My friend got really mad at me that I blocked his AdBlock on my site.

I don't know if he felt violated but today when he came onto my site with his adblock on he got this image.

http://www.gamefrat.com/getowned.jpg

He said what i'm doing is considered "rights management" or something. I told him so what and everyone who uses adblock is a vandalist. Distorting the structure of the site and changing the look the webmaster intended. He didn't agree. Oh well, I think he thought I was targeting the image at him but I wasn't I was trying my neat little script. He went out of his way to find a way to get around it, and of course he did (turned off javascript). But wow it was weird.

Thoughts? Is blocking AdBlock "rights management"?

 

You have the right to unblock it with use of a script as it isn't causing direct harm to his computer. If he doesn't like it, tough apples.

 

I agree with checksum BUT I would think that the image is completely inappropriate and I would be offended if I was a visitor. Just my two cents

 

But he does have the right to do it in the first place. And then if you go around it, he can block it all over again. I'll never put ads on my site because I don't believe it's right. Argue if you wish, but I like controlling what I view when I visit a website. NoScript is the same way - I use it for blocking malicious scripts, but if it blocks your ads, so be it. No skin off my back.

 

Well that visitor does nothing for me. He is using up bandwidth on my site without chipping in to keep the site running.

I don't have the script up anymore by the way.

 

You're right. If the user doesn't want to see ads, the onus for blocking ads is on them. If the webmaster decides to force ads on the user, the user can either visit a different website or find a better adblocker. Of course they could also stop being selfish and just accept the ads.

 

Well, since it's your site you can block whoever you want. Most people don't like ads, but they aren't the ones paying the hosting bill.

If they want to block your ads, then you have the right to block them.

 

But here is the point that should be made. If the user has to visit another site because his adblock was blocked it doesn't make 1 bit of difference. Actually it does, because now the Webmaster will use less bandwidth and all of his visitors will be able to view his ads.

 

This isnt just about blocking or not blocking ads - it is about the insulting image that was used.

Sure, try to force your ads to show that is fine, but there is no need to be offensive or insulting to your visitors.

Do you chip in to keep all the sites you visit running?

 

By viewing the CPM ads yes I do, an occasional CPC click if the ad is appealing. But do I have Adblock? No.

But as a webmaster it's more insulting that someone would visit MY site and distort it the way I did NOT intend it to be. It's like not paying a cabbie after a ride. I bring you the content (the cab ride), you pay the fair... (Adblock is stealing IMHO).

This is an endless debate. It's like Evolution vs Creationism, Roe v. Wade, it's just gonna lead us to no where.

 

It isnt an argument. You started this thread asking for thoughts and thats all I did - offered you my thoughts about it.

 

Ok. This is why AdBlock doesn't matter.
1:150 ratio for content rich adsense site
.10 cents per ad click.
Therefore, each click is worth .10/150 cents. It is idiotic to get pissed off for that amount of money.

 

Dude you need to reread your post that I just quoted.

It was practically calling me a scub bag for calling someone a smart ass.

 

WHAT???? I didnt call you anything. I just said there was no need to insult your visitors.

 

I was reading between the lines. I didn't say you called me anything I said it felt like you called me that.

This thread is going south pretty fast anyone want to talk about new alternate fuels we can all use to help the earth?

 

I apologize if I somehow offended you. That wasnt my intention at all and I definitely had no intent to call you anything.

Well, how about cow chips? There are so many cattle out there spreading their manure - how about we start using that for fuel?

 

Cow chips, hehe. You just gotta think that anything can somehow become fuel these days. It's just how you use them not what they are.

 

In my opinion if people want to block advertisements then so be it.
Putting an image like that up will only cause you to repel those who use adblock and visit your site, which isn't a very good plan. But it's up to you, if cutting your market is a good thing then it'll make you happy.

 

I only had it up for like 20 minutes, it was practically a joke for my friend, hehe.

 

fair enough as a joke. There wasn't really a need for them to get all up in arms about it.