Mind, also, that if we are talking about ethics: is downloading and displaying the ads enough? Am I ethically obligated to actually view or read the ads? If not, is the website acting ethically accepting money for something it cannot guarantee to the advertiser its users will do? What if you are paying for a subscription of some kind? Is it ethical to block ads then? Or is it even ethical for the site to try to show ads if you are already paying them?
If the advertiser told you you had to read them thoroughly, then you might be obligated. However, when content owners put up ads normally all they ask you (/your browser) to do is display them.
> What if you are paying for a subscription of some kind? Is it ethical to block ads then? Or is it even ethical for the site to try to show ads if you are already paying them?
I am not sure. If the advertiser says in your agreement that your subscription fee is the sole payment you need to give them, then blocking ads would surely be fine if they display them. If not, probably still not ethical, though I'm a little more gray on it. It is certainly ethical for content providers to ask payment in composite form from you, but they should be straightforward with you about whether or not you will be expected to display ads even after you pay for their service.
