The internet needs better rules, not stricter referees | Hacker News Reader

The internet needs better rules, not stricter referees

on.substack.com

13 pointsaml18310 comments

I understand how important it is , to monetize things for one’s livelihood.

But 9/10 times, the best content comes from people who dont care a cent about how much people will pay them for what they write, and instead just focus on writing well and making a point.

I appreciate every open blog/newsletter/rss feed out there, who keeps its content up 24/7 for people to read and see through.

Thanks to all of you who do that, its always been one of the best ways to get great content.

And i wish the segment who’s overly obsessed about monetising every single interaction of human civilisation, good luck.

Agree. Always felt the best content comes from people who aren't interested in profiting off it, aside from reputationally.

Blogspam authors: If you block ads we won't be able to afford to make content.

Me: Good, I'd rather your "content" not exist.

This is hands down one of the worst takes I have seen in a while. I'm a big fan of Substack, but advertising isn't bad. I run a business that makes money from advertising. It's a good business model that benefits consumers and companies. I'm happy to go into detail if anyone cares.

please. how does it help me as a consumer?

Do you have material needs and desires but weren't born with a priori knowledge of all possible goods and services that might satisfy those needs and desires?

Most newborns do not rely on commercial advertisements to learn how to satisfy their needs and desires.

Okay, well I'm sorry you're too young to benefit from advertising, but your parents who change your diaper and everyone else old enough to be considered a consumer certainly do.

We're not newborns our entire lives either, that logic doesn't work. Advertising is "natural", targeted AI curated reaction trash isn't though.

Keeps free shit free

> It's a good business model that benefits consumers and companies.

I think that can be true, but comes with some big IFs attached which tend to ruin it in practice.

Privacy is the big one. I don't think that needs any further explanation at this point.

Attention span and lack of a way out are the other ones. As a user, I know and respect that creators and services need to make money. But if the only option is to turn me into the product by monetizing my data, screen estate and attention span, which is already running low anyway, I'm out. I'm sorry, but I'm just over it and I will instead spend five minutes of my time to find an alternative and spare future me from the constant brain and data drain.

Unless, that is, I can give you money to never see another ad, at a price that feels appropriate for the value I get out of being able to continue using that site.

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