I'm so sick of CAPITALISM I could scream!

[cilla4progress]

After researching a brand of outdoor equipment yesterday, now I am getting ads all over the place for it.

I realize this is nothing new, but my new laptop with new software is really accelerating this.

And don't get me started on Facebook.

I am starting to enjoy the internet less all the time. And we are thinking of getting TV for the 1st time in 20 years. Suppose I'll be sorry about that.

Books, outdoors, and my animals keep me healthy.

[cilla4progress]

1. Everything is just a vehicle for consumerism.

Except my animals and outdoors. And by and large books.

[pennylane100]

2. If you use Firefox

There is a do not track option. It has cut down a lot of the tracking that I now get although some ads still get through.

[cprise]

3. A couple of more robust options:

DoNotTrack+ and AdBlock+ add-ons

Try AdBlock+ first as that will cut out the ads and the distraction. Add DNT+ later if you still don't like the idea of being tracked.

[cilla4progress]

6. Thanks guys

changed my settings to "block all" in AVG. Will take a look at adblock now!

[cilla4progress]

5. Thanks.

I use Chrome with AVG virus protection. There is an icon in the upper right that says do not track ... ???

However, I just clicked it and it says "Google Analytics" is tracking me right now!

[cprise]

15. Commercial products like AVG

...don't have much of a track record on this subject; They get lazy and complacent and are part of the advertising juggernaut themselves Some even try to trick you into installing "toolbars" into your browser that "help" you by redirecting your traffic or giving you "suggestions" which are really advertisements.

Also you're using a browser given to you free by the largest advertising company in the world, Google. And yes, Google are known to be invasive (they even scan the contents of email for their advertising system). The earlier suggestion to move to Firefox is a good one; It's written by a nonprofit foundation that keeps the interests of computer users paramount.

[cilla4progress]

17. Firefox

Thanks. I didn't have great luck with Firefox in the past. Maybe better now?

[pansypoo53219]

4. correct term is crapitlism.

[davidpdx]

7. The key is to set all of your security options high

and don't ever click on anything that you think could be spam.

It's a dangerous world out there.

[lunatica]

8. TV has gotten just as bad if not worse

They actually show commercials in the lower corners for other shows while you're watching a show. Then the news shows have the ticker tape running along the bottom as if anyone can read and listen to the bloviating at the same time. And the commercials are endless!

You'll have a massive headache within half an hour. They rise the volume to an ear shattering decibel level during commercials too. And during chase scenes, etc. All to enhance our viewing pleasure I'm sure.

[brooklynite]

9. If we had Socialism, would the outdoor equipment have been available for you to research?

[cilla4progress]

11. Of course, a little cap or balance would be good

This unbridled swoon over consumerism - the American version of capitalism - is stomach-twisting.

There's no reason there can't be a sensible blend of capitalism and socialism. Some of the western European, Scandinavian economies provide good examples. Haven't experienced them directly, but it's what I read.

[brooklynite]

14. Perhaps, but your objection seemed to be about advertising...

...which is just as prevelant in "Socialist" countries.

[cilla4progress]

18. Both.

Thanks for great graphics!

[banned from Kos]

10. The internet is not privately owned.

But do you feel the same about magazine ads?

[cilla4progress]

12. I do, but they aren't as invasive

easier to turn the page and ignore them

I don't read many magazines, honestly. Find a lot of the articles boring and repetitive. Most "women's" magazines are aimed at women much younger (raising young families). I do like some "lifestyle" magazines, Sunset, and outdoor or natural history magazines - NatGeo, Canoe and Kayak. I only look at a few a year! And newspapers -- the ads immediately go into the recycle bin on the way into the house!

[former9thward]

16. In the U.S. the internet is almost all privately owned.

The infrastructure of the internet is almost all private. It started out as a military/government project but those days are long gone.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

13. Adblock Plus is a gem. ;-) nt