Do normal people mute the ads or just let the television keep going?
I diligently mute them, I'm a freak I cannot stand them. But from the nature of many people's complaints about ads, it seems like they listen to them and want to retain the words they've said?
I record everything I watch. Record now and watch later. Then I fast forward through the commercials. If something seems interesting I'll go back and actually watch it.
Don't know what service you go through or where, buty parents have had the unfortunate pleasure of recording some things (don't remember what because I don't pay attention to the TV often anymore of I can help it) through Xfinity and have fast forwarding through the small commercial breaks feature disabled.