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Comment by flappyeagle | Hacker News Reader

I always feel like I'm the weird one out. The best thing would be no ads. But the second best thing would be hyper-targeted ads because the most annoying thing is ads that are irrelevant to me.

When I watch broadcast TV, I hate seeing ads for mattresses, kids toys, menopause medication, home appliances.

I want to see ads for camera lenses and cool sneakers.

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Currently facebook has decided I want to see ads for showerheads that cost over $150 and require the use of an app. The first time I saw one I left a very smarmy remark in the comment section about how the last thing I want to buy is a showerhead that pushes content marketing at me through a newsfeed. Facebook has apparently determined I passionately engage with showerhead related ads so that's all I get now.

I don't want to have ads as, and if I have to see I don't want them to be hyper-targeted. I don't remember one time a ad had made me buy something. If I want to buy a new device I look his spec and some review.

I understand that unfortunately ads are here to stay, but I'd like to see more context-based ads (like on ddg), they seem to be a good compromise for me: they still serve ads, I can still ignore them and they don't profile me.

Also I really dislike the idea that some people are ok or even prefer being tracked across the internet because they want to see ads for some whatever thing they like.That is some dystopian level thinking.

I also always feel this way, glad to hear someone else express the same. I'm tired of seeing ads that aren't relevant to me despite most advertisers knowing who I am and where I live.

The only ads I've bought things from were ones that were hyper-targeted to my demographics, like seller of sweets from my home country in my current city.

I’d tend to agree. Except for the fact that to create good targeted ads it takes tracking my every click and move. And that this can be sold to parties that I’ve never interacted with nor (actively) consented to having my information.

I disagree 100% that hyper-targeted ads are second best to no ads.

For me, it's:

1) No ads

2) No ads

3) No ads

I accomplish this via a bevy of ad blockers, VPN, and custom DNS settings

so do I. no ads is best. but some ads are native to the medium and unavoidable

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