(A) I don't like specifically supporting Google's efforts to tie direct-funding to their ad-platform (they specifically have made many efforts to make it so that direct funding is connected to removing ads
because it cuts out people like me who refuse to use the ads… using their direct-funding approaches is actually an
increase in advertising, not a reduction)
and (B) I don't like the "viewer's choice" argument that I see as basically suckers-deserve-to-be-suckered. People who aren't thoughtful or knowledgeable enough to install an adblocker are just the people most susceptible to advertising manipulation. I want no part of increasing that. My understanding is that YouTube doesn't just give me a cut of revenue or not, they actually increase the ads tied to my videos if I "monetize". I won't be able to control the ads either to make sure they aren't manipulative or promoting products I would not be comfortable endorsing.
The money would totally help me provide more and better content, for sure. I hate this dilemma, but I've ended up sacrificing a lot in my life to work on building a more ethical economy around all of this via https://snowdrift.coop (approaching launch, not fully operating yet) rather than give in to this whole ad-based economy that I would have trouble with even if it were only advertising typical corporate crap let alone engaging in the far more unethical tracking and other shit they actually do. https://wiki.snowdrift.coop/about/existing-mechanisms#third-... expresses my views on this.
I hope this doesn't come across as me shaming everyone else who uses ads. I think the problems are systemic and recognize fully the way any individual going against the flow isn't necessarily the answer. That's why we need systemic change. I just wanted to share my perspective so this thread at least had the critical issues brought up, even though it's tangential. (Although my story of $0 ad income is an answer to the question)