I don't pay because it feels like paying protection money to the mafia. "Here's an annoyance/danger we created for you. If you pay us, we'll stop doing it."
on the other hand, it's how their business model is able to work? People get wayyyy more views on YouTube than they do on Patreon or federated platforms or Nebula or Floatplane or or or or or or or
You don't see any adverts on youtube if you don't watch youtube.
My local cinema charges me to watch a film. Sure I could sneak in through the fire escape.
That's not paying protection money.
If they say "you can watch for free if you attend our timeshare presentation first", then that's still not paying protection money.
If I want a magician to entertain me at a party, it's not paying protection money. If they say "you can watch for free but only if you listen to me drivel on about some cause first" that doesn't either.
People on HN are unwiling to pay people to entertain them. Its astounding.
