Philosophy
Farhad Manjoo has a wonderful article over at Slate entitled "Blocked Ads, Clean Conscience" in which he questions the moral status of ad blocking software. The ads on various websites are unwanted and disliked, but they are part of what allows the content on the page to exist. Things cost money and this applies to the delivery of online content. But with ad blocking software, we can get the spoonful of sugar without the medicine.
But, of course, that is a terrible metaphor. Medicine makes you healthy, marketing does not. Marketing is not merely drawing attention to products and serves, but actively trying to alter your views and perceptions about them to influence you to purchase them. In our house, it is a standard practice to mute all commercials -- even ones we would otherwise find cute or funny. We do not want our minds influenced by people who have nothing but maximizing corporate profits in mind and care not one whit what is in the best interest of me or my family.
So, is there something wrong with being an on-line freeloader? Are you not paying your fair share by blocking the ads? Is it reasonable to expect you to open your eyes and mind to influences you may not want in order to have your mind influenced by sources you seek out?
- Irony Can Be So Ironic: Tiger Woods Edition
The single best statement about the Tiger Woods fiasco comes from Paul at LGM, "Tiger Woods has become a billionaire by marketing himself so assidiously that he's now the most recognizable athlete, and indeed one of the most recognizable people, in...
- Senator Clinton, Here's Why Being Gay Is Not Immoral
Yesterday, in response to General Peter Pace?s homophobic outburst, Hillary Clinton balked at answering the question, ?Is homosexuality immoral?? punting with the statement, ?Well I'm going to leave that to others to conclude.? Senator Clinton? Glad...
- Amazon.com Will Fight The Sales Tax
Don't think of it as a sales tax but more like an "import duty". "Amazon Wants To Save You Money" Should shoppers care that its position on state sales tax is unfair and unethical? by Farhad Manjoo July 12th, 2011 Slate There are two powerful arguments...
- Access Denied
All too often a common feature. Sorry, you do not have access to this article. You have requested the following article: Philosophy of Science December 2002, Vol. 69, No. 4: pp. 645-651 Critical Notice: Scientific Civilization and Its Discontents: Further...
- Lexapro And Forest Laboratories...bad Ethics
Just more revelations of drug company greed and market manipulation. "A Drug Maker’s Strategy Revealed" by Gardiner Harris September 2nd, 2009 The New York Times The pharmaceutical industry has developed thousands of medicines that have saved millions...
Philosophy
The Ethics of Being an On-line Freerider
Farhad Manjoo has a wonderful article over at Slate entitled "Blocked Ads, Clean Conscience" in which he questions the moral status of ad blocking software. The ads on various websites are unwanted and disliked, but they are part of what allows the content on the page to exist. Things cost money and this applies to the delivery of online content. But with ad blocking software, we can get the spoonful of sugar without the medicine.
But, of course, that is a terrible metaphor. Medicine makes you healthy, marketing does not. Marketing is not merely drawing attention to products and serves, but actively trying to alter your views and perceptions about them to influence you to purchase them. In our house, it is a standard practice to mute all commercials -- even ones we would otherwise find cute or funny. We do not want our minds influenced by people who have nothing but maximizing corporate profits in mind and care not one whit what is in the best interest of me or my family.
So, is there something wrong with being an on-line freeloader? Are you not paying your fair share by blocking the ads? Is it reasonable to expect you to open your eyes and mind to influences you may not want in order to have your mind influenced by sources you seek out?
- Irony Can Be So Ironic: Tiger Woods Edition
The single best statement about the Tiger Woods fiasco comes from Paul at LGM, "Tiger Woods has become a billionaire by marketing himself so assidiously that he's now the most recognizable athlete, and indeed one of the most recognizable people, in...
- Senator Clinton, Here's Why Being Gay Is Not Immoral
Yesterday, in response to General Peter Pace?s homophobic outburst, Hillary Clinton balked at answering the question, ?Is homosexuality immoral?? punting with the statement, ?Well I'm going to leave that to others to conclude.? Senator Clinton? Glad...
- Amazon.com Will Fight The Sales Tax
Don't think of it as a sales tax but more like an "import duty". "Amazon Wants To Save You Money" Should shoppers care that its position on state sales tax is unfair and unethical? by Farhad Manjoo July 12th, 2011 Slate There are two powerful arguments...
- Access Denied
All too often a common feature. Sorry, you do not have access to this article. You have requested the following article: Philosophy of Science December 2002, Vol. 69, No. 4: pp. 645-651 Critical Notice: Scientific Civilization and Its Discontents: Further...
- Lexapro And Forest Laboratories...bad Ethics
Just more revelations of drug company greed and market manipulation. "A Drug Maker’s Strategy Revealed" by Gardiner Harris September 2nd, 2009 The New York Times The pharmaceutical industry has developed thousands of medicines that have saved millions...