There Is a Clear Difference

ragingthunderbolt:

nickheer:

Let’s start with two silly points:

I will ignore your quip about fanboys. It’s a stupid word with unwelcome connotations that does not promote discussion.

Those are scare quotes.

It’s still a lousy word.

(Sigh. I just can’t resist reblogging myself.)

How modest.

The parenthetical is self-irony.

And what I did is called “snark”. Move along.

Now that we got those out of the way, onto your substantial point:

Rather, I think it’s a case of unease over targeted advertising which mines your content.

So targeted advertising using keywords + algorithm is evil, but targeted advertising on niche sites is okay? The Syndicate etc. are targeted advertising. Again, I don’t have a problem with advertising. What I find rather bizarre is the skepticism of advertising from people who depend on advertising.

Can you not see the difference between mining and storing targeted data across the web and specific advertising? Really?

I’ll refer to another of Marco Arment’s posts:

Google:

[…]

We solicit all of your personal information and track everything you do to make things better for you.

[…]

Everyone has their bullshit. You can simply decide whose you’re willing to tolerate.

I, and I suspect these critics, are intolerant of this. That’s the point. It isn’t that advertising is bad, or that targeted advertising is wrong. The problem lies with the tracking stuff. Some are fine with it, but I am not. There is a clear difference.

Source: ragingthunderbolt