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Comment by msoad | Hacker News Reader

    * I don't want ads
    * I don't want native advertising or sponsored content 
    * I don't want to pay for content
    * I don't want my tax goes to government sponsored content 
    * I want free independent content

That's me nowadays... I don't even know what's the answer!

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I have absolutely no problem with sponsored ads, the kind John Gruber run on his blog, for example. On the same page, the sponsorships on Marco's podcasts I think are absolutely fine. I found them even useful (which SHOULD be the objective of advertising)

I think that the main problem with ads are crappy, annoying, low-value ads. I'd love to see more interesting and relevant ads, I may, you know, BUY something from time to time...

The endgame of your position is that the content you'll receive is that which has zero marginal production cost. I hope you enjoy bot-generated content farms.

I want syndication, where I pay a reasonable amount per month for ad-free access to a number of sites of my choice.

Someday I'll understand why nobody has put something like this together, but I'm not there yet.

There isn't one, because your position is idealistic and naive.

I saw a list of statements describing what he wants and does not want. In a world of compromises, it helps to describe what you actually want before you start identifying which of those things you'll have to give up.

There is one, and I can name an easy example. The Welcome To Night Vale Podcast.

All of their content is completely free and isn't supported by ads at all. They make money through live shows, merchandising, and donations, and I guess now book sales.

It's exactly the model he's describing, free content that's not sponsored, has no strings attached, and is still hugely successful.

Also: Answer Me This, whose recent content is free but who charge for older content, special "albums", their book, and merch. Helen and Olly seem to be doing quite well.

The answer is learning to live with the fact that you can't always get what you want.

Affiliate links?

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