The HN community has an outspoken minority that believes: a) ads do not make money, b) ads do not work, and c) ads (targeting) are morally wrong.  My sense is that the silent majority recognizes just how massive the advertising business is (its demand generation, nothing more complicated) and how important it can be to all types of businesses across every sector of the economy.<p>Global advertising spend (est. 2015): $592B<p>Global digital ad spend (est. 2015): $170B<p>Global VC investment (est. 2014): &gt;$48B<p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.emarketer.com&#x2F;Article&#x2F;Advertisers-Will-Spend-Nearly-600-Billion-Worldwide-2015&#x2F;1011691" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.emarketer.com&#x2F;Article&#x2F;Advertisers-Will-Spend-Near...</a><p>[2] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pwc.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;en&#x2F;press-releases&#x2F;2015&#x2F;annual-venture-capital-investment-tops-48-billion.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pwc.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;en&#x2F;press-releases&#x2F;2015&#x2F;annual-venture-...</a>