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I'm very curious to understand why you feel this way. After all, a very big and important part of our lives is influencing other people (potential and actual b

by _cs2017_ 8y ago

I'm very curious to understand why you feel this way. After all, a very big and important part of our lives is influencing other people (potential and actual boyfriends/girlfriends, kids, friends, investors, students, patients, juries, professional peers, hiring managers, subordinates, voters, etc). I'm sure you don't want to criminalize all of that. So how do you distinguish advertising as the type of influence that is especially bad?

yesenadam 8y ago
There seems a world of difference to me. One is like sending an email, the other like sending bulk email spam. No-one wants the latter in their world, and the world would be a better place without it.
- _cs2017_ 8y ago
  I understand your example, and feel the same. But I don't think you mean that every ad you see is spam? I got an ad on Facebook from an online recruiter because Facebook saw from my activity that I'm in the job market. It resulted in half a dozen onsite interviews, and made my job search so much better. I got many useful ads from Google, for example about apps and games that come out, related to my interests. I hope you don't mean to ban those? Then how do you distinguish good ads from bad? And you can't just say it's obvious: the government regulator would need a clear rule to decide what's legal and what's not.
  - yesenadam 8y ago
    I don't mean to ban anything. Well, maybe crass billboards like a huge one overlooking a bay not far from where I live, dominating the skyline. No, I've never seen a Google or FB ad I wish hadn't been there. Sure, how aren't all ads like spam? It sounds to me like you're in advertising. At least, I've never heard someone who wasn't in advertising defend it, promote it, as you do - comparing it to trying to influence friends or loved ones (!), suggesting it's hard to differentiate from that... Ok well, I'm happy for you that ads aren't a totally malignant presence in your life as they are for so many people, that you fear the absence of helpful ads etc. I eliminated TV, newspaper ads from my life a while ago, have never listened to radio with ads, so most of my days are ad-free. Although I don't get out much. Am no expert, I guess it's up to you to distinguish good from bad, but sure, defining lines between good and bad X isn't easy - and is continually changing, not to mention gamed - that's why we have judges, juries etc, and not computers deciding these things - because the spirit of the law is the important thing, not the letter of the law. Sorry I didn't put enough time into writing this.
    - _cs2017_ 8y ago
      I'm not in ads. I guess everyone has their own personal preferences. I hate generic ads, I literally cannot listen to the radio or watch TV because of ads. But I find personalized ads much more acceptable, and occasionally even useful as I said. Mostly though, I view ads as a cost, which I'm willing to pay to get cool services. Until they get too annoying. I know other people who prefer no personalization because they feel it invades privacy. And I know yet other people who just don't want any ads. I'm comparing ads to influencing friends and family and others around us not because I think ads are good, but because I'm curious about how people develop dislike for ads. When you said "No, I've never seen a Google or FB ad I wish hadn't been there", did you make a typo? I think you meant the opposite? Or did I misunderstand you?

yesenadam 8y ago

There seems a world of difference to me. One is like sending an email, the other like sending bulk email spam. No-one wants the latter in their world, and the world would be a better place without it.

_cs2017_ 8y ago
I understand your example, and feel the same. But I don't think you mean that every ad you see is spam? I got an ad on Facebook from an online recruiter because Facebook saw from my activity that I'm in the job market. It resulted in half a dozen onsite interviews, and made my job search so much better. I got many useful ads from Google, for example about apps and games that come out, related to my interests. I hope you don't mean to ban those? Then how do you distinguish good ads from bad? And you can't just say it's obvious: the government regulator would need a clear rule to decide what's legal and what's not.
- yesenadam 8y ago
  I don't mean to ban anything. Well, maybe crass billboards like a huge one overlooking a bay not far from where I live, dominating the skyline. No, I've never seen a Google or FB ad I wish hadn't been there. Sure, how aren't all ads like spam? It sounds to me like you're in advertising. At least, I've never heard someone who wasn't in advertising defend it, promote it, as you do - comparing it to trying to influence friends or loved ones (!), suggesting it's hard to differentiate from that... Ok well, I'm happy for you that ads aren't a totally malignant presence in your life as they are for so many people, that you fear the absence of helpful ads etc. I eliminated TV, newspaper ads from my life a while ago, have never listened to radio with ads, so most of my days are ad-free. Although I don't get out much. Am no expert, I guess it's up to you to distinguish good from bad, but sure, defining lines between good and bad X isn't easy - and is continually changing, not to mention gamed - that's why we have judges, juries etc, and not computers deciding these things - because the spirit of the law is the important thing, not the letter of the law. Sorry I didn't put enough time into writing this.
  - _cs2017_ 8y ago
    I'm not in ads. I guess everyone has their own personal preferences. I hate generic ads, I literally cannot listen to the radio or watch TV because of ads. But I find personalized ads much more acceptable, and occasionally even useful as I said. Mostly though, I view ads as a cost, which I'm willing to pay to get cool services. Until they get too annoying. I know other people who prefer no personalization because they feel it invades privacy. And I know yet other people who just don't want any ads. I'm comparing ads to influencing friends and family and others around us not because I think ads are good, but because I'm curious about how people develop dislike for ads. When you said "No, I've never seen a Google or FB ad I wish hadn't been there", did you make a typo? I think you meant the opposite? Or did I misunderstand you?