cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/1891205

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 🚀 . 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 🙄).

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?

  • AMuscelid@lemm.eeEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    The concept is hilarious and really presses the spite dopamine button in my brain.

  • CatBusBand@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Don’t let the flame die, OP!! This is a really good idea for an add-on. I like what the other commenters said to add custom blocking and a per site restriction.

  • Jeena@jemmy.jeena.netEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Damn, did you read what I wrote about 2 month ago?

    https://jeena.net/notes/1352
    I wish there was a browser plugin which would remove anything about Elon Musk from any website I’m visiting. Somehow his remarks are getting more and more stupid.

    It seems I asked the univerlse for something and it delivered! Thank you so much!

  • Fuck Work@slrpnk.netEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I love this idea. Will definitely look into installing on my desktop. I’m working on a searxng instance that filters out all the toxic sources that think they own the internet also. Its also very much a work in progress, but yeah, these putzes get too much attention on the internet and anything we can do for our own peace of mind to delete them from pur lives is absolutely worth doing. I put a lot of filters on mastodon to the same end and it has made my social media experience so much more enjoyable.

  • M_Djallo@feddit.itEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    I want this but for reality. And instead of blurring them, it burns them. Also, it goes way beyond the Forbes top 10, to every piece of shit with a useless giant SUV. Is it possible?