[zelphirkalt]

It is really not very complicated. It is actually very simple. When I visit a new website, I check what it requests using uBlock Origin. Then just block those unwanted stuff.

If the website does not work without something like Google fonts or tag manager or whatever other bloat, it means, that it is shoddy-made, by an either uninformed or ignorant entity. It probably is illegal according to EU law as well, since I never gave consent to being tracked by third parties. I do not use that website. Browser tab closed.

In the cases, in which an external entity forces me to use crap websites, I isolate them in browser profiles and/or container tabs.

In cases, in which the content is only available on that website, I can try reader mode. Or try to find some other frontend, like Invidious for YouTube.

So in most cases I can do something to reduce the toxicity of the cocktail, that modern web development practices have cooked up for me.

[masto]

And other than being stressed and annoyed and having to fuss with a bunch of extra stuff to use the Internet, this makes your life better how?

[zelphirkalt]

Websites load faster. I filter out BS websites with low information density. I avoid ads and being tracked by random companies that I don't trust. I feel more comfortable visiting websites knowing, that my personal data does not automatically flow to random companies. I don't have to sit through YouTube ads either. I get what I came for, then I leave. To me this is a great benefit.

But lets not forget, that we are all part of a human society. Almost no ones, if anyone's behavior has no effect on others. By using the Internet like I do, I am also acting in a responsible way regarding my effect on society. We need more people resisting big tech surveillance and daily violation of privacy. I hope some day more of us can look beyond immediate personal benefit.

[guiambros]

> "I filter out..."

> "I avoid ads... companies that I don't trust"

> "I feel more comfortable..."

> "...my personal data...""

> "I don't have to sit through..."

> "I get what I came for, then I leave"

> "I hope some day more of us can look beyond immediate personal benefit."

Look, I'm ok if you want to be individualistic and say "screw the creators, content producers, journalists, and everyone else I'm freeloading their work for MY personal benefit". It's immoral in my book, but it's certainly not illegal.

But at least be honest with yourself, and stop pretending you're doing this for the greater good of human society.

[zelphirkalt]

You can try to frame it in whatever way you want, but that does not change the fact, that you have zero idea, whether or how much I support creators that I like. It would do you good to not just assume things on the basis of someone's browsing and ad blocking habits.

[HumanOstrich]

That's reasonable. So, out of all the content you consume, for what percentage of it do you contribute to the content's author/creator/company? How much value per year?

[zelphirkalt]

Enough so that, if everyone able to do the same did the same, it would pay for my and their consumption many times over.

[dylan604]

I do the opposite. I block everything, and if a new site I’m curious on doesn’t work, I’ll look at what’s needed to let it work. Your method would potentially require some cleaning up since things were allowed to initially run. If the site requires things I don’t like, I just close the tab and move on.

[zelphirkalt]

I actually do a whitelist approach. I only described it badly.