An ad-free internet?

Farhad Manjoo's lastest column in Slate discusses the ethics of the browser plug-in that blocks all ads on websites. I think it is clear to most people that ad revenue is how many websites make money; perhaps not the only way, but it might be. So, if we browse the web while turning all ads off, isn't that akin to piracy? Or, perhaps, you think of it as a consumer's right - more like fast forwarding or changing the channel while watching TV.

The article looks to a middle ground, where users choose which sites they are willing to see ads for, and those they are not. The difference might be between a site you visit a lot, or perhaps sites which do not offer intrusive ads. For me, personally, it's more about the latter: even if I like a site very much and visit it regularly, if they offer full page pop-up ads, or big flash banners with in-your-face graphics, I will turn off those ads, no ethical dilemma at all.

So, how do we get to that middle ground? One way is to use a plug-in like Flash Block which will prevent those nasty flash ads from loading, but still allow you to selectively load flash as you need to. Ad-block itself plans to allow users to choose to allow ads on sites that they visit often with a 'guilt' prompt: "As a frequent visitor to this site, maybe you should start viewing some ads. This site promises they aren't too annoying."

Yeah, ok, I'll look at your ad. Just as soon as I finish downloading this movie off PirateBay.