That is the core of their business though and that fact seems pretty clear from basic research, what did you expect? If you find advertising/tracking reprehensible, why would you agree to an interview in the first place?
I had fewer ethics then, as I was still basically a bright eyed kid. Also I had never been financially well off, and therefore had never really been able to afford being principled. And honestly I truly did not realize how pervasive advertising was for google.
That sounds extremely naive. It's like being surprised by how pervasive basketball is for the LA Lakers. I mean, what exactly did you believed the company did?
I was not born in Silicon Valley. Could have probably talked to you a little about potato farming though, and the purchase of Hannaford by Del Haize