I nearly crapped myself when I saw this story on Techdirt (via Slashdot). There’s a new campaign to block Firefox users from certain web sites because they’re avoiding viewing ads by using the Adblock extension. The discussion on Slashdot’s entry clearly shows readers are puzzled, and in some cases pissed. Smooth move, Ex-Lax.
This presents a huge opportunity to boycott those blocking Firefox and for companies to market to those of us who do use it. A “buy blue” for those who know how to install alternative browsers, if you will. I’ll gladly take my disposable income to those companies that aren’t part of this campaign. What’s next? Lawsuits from networks because I walked away from the TV or changed the channel?
This is the real capper from their site:
While blanket ad blocking in general is still theft, the real problem is Ad Block Plus’s unwillingness to allow individual site owners the freedom to block people using their plug-in.
So here’s my rant…
Theft? It’s theft that I don’t want to have flashing ads in my face? I didn’t ask for the ads, yet somehow not accepting them is stealing? I’ve already stated that people don’t like or want most forms of advertising, but their argument is akin to saying a date rape victim should have to accept being raped because they accepted the meal.
Yes, that’s how ludicrous this “movement” is. No wonder the Anti-Adblock site doesn’t have any sort of contact info, however anyone who’s ever purchased a domain knows how to check the WhoIs database.