I think you missed the point of the question - people install adblockers typically because they find the ads are intrusive (full-screen graphic overlays, etc), or their machine gets infected with ad network-delivered malware.
If you presented ads that were respectful to the visitor (i.e. weren't offensive) I expect the blocker escalation war would cease.
> people install adblockers typically because they find the ads are intrusive (full-screen graphic overlays, etc), or their machine gets infected with ad network-delivered malware. If you presented ads that were respectful to the visitor (i.e. weren't offensive) I expect the blocker escalation war would cease.
This is absolutely incorrect. Users may install them because they find some amount of ads to be abusive, but damn near nobody (relative to all ad blocker usage) starts out on a white list basis, and the idea that they're diligent about unblocking sites that have "good" ads that get past their blocker is just absurd.
Unfortunately I agree with you. I try to do that, but too many sites are abusive. If a site said "hey, we see you block ads, please unblock, we only use small text ads", I'd unblock right away. Most of the time though, after I unblock a site, I immediately have to re-block it.
Personally I find that "begging" annoying for sites that I almost never use, like Pastebin. I consider it for sites I use more often, but I agree with you that most of the time I end up turning it on again, ads just lag the site and are obtrusive.
I'm OK with being shown a moderate amount of ads, if they're relevant and not obnoxious. I realize the site needs ads to bring in revenue and that they don't always publish out of altruism. But over the last 5 years .. whew! I've started reconsidering following any links: "Do I really want to take the risk?"
While this cliche is indeed very true, the ability to play games from a hard-drive in the PS2 was amazing. No ferreting about for disks, much faster load times etc. I didn't pirate a single one, and loved HDLoader.
You're acting like the typical use for adblockers is targetted -- it's not. People browse the web with always-on adblock. Your site is likely not the one that tipped them over the edge, either.
Another issue is that many 3rd party ad networks have performance issues. Nothing like waiting for the ad network to catch up so you can view the site.
For example, when they visit, there are no interstitial pages, boxes covering the page when a user mouses out of the viewport, autoplaying audio/video, or any of that other obscene nonsense.
After they install an ad-blocker anywhere. The site in question could always been been nice and unobtrusive with their ads. It makes no difference for most users.
This is a trap. If you make your ads content-like, and integrate them into your content, then people will say your site is deceptive, hiding ads in content so people read them like factual articles.
You don't need to make them content-like. Have ad sections that are just text. I can't recall the name of the site but that one Mac-related site that does text ads seems to be doing pretty well at it. Please if someone does know the site I mean let me know it's on the tip of my tongue!
I'm not a mac user so I only ever visit the site when I double check he's still doing the sponsored feed thing before using the site as an example of non-ad income.
Unfortunately however I didn't notice it as uBlock Origin had blocked it.
I find his podcast relaxing (well, most of the time) to listen to even though I'm not a Mac user either. I think he mentioned Deck a couple of times, so I turned uBlock off to see, and hey, they really are reasonable and tasteful, so I left it open for them. They're not getting almost anything from me since I very rarely visit sites in their network, but I leave them on on principle. I don't mind ads, I mind being digitally and visually raped.
I haven't once seen an attempt by any site to show me a "this is what our ads would look like - we're clean, honest!" element when they detect I'm blocking.
My adblock policy (the same one I use on all friend & family systems) is extremely strict. I'm not going to whitelist your site, or any site for that matter, just to see if your ads are "safe". Your options are to show me they are DESPITE my blocking for a chance at an unblock, or prevent me from viewing your site altogether.
If you presented ads that were respectful to the visitor (i.e. weren't offensive) I expect the blocker escalation war would cease.