Does advertising add colour and interest in our lives or are these subtle and not so subtle attempts to make us buy something?
There are those who think we are subliminally manipulated. http://www.subliminal-message.info/ (are real life ads this suggestive???)
There are messages of sex and other forbidden desires encoded in how ice cubes, drink cans, logos, etc are arranged in drink commercials. http://www.11points.com/Food-Drink/11_Hidden_Messages_In_Food_Ads_and_Logos
Are these warnings of subliminal manipulations overblown conspiracy theories or are we really moved by these suggestions?
Are the companies sponsoring these ads not concerned about the backlash from being exposed of manipulating? Do they know what is going on or is it just the advertising agency's way of getting an effective ad without telling the sponsoring companies?
Are we informed by the offering from the merchants? or are we unconsciously biased by these loaded messages while other valid, valuable ideas are left undiscovered because there is no commercial interest behind it?
In a way, advertising is no different than what lobbyist do with politicians and the general public in trying to shape the future of policies.
Are the publicity tactics of groups like Green Peace a form of advertising?
Advertisers and lobbyist are special interest groups with their own reasons for promoting the message they present to others.
How would we have adopted the microwave oven, cell phones, environmental awareness, and many other changes in recent years without advertising?
We have accepted many forms of "freebies" in our daily lives as a way to benefit both the advertiser and the consumer. Kind of a synergy to use a well used word.
We enjoy "free" television and radio while putting up with their advertising content as paid satellite radio and government supported radio are struggling. We use "free" insurance agent and investment advisers that are paid by insurance company and financial investments that we buy.
Is this a pact with the devil or the way to kill two birds with one stone?
Now let's look at the other side.
If you have a great idea that will benefit mankind, how are you going to communicate this to the rest of the world most efficiently? By words of mouth? waiting for the world to beat a path to your door?
Is advertising and lobbying not just an attempt at accelerating how we communicate to others? There is no compulsory adoption being applied.
http://www.adcracker.com/techniques/Advertising_Techniques.htm
As to manipulation of the messages, is this not a part of the characteristic of a free world where we try to minimise censorship so that many voices can be heard?
Is it not up to us to separate the valuable message from the noise out there?
For each of us to decide what is a good idea and what is not? That one person's good idea is another person's awful idea?
It seems an awful price to have to pay to be ever vigilant on our own against the cheats, computer virus, misleading information, and aggressive advertising out there just so that we can have a "free" society where everyone is allowed to express their opinion.
Or would we rather have some central authority censor and forbid information and advertising it deem not for the public good?
As an aid towards arming ourselves against advertisers and special interest group messages, you may be interested in this. http://www.slideshare.net/kjhatzi/common-advertising-strategies (just ignore the advertising that sponsor this!)
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