You know, I'm the type of person that operates as you would like most people to (i.e. NoScript, Adblock, RequestPolicy, BetterPrivacy, etc.), and by reading your comments you've made me realize how I've been kind of a jerk for installing these things on friends' machines. They get annoyed and call me asking what I did to their machines (and how to "fix" it).
Obviously, I should've explained the use of and showed them how to use these add-ons, but such things are difficult to do in a casual/ social context. Many of the concepts are foreign, and there is a whole set of jargon that requires explanation in the first place. These are non-technical, yet educated, people in their 30s for whom most of this seems academic. So, I've just installed, and hoped they'd figure it out. I wish it were easy, but it's not; now, I'm certain I will no longer do this because I don't want them to "get used to it" for any reason other than that is what they choose to do.
That's a great approach and I admire your honesty. I think users should always have a choice. At the moment, there is a big assumption made which is the problem.
Obviously, I should've explained the use of and showed them how to use these add-ons, but such things are difficult to do in a casual/ social context. Many of the concepts are foreign, and there is a whole set of jargon that requires explanation in the first place. These are non-technical, yet educated, people in their 30s for whom most of this seems academic. So, I've just installed, and hoped they'd figure it out. I wish it were easy, but it's not; now, I'm certain I will no longer do this because I don't want them to "get used to it" for any reason other than that is what they choose to do.