Chill!

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 15 Sep 2017, 14:53

Facebook is continually advertising to me the things which I have just bought!! Do they hope that I might like another widgit just in case the one just bought breaks in the next few days. If it did would I actually be daft enough to buy the same again. Some people must be, I suppose!

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 15 Sep 2017, 15:17

If you use Firefox, install the following extensions:

Privacy Badger
Adblock plus

This will cause most, though not all, adverts to be blocked as well as making it more difficult for the likes of Facebook to track and trace your consuming habits.

If you want to belt and brace your online activity, install a VPN as well. this will make it (in principle) impossible for your ISP to know your browsing habits.

fuzzy · Post by **fuzzy** » 15 Sep 2017, 20:10

adblocker ultimate works great on opera. Most pages load instantly, when they aren't waiting for spam. Depressing how the newspapers etc cry if you don't load their ads. As if seeing adverts you don't want is going to generate sales??

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 16 Sep 2017, 11:12

Seeing ads you don't want generates sales for the ad carriers. No wonder they cry if you block them.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 20 Sep 2017, 01:16

When I was writing the Year-Long Lunch Break I often saw ads for the things I was railing against. You don't know whether to laugh or cry...

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 20 Sep 2017, 09:58

RenewableCandy wrote:When I was writing the Year-Long Lunch Break I often saw ads for the things I was railing against. You don't know whether to laugh or cry...

Monbiot has several articles related to that problem, such as this and the ethical dilemma it presents for conscientious thinkers.

You have to fight advertising, constantly.

Turn it off at every opportunity and tell others to do so. Get rid of the tv. Install adblockers on computers. Train your eyes to avoid adverts. Pity/ridicule those who are taken in by advertising. Refuse/remove logos. Turn bags inside out. Etc etc.

fuzzy · Post by **fuzzy** » 20 Sep 2017, 10:46

An excellent piece by Monbiot there. A man who is totally aware of his own whoring lifestyle. The gruaniad is ground zero for the BS middle class. I remember ~40 yrs ago being astonished how the eco warriors standard bearer was trying to flog stupid sized cars and endless wasteful spending to readers with surplus income.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 20 Sep 2017, 11:20

fuzzy wrote:An excellent piece by Monbiot there. A man who is totally aware of his own whoring lifestyle. The gruaniad is ground zero for the BS middle class. I remember ~40 yrs ago being astonished how the eco warriors standard bearer was trying to flog stupid sized cars and endless wasteful spending to readers with surplus income.

He has a whole section on advertising. Some fascinating thoughts and links in there.

Worldly ambition, material aspiration, perpetual growth: these are a formula for mass unhappiness.