You say that as if no-one clicks on ads. There's vastly overwhelming evidence that ads work, there's no dispute about it whatsoever. You might dislike ads personally but there's billions of statistical data points which demonstrate their validity.

Furthermore not only do other people click on ads, but you've probably done it as well. But in the same way that people who are dieting forget about the condiments they used when they write their food diary, people who are philosophically opposed to ads will forget that they clicked an ad within minutes of having clicked on it.

Go to your web browsing log and search for the ad click trackers for the sites you use (google, facebook, etc.) - you might be surprised at the results.

I disagree that only gratuitous shit needs to be advertised.

I guess you think this because you believe that if a product is good then word of mouth or whatever will mean that it sells without advertising.

This is true to a certain extent if the product is unique in a niche or two or three times better than the alternatives.

In the case where the product is best (so it is not gratuitous shit) but not much better. Then in this case word of mouth is not going to provide sales fast enough to prevent cash flow problems and advertising is necessary.

I click on Facebook ads all the time. So obviously we do live in alternative universes. And I don't mind them because sometimes it turns out to be a good way to find stuff.

I click on facebook ads for fake saliva, fake tears, gout remedies, "vitality supplements" and other old fart ailments. I'm trying to build up a facebook persona of a crotchety, ailing, "got off my lawn!" type of elderly nutjob.