly do believe the content quality is inversely proportional to the amount and obtrusiveness of ads on the page.



The problem is the "long-tail" of content.

Sure, Wikpedia will stick around post adblock, and so will big conglomerates (they can afford to put up paywalls, like WSJ and others).

Many content-farms will just stick to being a "review for hire" gig.

The problem is that the small shops will close down.


You know who else will stick around?

All the guys with cheap hosting accounts making web pages like the 1990's. Ironically they seem to be the only ones with content worth reading...


Yeah, I've hosted websites since I was a teenager. Ten bucks a month is pretty affordable for anyone employed. If the choice is between malicious advertisements funding professional content, or free content from amateurs, I pick the amateurs. Luckily, Patreon and pay walls (yes, I like pay walls) are providing us other options to retain the professionals as well.




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