From 14a81dc35846e98f1ae690e7923d7ad176082cc8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Zhiming Wang Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 12:30:06 -0700 Subject: 20150925 Removing Google Analytics from this blog --- .../2015-09-25-removing-google-analytics-from-this-blog.md | 14 ++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 14 insertions(+) create mode 100644 source/blog/2015-09-25-removing-google-analytics-from-this-blog.md (limited to 'source') diff --git a/source/blog/2015-09-25-removing-google-analytics-from-this-blog.md b/source/blog/2015-09-25-removing-google-analytics-from-this-blog.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..df7ea6bf --- /dev/null +++ b/source/blog/2015-09-25-removing-google-analytics-from-this-blog.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +title: "Removing Google Analytics from this blog" +date: 2015-09-25T12:30:25-07:00 +date_display: September 25, 2015 +--- +There was a lengthy discussion about Peace and ad-blocking in [Accidental Tech Podcast Episode 136](http://atp.fm/episodes/136). There were many lessons to learn from the story; as a side effect, it also made me reconsider Google Analytics on this blog. + +I've been a user of ad-blocking for years and have little to no moral burden.[^1][^2] I do hate being tracked online, even by Google (to whom I entrust so much my personal information), although it's certainly better (I believe) than the host of shadier ad networks out there. Given this, why should I force something even I hate down my visitors' throats? Google Analytics is nice at telling me how many page views I get and where they are coming from, and I don't earn any money so I shouldn't feel guilty about it, but (1) it does install a tracker, and (2) I care very little about traffic anyway. + +At this point the decision is pretty clear. I'm simply removing Google Analytics from this blog. This makes the blog entirely cookie-free and JS-free (except the very occasional JS embed). + +[^1]: I do try to support websites I frequent, e.g., through [Ars Premier](https://arstechnica.com/subscriptions/). + +[^2]: Although it's easy to be a user of ad-blocking, I fully understand the moral (or even legal) burden of being the developer of an ad-blocker, let alone being the "face" of the ad-blocking industry; therefore, I understand and respect Marco's decision of pulling Peace. -- cgit v1.2.1