YouTube ads - my frustrations

 

I watch a lot of YouTube videos during the day.  I find that much of the content (including some of the AI generated "slop") is more interesting than mainstream news TV, as one can get a wider range of short form media than being delivered on the mainstream channels.  Right now, I have a video on which explains all of the different type of wires/transmission protocols that can be used to transmit data.  A few minutes ago, I had on one of the many "talking heads" discussing today's political mess.  And a few minutes from now, I might be playing a video of some performance I enjoyed in the past.  But, there is a problem: The Ads.

YouTube ads can be quite useful.  But sometimes, they can be quite annoying.  For example, I am mostly monolingual.  Yet, I often get ads in Spanish.  At best, these messages are lost on me, and I can ignore them.  Yet, sometimes, they can be quite annoying if they appear way too often.  And I will avoid their sponsors if these ads come up too often.

This year, we are being subjected to way too many political ads, most of them attacks, distortions or lies. For example, I recently viewed a political ad while at RQS's place.  Even though she lives in a different congressional district than I do, she also receives the same political slop that I receive in NY-17.  Since NY-17 is a contestable district, I have seen ads labeling the Democratic candidate as a Socialist.  RQS and I ask, what's wrong with Socialism when Capitalism keeps failing us?  I'll admit that my mind is already made up my mind regarding candidates I'll vote for, and I don't want to view any more of these ads.  So, why can't I block these ads?

Lately, I've started to see QVC/HSN advertise Jewelry on YouTube ads sent to my TV.  Although I am interested in buying costume jewelry, I can not wear bracelets of short length necklaces.  It's one of the problems I have being born in the wrong gender body type.  Since I can't reject these ads and I don't find them offensive, I let them play if the TV is on mostly for noise.  Yet, if there is an ad I can't stand, I will look for the remote and mute the TV until the video I want resumes.

Well, enough for now.  More tomorrow.. 

Politics - I hate all the ads

 

Not many of us would recognize the above snapshot from a political ad from the 1960's.  It only aired once, and its impact was devastating.  This ad implied that if Barry Goldwater was elected, we'd have World War 3. It was one of the best ads to air only once, as it scared people into NOT voting for Goldwater.  And, in many ways, it led to many of the scare tactic / "vote against" ads we see today.

Lately, my TV has been bombarded with ads for the Democratic and Republican candidates for Congress in NY-17.  The incumbent, a Republican, does very little for our district, and his only accomplishment is to have increased the SALT (state & local  tax) deduction  to $40k for the next 3 years.  At the same time, he voted to gut much of the federal government safety net that takes care of many of America's poor and unemployed.  His opponent will get my vote, simply because she is Anti-Trump, where the incumbent is solidly Pro-Trump.

Although this is a mid-term election, it is as important as most presidential elections, as it may give the Democratic party the power to check our current president.  I'm hoping for this, as I'm tired of our Orange Monster blaming all of his failures on everyone else.  Given that we're in an illegal war with Iran, our president needs to stop the monster before he goes completely bonkers (if one could say he hasn't done so already).

I expect that in 2 years, our presidential election ads will make it impossible to watch TV without getting disgusted by the ads.  The Democrats will bet everything to regain the presidency when the monster is supposed to leave office, and the Republicans will be fighting to retain the presidency.  Given that virtually no one in the Republican party was willing to check the monster when they could, I expect that they will continue the culture wars that the monster made part of his toolkit.  

It'll take a lot of money, time and effort to undo the damage our president has done to our country and the world.  I hope that this mid-term election becomes America's start to undo the harm the Orange Monster has visited on all of us.