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The reactions are in from YouTube users about the addition of video ads, and it's a wholly negative response. Part of the issue is that the YouTube blog tried to spin this as a way of putting users in control (obviously unwanted ads provide less control, not more), and partly it's the end of the free lunch that YouTube has given users thus far. Some selected responses to the announcement:
To me this is more about honesty and fairness. It would have been fairer if you had said, "we are doing this because we are in it to make money". Or not done it at all.
Overlay ads are unacceptable to me. It's a free country, but if you put ads on your videos I will not view them. Many of my friends feel the same way. Get a grip!
I hate the new advertising scheme and also believe that, if it must be used, put it at the end of the video so I can more easily ignore it (shut it off).
This is Sh*t. Now really I have nothing against some ads next to de video, beneath the video, etc.. But NOT INSIDE the video. They have it already on metacafe and it SUCKS.