Google Takes Away Choice

Well it was going to happen sooner or later. Google would find more ways to take away our ability to block advertisements.

* Popular ad blocking app nixed from Google Play

“In a move that has sparked negative criticism, Google has decided to delete the popular ad blocking application, AdBlock Plus, from its Android Play Store.” Read more..

I don’t understand why they chose to get authoritarian, and show us the middle finger, as approximately 1% (my estimate) of computer users are savvy enough to have ever even heard of AdBlock Plus. (I’ll let the article explain the Who, the How, the What, and — the Why you should care.)

But we do live in a world run by ad revenue.
($17 Billion in first half of 2012 [online]..)

It’s one reason I ignore good practice and am still using an older version of Firefox: each new version they release, more ad blocker, security, and privacy “add ons” no longer work (wonder why?).

I am not going to say what I really think here, nor use the language I want to, but I will say to any and all Google employees, honchos, and stockholders — rethink this move. It stinks and makes you look bad. (Yes, I know. That’s how you make your money – watching us, tracking us, and showing us Ads. But.)

I’ll further say that I support the folks who brought us AdBlock Plus, and “root for” them and folks like them. I hope they’ll figger a ‘workaround’..

Today’s concept to ponder: “Slippery slope”. Incrementalism in the study of rationality can be seen as a stealthy way to bring about radical changes that were not initially wanted: a slippery slope.

Today’s quote: “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” ~ Buddha

Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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