How do people find new products or services without some form of advertising? Yeah everything you said was bad, but they all have solutions if the government is willing. Many countries do not allow advertisements of pharmaceuticals, for example.
Products and services should only be findable when you actually need them. Think using a search engine to find a specific good, or a business sign labeling an establishment. Such bare bones information could be considered advertising, but it does less to to drive human behavior than facilitate it. It’s not convincing you to get something, but helping you get what you already decided you need.
The advertising problem, like all problems in capitalism, stem from the ever increasing desire to outcompete and be the only power in town; the need to not just meet the needs of society, but have more power than everyone else in society. Competition drives innovation, but to what end?
Spoiler alert: the end is holding power over fellow men, not making life better for you or them. This evolutionary force optimizes for something other than you as an individual, just like Darwinian evolution.
Searchable directories like what? Word of mouth and community recommendations is just kicking the can, how are those people supposed to find new things?
Like websites. Search indexing won’t suddenly become illegal.
How do you find mortar mix, nails, books, tooth brushes, cats, porn, or cool web comics? Probably not ads. You go looking, or someone you know tells you about them.
PS Because tone is hard to convey in text, let me just make it clear that I’m not trying to be combative or dunk on you or anything. I’m pretty against ads, but understand not everyone views the world as I do.
How do people find new products or services without some form of advertising? Yeah everything you said was bad, but they all have solutions if the government is willing. Many countries do not allow advertisements of pharmaceuticals, for example.
Products and services should only be findable when you actually need them. Think using a search engine to find a specific good, or a business sign labeling an establishment. Such bare bones information could be considered advertising, but it does less to to drive human behavior than facilitate it. It’s not convincing you to get something, but helping you get what you already decided you need.
The advertising problem, like all problems in capitalism, stem from the ever increasing desire to outcompete and be the only power in town; the need to not just meet the needs of society, but have more power than everyone else in society. Competition drives innovation, but to what end?
Spoiler alert: the end is holding power over fellow men, not making life better for you or them. This evolutionary force optimizes for something other than you as an individual, just like Darwinian evolution.
There was a sticker to put on your mailbox a long time ago:
“Publicity no thank you, Information yes thank you” (or something along those lines).
Publicity is trying to sugarcoat information, we never need that.
Searchable directories. Word of mouth. Community recommendations.
Or just ask the person at the store that sells the things.
Searchable directories like what? Word of mouth and community recommendations is just kicking the can, how are those people supposed to find new things?
Like websites. Search indexing won’t suddenly become illegal.
How do you find mortar mix, nails, books, tooth brushes, cats, porn, or cool web comics? Probably not ads. You go looking, or someone you know tells you about them.
PS Because tone is hard to convey in text, let me just make it clear that I’m not trying to be combative or dunk on you or anything. I’m pretty against ads, but understand not everyone views the world as I do.