"x"BlockPro

[nc-1701]

So as we all know AdBlockPro is a wonderful thing that helps cleanse our internet and make it readable.

Spoiler :

Except CFC of course I whitelisted all the adds here

Which has led me to thinking... I could block more things! Imagine a world where I never see the Upworthy and Jezebel links my Mom posts on Facebook. Or the GMO/Vaccine conspiracy theories propogated by so many people smart enough to know better. I could create a blacklist that completely scrubs my part of the internet of this trash, then I could share it with others and help eradicate shoddy trash journalism ushering in a new enlightened age:goodjob

Or this would just create a bubble where nobody would ever even see an opposing political viewpoint With seperate "FoxBlocker" and "LibrulMediaBlocker"s entrenching partisans into deeper and deeper rabbits holes.


Thoughts? And more generally does anyone think I shouldn't at least create myself a filter to block Gawker and Upworthy? While we're at it what are your thoughts on the ethics of regular Adblock?

 

[Zelig]

Facebook you can report upworthy/jezebel/buzzfeed/etc. as spam and they'll never show up again for you.

 

[BvBPL]

I know one weird, old trick to removing most of that spam: don't use Facebook.

 

[uppi]

Or this would just create a bubble where nobody would ever even see an opposing political viewpoint With seperate "FoxBlocker" and "LibrulMediaBlocker"s entrenching partisans into deeper and deeper rabbits holes.

I think that would be the most likely result. To some degree these bubbles already exist. They are dangerous for the society: Groups that are not familiar with each others viewpoints will be quick to be at each others throats and will have a hard time empathizing with people from other groups.

But they are also dangerous for the intellectual development of the individual. If you never encounter opposing viewpoints you will become entrenched in a very shallow world view. It only gets deeper by engaging other viewpoints, and by finding out why they are trash, or where they might have a point.


That said, if you have come across something multiple times and is has been utter trash every time, there is no point to engage it again, so you might as well block it (but I do not see why you cannot just ignore it). But this has to be a personal decision and not one made by someone making blocking lists.

 

[BvBPL]

Nvrmnd

 

[bhsup]

Uppi, your post is premised on the assumption that your sole point of contact with the rest of the world is the internet.

 

[Goodfella]

Or this would just create a bubble where nobody would ever even see an opposing political viewpoint With seperate "FoxBlocker" and "LibrulMediaBlocker"s entrenching partisans into deeper and deeper rabbits holes.

It seems like a way to insulate yourself from anything you don't want to hear and concerned parents would use it to block websites like marxists.org.

 

[warpus]

At some point in the future you are going to be able to put on sunglasses that block ads.

As for blocking clickbait sites like Jezebel, yeah, just report them as spam on facebook and you'll never be bothered with sexist clickbait again.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Uppi, your post is premised on the assumption that your sole point of contact with the rest of the world is the internet.

Self-segregation also occurs in meatspace, intentional or otherwise.

 

[Rashiminos]

I know one weird, old trick to removing most of that spam: don't use Facebook.

Assuming that one does not need or want to use facebook.

But this has to be a personal decision and not one made by someone making blocking lists.

For better or for worse, someone's personal decision can be to use blocking lists.


Note: I view the 1st four options as inadequate, so I only chose the fifth option because I wanted the poll results to reflect my orthogonal position.

 

[uppi]

Uppi, your post is premised on the assumption that your sole point of contact with the rest of the world is the internet.

Not the sole, but the most important. Especially for for viewpoints of people in a totally different situation and/or location. I do not get to discuss much with those in real life.