Pre-covid I was at an indoor kids play cafe where all the ‘work from home’ parents were getting shit done while their toddler played in the padded play area on a rainy day. I hear one parent whisper in aw “holy shit.” and I look up to see a woman pushing the door open with two baby car seats in hand and two girls in front of her. All the parents stop for a moment as we take in the sight of a mom with Two Sets of Twins. She had an amazing sparkle butt pack. We all felt like our lives just got a little easier after seeing what life could have thrown at us. A friend who has three kids once said to me “You don’t know how strong you are until you don’t have a choice.”
So, the banner ads are gone.
We never really liked them outside of the fact they helped pay the bills. However given current happenings, we’re super not comfortable with them anymore.
In our household we have started boycotting certain companies, and meanwhile I see these same hyper-corps living (relatively) rent-free next to our art. It just doesn’t sit right. Why pester you, our readers, to funnel more of your money into the hands of greedy oligarchs?
I tried blocking the companies from advertising on the site, and it actually worked, but there were just so many companies to block. Even if I blocked them all, ultimately some of the big tech companies would still be profiting greatly, giving them yet more money to wield against our collective interests.
So I just pulled the plug.
I was expecting to feel some great anxiety, but instead it was a great relief.
As for what’s next? We don’t know.
We might use the space to promote other things in the future, or nothing at all, but for now it’ll be a message of thanks(that some of you may already be familiar with).
Thank you for your support.
-obby