quote:
Originally posted by foaly
The comparisson between smoking, poker machines and the sponsor programm isn't fair...
The sponsor doesn't kill you or get you broke or even addicted in any way or form...
Smoking doesn't kill you, cancer does. Smoking *may* cause cancer - even if you say LOP.COM is *not* Malware ... they advertise and promote Malware to install!
LOP.COM does no one any value or service except for themselves, their clients (like Patchou) and their advertisers. Their software in no way benefits home-users. Smoking has benefits, it reduces stress, it can help you loose weight - there are no benefits at all to the home user from this product. Poker machines can also help with stress when used sensibly. And that is very difficult to say considering I strongly believe poker machines are an immoral source of income.
My hosts file now blocks the bulk of internet ads on websites, including Google Adsense and Bitvertiser. Websites that operate on a basis that they rely on their ads to found them are not going to benefit from users like me who will visit their sites and see no ads. I typically watch recorded Foxtel TV shows and fast-forward through the ads (except of course with sport). Occasionally I'll actually watch an ad - yes that's right I'll deliberately watch an ad for something I may be interested in, especially if it's for a tv program I may like - but the bulk of them I skip.
There are many clear problems with the Sponsor EULA. There is no "I don't accept" checkmark or cancel button on the EULA dialogue itself. And I know you think "well the 'X' button is obvious" - that's not the way novice PC users think, they will be confused and it won't appear to be an obvious way out.
I remove the ads from Windows Live! Messenger too (doesn't everybody?) Ads can be good - but today I see far too many ads, and so I'd rather avoid as many as possible.
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