Advertising Is Evil

one more time

Evil is a strong word. Maybe the title should be “Advertising is Bad.” Bad isn’t quite as strong, like big verses giant. Big doesn’t have the same power, yet both essentially mean the same thing, though we may interpret giant as bigger than big.

The dictionary definition clearly distinguishes evil from bad. Evil is profoundly bad. Although the dictionary doesn’t add intent to the meaning, as we generally use the word to imply malintent. Good people sometimes do bad things, but they aren’t evil. One has to go beyond making an error of judgment to be evil—one has to mean it. Yet, those who are called evil think they are doing good. No one actually intends evil.

Still, it may be a good idea to draw a line between bad and evil. Nothing is completely good nor bad. Oxygen is good, too much is lethal, then you could argue it’s evil. It’s the same with water, necessary for life, but too much will kill you. For the most part, oxygen and water are good more than bad. It would be a mistake to call either evil. On the other hand, sulfuric acid is toxic to all life, corrosive to rock and many metals, violently reactive with water. It could be called evil because the danger it poses is greater than its good.

It’s been said before, advertising is evil, and it seems no one believes it. Most think it’s not even bad. They think calling it evil is hyperbole, the ridiculous ravings of a raging ranter. Well. . ,

think again.

—Ask yourself, “What’s in it for me?”

—I learn about new products and services that I may be interested in acquiring.

—Ask yourself, “What do I need that I don’t already have?” (New? Most advertising is for familiar stuff.) 

—I can think of lots of things I want.

—The question was need, not want.

—Ask yourself, “When there is a need or want, why can’t I search for it on my own, voluntarily, without it being shoved in my face and distracted by a lot of repetitive crap that doesn’t interest me?”

—Why, of course I can.

—Then how does advertising benefit you?

—Well, ah, ya know it’s kinda difficult to say. I get all kinds of free stuff supported by ads.

—No, it isn’t difficult. Advertising only benefits the advertiser (and even that’s questionable). It’s about getting you to buy more than you want, more than you need, and things that aren’t good for you. It benefits only the biggest spenders on advertising, the ones who already dominate the market. The ones who shout out smaller businesses that could provide you with better products, better service. The ones squashing the little guys you’ll never know exist. It hinders small local businesses that make communities unique and healthy. And in case you haven’t noticed, that free stuff is paid for with hidden costs. Free is expensive.

In truth, advertising does you a disservice. It helps monopolies grow. It keeps you ignorant. It misleads you. It produces nothing of value. It provokes you to spend more, consume more, waste more. And worst of all, it makes the products and services you truly need and want cost more. It drains you emotionally and economically. And it drains society of resources that could be used for something productive.

—Ask yourself, “Who pays for all that advertising?”

—The advertiser pays for it, duh!

—Think again. You pay for it. The hundreds of billions spent each year on advertising are hidden in the price you pay for the product. And you pay no matter whether you ignore ads, block ads, or suck’em up. The advertising wheel keeps on rolling and rolling and . . .

. . . rolling over you.

Now, ask yourself, “Do I want to pay for annoying, lying, manipulating, exploiting, stupefying, evil?”

I wish there were a solution. Ad blockers help. Paying for ad-free apps helps. Dropping out of antisocial media helps, but these only placate some of the annoyances. They don’t solve the problem, because the problem is multifaceted. First, there’s not enough resistance and outrage from ordinary people. Second, it’s so ingrained in business, they can’t see their way out of it. Third, it’s deeply seated in our lives to the point that most people accept it as normal and innocuous. Fourth, it has become a juggernaut of outlandish proportions that stopping it is unimaginable. Fifth, no matter how pernicious, invasive, in-your-face, obnoxious ads are, the majority are blind to the harm advertising causes to themselves and the environment. In the final analysis, its harm far out weighs any fantasy of good.

It’s amazing how insanely pervasive advertising is. Do a search for “advertising is evil.” You’ll be stunned. On the first page of results you’ll find sites harping on the evils of advertising while the site itself is hammering you with ads and studded with multiple trackers whose only purpose is to plow more ads in your direction.

Read : Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now, Jaron Lanier, 2018

And more related reading—
Who Owns the Future?
Bye-bye
Dubble Bubble
Upside-down, Inside-out and Backwards
Illicit Ideas