I think the “optimism” cited is that this would ever end.

There’s a book series, the first of which is called Dark Eden, which is set on a planet substantially like that 🙂

Right now I’m reading The Little Dummer Girl by LeCarré, and it’s plenty depressing already. But I’ll put this on the queue.

I’ve been thinking about muckers ever since I read the book back in the early 2000s. Wish more people knew about it.

“Properly” and “should” are doing a lot of work here.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” has been my model 😉 And Wired aside, it does work phenomenally well. But I will take a look at your suggestion.

I use Block This! on my Android device, which essentially a pseudo-VPN that blackholes ad requests (as well as some trackers and miscellany). Wired bounces me immediately if I have it enabled.

They also paywall some ad-blockers.

Anyone have a non-paywall link?