I decided that I'm putting up a Google AdSense widget. Look for it to appear in the next few days. I'm also going to put AdSense in my RSS feed. I decided against text-link-ads, because there's no RSS option. Does my blog gets more RSS traffic than direct visits? (I really should set up FeedBurner.)
For those of you who feel strongly about it, there's a FireFox extension that blocks AdSense. I haven't tried it, so I don't know if it works.
The arguments against putting up an AdSense widget were unconvincing. Most of the anti-AdSense comments were Anonymous, so I have no way of knowing if they were all posted by a different person or all by the same. There were non-Anonymous commenters arguing in favor of AdSense. Some of them have their own blogs or websites, so they're not completely Anonymous.
I'll review the arguments against AdSense.
Google AdSense is collecting information on users!
Google can already do this just by owning Blogger. They get the IP address of everyone who visits my blog. I already have Google Analytics installed, which you can block via NoScript.
If you're that paranoid about privacy, use Tor. The NSA probably has already infiltrated the Tor network, but they probably don't care about tracking people reading my blog. If anything, people accessing my blog via Tor might draw the bad guys' attention to my blog!
When I first started blogging, I was super-paranoid about the evil power of the State. I've mellowed out since. The State derives its power from the fact that most of the enforcers are not themselves consciously aware that the State is evil.
The State seems more powerful than it actually is. Most of my friends, relatives, and coworkers will say "You're an idiot, FSK!", if I mention any of my free market economics ideas to them. State police don't need to violently suppress debate. My friends and relatives do a fine job on their own. This creates the illusion of State omnipotence.
Just because the bad guys are collecting a lot of data, doesn't mean they're capable of using it intelligently! Any automated spying system that flagged my blog as dangerous would generate too many false positives to be useful. Any State enforcer who reads my blog regularly would probably eventually start agreeing with me.
Are the bad guys really that clever that they're using "People who read FSK's blog." as a list of people to murder when TSHTF? When TSHTF, the bad guys are going to have bigger problems and a lack of resources! Of course, I can never convince you that I'm not a spy planted by the State to compile a list of intelligent people to murder/harass.
The best defense to "People who read FSK's blog might be harassed (or FSK himself)" is to attract as many readers as possible!
I'll stop readng if you install AdSense!
I'll be looking at my Google Analytics statistics. I doubt I'll see any discrepancy larger than the usual random noise. For example, a lot of people go on vacation at the end of December, which means fewer readers.
Based on my experience, commenters who say "**** you FSK, I'm leaving!" usually weren't contributing much anyway.
AdSense revenue supports the State!
Until there's an advanced counter-economy, all wage slave labor supports the State.
For now, I can use State resources against the State, if I can promote agorism and show a profit at the same time.
You should solicit donations instead!
This is seriously worth considering. Unfortunately, via Blogger, I can't hide AdSense for registered users who have donated. If/when I move to my own domain, I'll try that. On my own domain, I may collect donations and give some type of better service to donators.
The argument in favor of AdSense is that I want to move to my own domain and want to see if I can raise $10/month to justify the expense. I predict I'll be able to clear $10/month, but I want to verify first.
I want to roll my own PHP forum engine, and for that I need my own domain and hosting. I'll need my own domain to start operating AgoristBay. I want to expand the services I'm offering beyond blogging.
Eventually, I'd like to be able to promote agorism and show a profit at the same time! I'm looking into other possibilities.
17 comments:
Good job.
And good job blowing off the complainers. People who are not into Adsense, should be offering to donate. That's how a free market works, you pay for the things you support and want to continue enjoying.
I have been fallowing your progress for about a year now. I can see you growing in understanding and ability. And I look forward to see how you apply your talents in the future. You present your message in a unique way.
I still feel that it is your destiny to bring others into your vision!!
Fritz
FSK, I will do something I rarely do. I will personally send you a cash gift of $60 to get you through the next 6 months without AdSense. It will give you a chance to reconsider your decision. I am serious. The gift needs not be reported unless you are receiving more than $10000 in gifts per year.
Perhaps you will reconsider using Google analytics as well and move to an off-google blog (I think there are a few free ones).
If you are interested, we can use an anonymous email service to make the arrangements.
I think there are others who feel the same way.
I will counter your argument that 'the state is stupid' and 'the state will have too much to do to bother with small potatoes' with these:
-the information collected will NEVER be erased. In the future the state may find one or more individual to cross-corellate information in a way that will hurt one or more people.
-the state has infinite resources, both money and people (for all practical purposes).
-it is risky to base future assumptions on a shallow understanding (no offense, who knows what they are really doing?) of what a large organization is capable of today.
Bravo, now get on with it already :)
BTW, the Firefox extension is Adblock Plus, http://adblockplus.org/. I run it myself, and recommend it. I sometimes disable it for friends' sites in order to give them the occasional random-seeming clickthrough, though all my other ad- and mal-ware blocking tools usually prevent even that from working ;)
That's fine. I will boycott your blog when you add your adsense widget.
"Of course, I can never convince you that I'm not a spy planted by the State to compile a list of intelligent people to murder/harass."
LOL!! That was another good one!
Google owns enough people you don't need to worry about yourself.
Fsk,,you might just want to take anonymous up on his/her offer..It would be at no risk,its a bird in the hand( a sure thing) that,s how the free market works. Your mission objective of a self supporting internet site is achieved for the next 6 months.And you haven't lost anything and you can still go back to your original plan in 6 months.Also you might be on to something.You could possibly receive more gifts( donations) than the income your adds would make. Consider this angle,,actually,,I am willing to donate also to further this cause and your site..I still have your address written down from when you posted it..
Fritz
The point anonymous is missing, is that Google is tracking you regardless.
I don't think people understand how far and deep Google reaches.
I mean, does anonymous really think he is anonymous when he posts or visits Blogger? Your entry and exits are tracked. Across all google properties, across all private parties running analytics or adsense. I'd say 80% of your browsing is tracked already, if not 99%.
Where does trying to manipulate FSK end? He has a gmail account. Should he get rid of that?
Anonymous, I know your type. You'll keep reading this blog. Just as you read other blogger blogs, and visit hundreds of sites with analytics installed, and you don't even know it.
You people (some of you) just don't get it.
Do you think this site is what, an air for those who want to stay anonymous? You think we NEED this crappy blog?
You reason, that since FSK has done such a good work, attracting us here, by pretending to meddle with agorism, while being simply another taxable loser, we no have nowere to go?
Now, that FSK finally shuts the hatch closed, he can sit and enjoy his $10 a month (???wtf???), either by milking for donations or selling us to Google?
If that's the case, you really need to broaden your $10 horizons. I spend probably 10 times as much a month, that I can't even account for since it is nothing. You must have been really good, FSK, if that was the plan. I was under impression you're adult. Not some $10 seeking kid. Or, more likely this is what your boss told you to say. $10. Very smart. Make us think we deal with an imbecile kiddie?
The reality is, that while FSK may not need the readers of this blog, the readers certainly don't need FSK.
It was nice, while it lasted. The flirt with an idea that FSK is the guy who cares about the issue, and his blog is not a big deal, may-be a window to the world, may-be a way to hold a company of like-minded individuals.
There is no such "niche" as to sell web services to those without "shopping addictions". We "NEED" only the things we "NEED". You can't create a thing and train us into "NEEDing" it. If FSK is simply a businessman, who thinks agorists can be suckered just like socker moms, into some shopping experience, be it buying things they don't need or begging for some blog to remain open.... he is very much wrong.
There was already enough discussion of this matter, for me to realize that I am NOT in the company of like-minded, that there is no forum here.
I am not saying that someone has to provide this "posting experience" for free. I don't need it. I do it for free with those I know locally. It is no different than I am being a friend to my friend. There is no charge. I thought this guy wants to make his circle a bit wider, cool!
After all that has been said here with regards to latest "$10" developments, I don't even feel like posting anymore WITH or WITHOUT Google.
I don't feel like FSK is real. He thinks and act like a troll or a salesman, not like an agorist. I can't trust him.
With or without AdSence, he could be simply a plant, a plant by some government body. Here he has us all cottoned and spitting out our every thought, and what do we know about FSK? He certainly does not think like an Agorist. He braggs a ton about being an agorist, but in reality, this slave will sell you all with all your secrets for $10 a month! He sure did post some agorist articles... But his line of thought today has nothing to do with what he started with.
I am thinking I should have passed this blog the very first day I saw it. I conclude that to all of us, it should be very clear by now, that there is nothing agoristic about FSK.
To a friend that offered a donation: I understand your feelings. I'd donate myself. I do from time to time, not much, twice or thrice of FSK expected monthly income only. But this isn't how it should be. This guy EXPECTS it, he is already thinking of holding you hostage. This ain't the place.
For me it was a chance to have a group of people who think like I do. I'd let them know what I know, and they teach me something I have missed. To meet the guy who offered $60.
Now what?
What vision are you talking about, fritz? A vision of how to milk agorists? "You wouldn't have suspected, but agorists can be milked too!"?
And you Dixie? You're stupid fucking moron! This is how free market works? I didn't realize this was a market, ok? Go ahead and continue your reading-base building. I have nothing to do with you or likes of you. I didn't come here to get something. I am paying my way for everything I need. If I am not getting anything, then you getting nothing, and this is how free market works.
You wanted to charge me for friendship? Guess what, you ain't WORTH it, as a friend.
Ouch, dissapointedone needs a hug.
No big deal, really. Does he not read any blogs or sites that don't have ads? I am seriously confused by this, because that's how he's acting.
You should set up a PayPal donate though, it doesn't take much effort.
LOL, we've got agorists who don't believe in a market or profit!
Too rich. I knew the left was soft in the head, but this really takes the cake.
Agorist free riders. HA!
Look out FSK, apparently the agorist left thinks they own you, your time and your blog.
BLOG SLAVE, AND MAKE IT GOOD! ON YOUR KNEES BLOG SLAVE, TELL ME ABOUT AGORISM!
haha the post by DisappointedOne is the funniest thing i have read in a while. he doesn't care one bit! that's why he posted that diatribe.
This is becoming a complete waste of time.
A person who believes in freedom and agorism would simply avoid statist informers. But here we have a person who wants to be a state informer!
For fun, he sits and watches the google analytics statistics (to brag about unique users and such nonsense).
He bashes anonymous users! That's a good one! He would prefer you register with Google!
He wants to make $10 a month on the books to become an agent and flames endlessly when reasonable arguments are presented.
$10? WTF! Really, that is our agorist leader!
Time to move on. So long, suckers!
PS. The content has gone downhill the last few days. Santa, sports, crap....
To DixieFlatline and citizen stefish, you guys sound like trolls, whether you actually intended to act maliciously or not. Both of your last posts contain emotional rants, without rational explanation. DixieFlatline emboldened and capitalized his last sentence, just to instigate responses. citizen stefish ridiculed another Anonymous user. While I may agree with both of your stances, I do not agree with your troll'ish attitude.
If both of you, DixieFlatline and citizen stefish, really want to look acknowledged and reliable, you guys should rationally elucidate your justifications, as opposed to extravagantly utter your emotions.
Dear FSK,
Does it actually worth all that fuss to earn only ten Federal Reserve Notes every month? While funding a third of the income, as taxes, to the State? Though I would support Adsense if you can make $1000, I do not see it worthwile to earn the extra ten dollars while compromising your appearance.
Agorists make wealth form other trading partners. Agorists do not disclose nor pay their income earned from their agoric practices, to the State. This is an agorist blog! So this blog should not support the State, by paying taxes to the State from its Adsense income.
Plenty of other, more moral, methods to earn wealth exist. Sometimes way more than Adsense.
I hope you do the right thing.
Thank you,
Anonymous
FSK,
Who would have thought this would be such a touchy subject for some. Chances are you could count the number of people on one hand who will boycott your blog... if any.
It's extremely contradictory, for anyone on this blog, who is an adult that pays income taxes, to ridicule you for paying taxes on this blog. You have a slave wage job as you've stated (or had one). So it's OK for FSK the agorist seeker to have a slave wage job... but he can't make money on his blog. That's evil, which somehow supercedes having a job. That makes no sense.
Either these people are kids, or they aren't worth worrying over.
Besides the best way to achieve agorism is with people you actually know. We're not logging into this blog trying to find people to mow our yards so that we can pay them under the table.
This blog is a medium for you to share your thoughts with others. It is not a business model for agorism.
I don't even know where to start with the Adsense complainers. No, earning money from The Google is not ideal, but it can be preferable to other things and a step in the right direction. While neither is ideal, earning money as an independent contractor from Google ads is better than working as an employee for a company that gets paid by Google and then pays your wages.
Monetizing a blog or any website is a no-brainer. I think the mistake on FSK's part is even discussing it. While making money through website monetization can be a tool towards an agorist direction, most of your readers will not understand anything about this. If you want to talk about that stuff, write an SEO or "moneymaking" blog or just discuss these things with those of us who understand.
As far as taxes go, people are making a lot of assumptions. If you do make $10 a month, I doubt there will be any reporting involved. And if there is a reason that taxes must be filed, the blog would probably show a loss. If you are using Adsense to fund hosting fees, there is no profit to tax.
Personally, I find that there are many ways to make a living without having a corporate job, and while they may involve dealing with corporations like Google, it is certainly a step in the right direction and it makes it easier to limit exposure to the State. People who fail to see that are blind and/or absolutists.
If I understand agorism correctly ANY transactions outside the State are agorist activities and a positive. Of course, the more the better. But it is a process. It's not an All or Nothing thing. If you can transition into agorism and use the State to accomplish your goals I don't really see the issue.
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