[ci5er]

> Every paying software job I've ever had was in some way involved getting people to click on ads.

That's an amazing fact.

May I ask how old you are?

I've been designing SOCs, DSPs, Control Systems and a lot of software for various systems since 1985, and I can only recall one that might have been close to "clicking on ads" (it was a personalized "on hold" system for dial-in to major retailers (like JCP), to replace Muzak with offers and information and stuff). I was the VOIP-to-Enterprise-Telecom integration guy, so not directly tied to the ad-part, but the company pushed couponing to their clients pretty hard.

[gnu]

Same. I am in the industry for 20+ years and thankfully none of my jobs have involved anything close to ads.

[aarongough]

I'm 35. Luckily I'm now running my own manufacturing business where I get to work on a much wider range of stuff!