: : Does anyone agree?
: With what? You've made some very nice statements but I cant find anything to debate besides a few side notes here and there. That's because I'm expressing an opinion, and not proposing a change to the system. I asked "Does anyone agree [with my opinion]?"
I know that this could be percieved as cowardly, to attack one institution without proposing an alternative, but I can't for sure say that banning adverts would have good or bad effects on society because I don't have a crystal ball. I'm trying to work out what's wrong with the current system, before I work out how to change/scrap it. My posting was step one, not step two.
: Instead of looking for education from advertising, how about we look to our educators (parents, schools, .... local philosiphers) to make sure we can sift through the waves of advertising.
Good plan. I myself formulated my (Admittedly extreme) opinion of advertising after being taught about related subjects in college. The role of the 'educators' you mention is probably not so much to inform as to discuss. If we can keep ideas flowing and changing then we should raise the general intelligence of the public to a point where it can see through the waves of advertising. As part of this process I'm here, now, contributing my ideas to the pool.
: It is a much better comment on society to say we are people that are above such common denominator tactics, then to say that we had to get rid of it all together in order to protect ourselves.
Do you mean better accuracy comment, or better optimistically comment. You seem to have made two points in the above sentence. I believe that both the viewpoints which you mentioned are wrong (that doesn't mean I disagree with you). I agree that it probably isn't wise to simply say get rid of it to protect ourselves because of the widespread effects being so unpredictable. But I sadly I feel that we as society aren't above such common denominator tactics, or else they wouldn't work.
I don't think I've disagree'd with you too much.
Thanks for responding.
Stu
