Comments on: Does constant exposure to advertising screw up our heads and lives?

By: An Overview ~ So Far… « Polynomial

An Overview ~ So Far… « Polynomial — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:51:56 +0000

[...] Susan Blackmore provides here very deep and penetrating look into what We, as human beings, are… In many ways one may find this the most troubling point of all. But ultimately, when one lets go of one’s egocentric delusion, it will become clear how natural and sound an explanation this observation realy is. Once we understand the delicate nature of how easily we can be led into making decisions, then we can begin to ask the important question about how this occurs? [...]

By: eric

eric — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:43:05 +0000

Hate to break it too you, but thats the way of capitalism.

By: glinda

glinda — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:31:27 +0000

Advertising, however heinous its effects, would seem to be protected under the freedom of speech clause in the Constitution. You can’t define free speech as speech you think is socially benign; that’s what all censors do. I don’t think much of Internet pornography, either–so much of it is astonishingly degrading to women, and it’s scary that young boys are growing up thinking it’s reality, and it’s normative to call women “anal pigs” and rape them in their sleep. But free speech is one of our cherished liberties. As a journalist, I honk for it. It is possible to raise kids who are largely advertising-resistant; my parents did it. I don’t actually watch TV, and I rip the ads out of magazines and toss them before I start reading, because I want the magazines to open to where I’m reading, not to where someone is shilling something I clearly don’t need since I’m doing fine without it.

I don’t know what to do about the problem that the U.S. economy would fail if everyone was like me.

By: glinda

glinda — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:03:40 +0000

The real problem is that our economy is utterly dependant on people buying stuff. All the time. If they stopped, the economy would tank. Since almost all American adults already own what they need, by any sane standard, that means buying stuff they don’t need.

How do you resolve that problem?

By: I'm emo for a good reason

I'm emo for a good reason — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:00:55 +0000

Not all advertising is bad. If an orphanage needs money for sustainance and wants to raise a benefit, it has to use advertising if anyone is goign to be there. Unfortunately, huge corporations like Toyota are able to afford the massive advertising industry on television and on billboards.

MacDonalds is the biggest advertising industry in the world. According to a survey in 1997, more young children recognised Ronald MacDonald in USA than Jesus Christ. So many people have been subjected to their propaganda that most of the world eat it without even thinking about the money they are wasting. Thanks to their happy smiley slushy toys and adverts America has got fat but doesnt think to look for the main source.

I recommend the book ‘Fast Food Nation’ by Eric Schlosser. It really showed me the mighty power of advertising (and made me cynical and emo, a warning to you all who research that kind of thing.)

By: Sao Paulo bans most outdoor advertising | Dangerous Intersection

Sao Paulo bans most outdoor advertising | Dangerous Intersection — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:35:07 +0000

[...] have a special interest in pulling the plug on much of the advertising to which we are exposed (and see here and here), especially advertising in public spaces. I think of it as corporate [...]

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:50:56 +0000

The National Union of Teachers warns that children must be “protected” against increasingly sophisticated marketing and advertising tactics that present “several levels of danger” to young people.

The NUT study says the rise in childhood obesity highlights the dangers of advertising unhealthy food to children

Companies are accused of routinely hiring child and consumer psychologists to “help them target children effectively”, with devastating consequences for the health and wellbeing of youngsters.

The damning research is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the increasing impact of advertising on children.

Youngsters are exposed to about 10,000 adverts every year on television, in addition to hundreds of “pop-ups” on the internet. The average 10-year-old is aware of between 300 and 400 different brands.

For the entire article, see here.

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:09:06 +0000

Sao Paulo, Brazil, has recently banned all outdoor billboard advertising, claims this site. [click here]

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:28:48 +0000

I should have added this link about less-than-honest milk advertisements to this post. I’ll add it here: http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=427

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:24:21 +0000

Thank you for organizing and researching something I’ve felt to be true for a while now. Advertising, the commercial media, and “stuff” all act to subdue the people and keep their minds locked into petty fantasy. Thank the deity of your choice for teachers who promote critical thinking, parents who care enough to turn the TV off once in a while (or throw it out altogether) and organisations that work to bring the real issues to attention through the fog of Desperate Housewives and CSI.