There's a large difference between banning strong alcohol ads, and instantly collapsing a whole huge advertisement economy (that indirectly funds most of the free things people take for granted).

Either I misunderstand something or I'm baffled how anyone can consider that easy.

Not easy per se, but definitely doable. It's a relatively new economy, there's no blood oath anywhere saying we have to allow it.

We've banned literally all tobacco ads and its... fine. I mean not for the tobacco company, but who cares?

I'm not gonna advocate making the world worse so some people stay employed. That's so counter productive. Who knows - maybe in a less shitty world, new jobs will emerge!

In this case, the suggestion of banning advertising is drawing downvotes from me because I see it as politically unrealistic.

At least in my state, there isn’t even a ban on advertising online gambling!! It is quite a stretch to think we could move from there to banning any kind of advertising.

It has nothing to do with the fact that a bunch of HN readers make money from ads. I don’t.

Somewhat meta question, do you believe that down voting opinions we don't like is a good way of engaging with one another on HN?

I wish we could discuss the issue here, and instead would have liked to hear from you why you think it is a pitically unrealistic proposal, and what your criteria is for seeming something politically unrealistic.