this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
1489 points (96.3% liked)

Technology

72440 readers
2970 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

About 8 months ago I got pretty tired of seeing billionaire spam online. I could not bear to read about yet another rich guy who launched themselves (or their $200,000 car) into outer space πŸš€ . I did not care about their expert opinion on the latest meme coin back then. I do not care about their expert opinion on the dangers of AI today.

So... I developed a tiny, free, and open source Firefox browser add-on called "Block the Rich". It is completely local and private. No data is tracked. No data is phoned home.

The concept is pretty simple: whenever I load a web page, the extension quickly analyzes the content and intelligently blurs out any references to the Forbes Top 10 Billionaires. Some former and wannabe billionaires are blurred out of courtesy as well (I'm looking at you Trump and Kanye πŸ™„).

This project is a very early prototype that I built in the span of a few days. I have so many awesome ideas for enhancements but the truth is that the wind got completely knocked out of my sails when I put myself out there on Reddit many moons ago. There was absolutely zero public interest. To this day my wife and I are the only ones using the original prototype.

People of Lemmy, do you think there is a place on the internet for such a project, or is it time that I let it go?

Edit: I am blown away by the support from you all. Thank you! I am so excited to start polishing this baby up!

(page 3) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] pexavc@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

If this could be changed to add a UI element to identify self-proclaimed pundits I feel it would be better. I think just blocking people is not fair. But, being more aware of whom may help improve critical thinking.

[–] HRDS_654@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

But what if I want to make fun of their L takes.

[–] freehand8776@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

If you could find a way to funnel the blocked content’s address to pi-hole it would just never load which is better imo

[–] Tibert@compuverse.uk 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It's in a bit of a strange position.

It blurs the Images, but doesn't block the article or text?

Maybe for some people it can mean something, tho for me it's a bit of a not interesting feature. Like what is the purpose of bluring the image if I still get spammed with the article?

And this may be the real issue where you didn't get traction. The feature pretty useless for the majority of people.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] tasty4skin@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Very cool add on. I don’t really browse on a standard browser usually, but this is something I would add to my browser if I did. I feel the same as you, tired of billionaires thinking their hoarded wealth makes their opinions more valid or worth hearing.

[–] Grant_M@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 years ago

This is AMAZING! Thank you. Running it now :)

[–] yoz@aussie.zone 1 points 2 years ago (8 children)

Sad that Google is implementing Manifest V3.

load more comments (8 replies)
[–] realitista@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago

I love this! I also wouldn't mind to never hear from many of these buttholes again. Though I don't mind hearing from Gates, so maybe would be nice to choose which ones.

[–] albert@lemmy.sysctl.io 1 points 2 years ago

This is fantastic. I have but one request: Allow us to block any word / string we want :)

[–] Zatso@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I think it is a great idea. If this was an optional implementation to an adblock extension, I would totally use it. Just like I used to block nsfw content in my last phone with a custom ROM.

[–] BadRS@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I think you should be able to block people and companies. I’m tired of hearing about Tesla, people hyping Tesla, people doubting Tesla, bragging, complaining, questioning. I’m just done hearing about it.

[–] itsdavetho@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

your list of aliases could be turned into regexp's couldn't they ? To shorten/simplify and then be turned into a config

[–] Jake_Farm@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 years ago

Can I get one that applies to millionaire celebrities?

[–] DucktorZee@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago

Love it. Keep going.

[–] Talaraine@kbin.social 0 points 2 years ago

I need the opposite haha... Gimme content for @eattherich

This is a great idea, I love it. Keep going!

[–] db2@lemmy.one -1 points 2 years ago (9 children)

Is there a Chrom[e/ium] version by chance?

load more comments (9 replies)
load more comments
view more: β€Ή prev next β€Ί