i think the reason ads are such a widely attractive revenue stream is probably because they’re kind of an odd exception: it’s one of the few non-consensual economic interactions that hasn’t been made illegal. they’re kind of in the same category of thing, albeit with lesser severity, as “guy washes your car while you’re waiting in traffic and then demands payment” or maybe even “guy takes your phone and runs away with it”
@jk several years ago i was in paris for a work thing in the first time ever leaving the country and not speaking a lick of french, an older man stopped me and asked "if he could take my picture", i didn't really get a good look at what he had but i think it was an old-fashioned instant camera type of deal, i thought he was just a photographer doing stuff for himself so i said sure, and he does and then extends his arm "ok that's [some amount of euros]" that i didn't have in cash at the time
@mavica_again oh yeah I’ve heard of this!