Advertisers Save the World

[Berzerker]

Ugh, never thought I'd say that, but pitchmen are our salvation - not in the spiritual sense of course. Ming, you belong to an elite group

While communities across the globe will have to deal with preserving aspects of their unique cultures, advertisers and the producers they represent, bring the world together - the "global economy". People around the world get to see how others live and gradually people opt for lifestyles they view as better. This is what breaks down corrupt or incompetent regimes, people see others living nicer lives and want that for themselves. In their endeavor to sell, advertisers spread the message - see how we live, life can be better for you too.

[Zopperoni]

Alright, 'fess up, who paid you to post that?

[Commy]

Unfortunately, advertisers can't reach all parts of the world...

For example, if a regime was suddenly to take over Siberia, most people wouldn't really know a better life, as most of them have no clue what the Internet, a newspaper, or a TV are...

On the other hand, it would be difficult if not impossible to impose the same regime on a country in North America or Europe, as the press and media all very powerful in those regions...perhaps a bit too powerful...

[Berzerker]

I watched Thomas Friedman on the Discovery/Times channel doing a piece on India and outsourcing.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Re: Advertisers Save the World

Originally posted by Berzerker
While communities across the globe will have to deal with preserving aspects of their unique cultures, advertisers and the producers they represent, bring the world together - the "global economy". People around the world get to see how others live and gradually people opt for lifestyles they view as better. This is what breaks down corrupt or incompetent regimes, people see others living nicer lives and want that for themselves. In their endeavor to sell, advertisers spread the message - see how we live, life can be better for you too.

Of course, this is also what leads to massive waves of uncontroled migration, as people see those images, notice that the images don't correspond to their reality, and decide to move, legally or no, to the place where it does.

But not everybody moves. Plenty of people just stay at home and start racking up Western-style consumer debt in countries where the standard wage in $2/day. When those chickens come home to roost, the place explodes, and what rises from the ashes rarely looks like, say, Canada.

But those are only the ones who hear advertisers messages as intended. Luckily, there are others who can see those ads of, say, a topless Paris Hilton, for what they are: further evidence that America is the Great Satan and must be destroyed. Thanks, Madison Ave!

Still, who cares about the rest of the world? Here at home, advertising's constant exhortation to live for the day and never delay gratification, and look to material goods as a source of identity and meaningful existence, has surely had only positive effects on our society.

Yeah, 3 cheers for adverting.

[Ming]

ADVERTISING

It's been very very very good to me

[Berzerker]

Unfortunately, advertisers can't reach all parts of the world...

For example, if a regime was suddenly to take over Siberia, most people wouldn't really know a better life, as most of them have no clue what the Internet, a newspaper, or a TV are...

That happened, the Commies came to power and grabbed Siberia and it was Levis and Tower Records that convinced younger people a better life could be had. Well, Siberia is a bit different, but change is coming there too.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Berzerker


That happened, the Commies came to power and grabbed Siberia and it was Levis and Tower Records that convinced younger people a better life could be had. Well, Siberia is a bit different, but change is coming there too.

The idea that more consumer goods = a better life is what will eventually destroy the US, Roman-Empire-style.

[Berzerker]

Of course, this is also what leads to massive waves of uncontroled migration, as people see those images, notice that the images don't correspond to their reality, and decide to move, legally or no, to the place where it does.

Voting with your feet is a bad thing?

But not everybody moves. Plenty of people just stay at home and start racking up Western-style consumer debt in countries where the standard wage in $2/day. When those chickens come home to roost, the place explodes, and what rises from the ashes rarely looks like, say, Canada.

Canada...a country built by immigrants (illegal?) who voted with their feet and advertised for others to come. But what country exploded from consumer debt? It seems to me if people are in debt to businesses, those businesses have an incentive to create jobs to meet both the greater demand for products, but jobs for those indebted people so they can pay the debt off.
That was why Henry Ford paid really good wages for that time.

But those are only the ones who hear advertisers messages as intended. Luckily, there are others who can see those ads of, say, a topless Paris Hilton, for what they are: further evidence that America is the Great Satan and must be destroyed. Thanks, Madison Ave!

If we weren't over there mucking around for 50 years, we wouldn't be in this war. But if its a choice between a topless Paris Hilton and Paris Hilton in a burka awaiting her punishment for showing too much skin, we can see that the advertisers are on the correct side. That would be where advertisers break down corrupt or incompetent (and dogmatic) regimes. I think thats a good thing... Arguing that killing advertisers because you dont want other people to buy their stuff does not indicate a moral ideology... If advertising helps bring down regimes following such an immoral ideology, why is that a bad thing?

Still, who cares about the rest of the world?

Advertisers.

Here at home, advertising's constant exhortation to live for the day and never delay gratification, and look to material goods as a source of identity and meaningful existence, has surely had only positive effects on our society.

As opposed to a world without advertsing? Progress requires advertising...

Yeah, 3 cheers for adverting.

Hip hip hooray!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Berz, did you bring enough drugs to share with the class?

[Berzerker]

Some of my more enlightened moments have come under the influence

[Commy]

Capitalism

Advertising and media

Why do these things NOT go hand in hand? That's an interesting question...

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Commy
Capitalism

Advertising and media

Why do these things NOT go hand in hand? That's an interesting question...

They do go hand in hand...

Capitalism is the religion
Media is the Church
Advertising is the Bible

It's really as simple as that.

[DaShi]

Advertising is evil and will destroy the world. I seen it!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Without advertising, Apolyton would not exist. For that reason, advertising rocks