[chmullig]

Web conversations like this are terrible. Clicks are a very small part of what advertisers are buying, even if that's how it's measured. Just like sometimes when you're at a cafe you buy a cup of coffee, but actually what you want is the nice space to work and an internet connection for a couple hours.

(Some) advertisers are actually smart. They do extensive, scientific research around attribution and effectiveness. Even if you don't click on ads, you're influenced by them (yes, you, too). They can track that, and it's a large part of what they're paying for. Just like TV ads.