4 ms·

What about advertising for cancer screening? That type of advertising is shown to be cost effective and saves lives [1]. So advertising can be a good thing an

What about advertising for cancer screening? That type of advertising is shown to be cost effective and saves lives [1]. So advertising can be a good thing and a literal cancer-preventer to society. [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4018507/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4018507/

Levitz 2y ago
Well yeah, and cutting someone open can save his life in the context of a surgery. The vast, vast majority of the time and the vast, vast majority of money spent on ads is nothing like this.
oneeyedpigeon 2y ago
I guess it depends upon where you draw the line between advertising and informing. The broad definition of "advertising" doesn't restrict it to commercial use, but I think the most common understanding of what it is would. Also, the author makes it clear that they're referring to this sense of the word: > [advertising is] a malignant mutation of an idea that efficient markets need a way to connect goods and services with people wanting to buy them.
- quectophoton 2y ago
  > The broad definition of "advertising" doesn't restrict it to commercial use, Example: The Merriam-Webster for example defines "advertisement" as, literally, as "1 : a public notice". Still, > but I think the most common understanding of what it is would. ... is probably the reason for their "especially" paragraph and examples, right below the definition.
  - pindab0ter 2y ago
    I understand that defining advertising is hard, but "1 : a public notice" is so broad as to be almost meaningless as a definition.
    - quectophoton 2y ago
      I personally don't find it that vague, but that might be my non-English bias.
      - pindab0ter 2y ago
        It leaves a lot unsaid. Advertising has a lot of connotations and cultural significance. It can evoke strong feelings for one and be a livelihood for another. Simply stating that an advertisement is 'a public notice' doesn't do it justice. I understand that dictionaries are not encyclopedias, but a little more is warranted IMO.
acc_297 2y ago
I do not disagree. However all “good” ADs are less effective than they could be when the population experiences a nearly unavoidable torrent of “not good” ADs. People are savvy and broadly know the difference but on a subconscious level likely begin to perceive PSAs with more skepticism than is warranted when so much advertising masks itself as helpful advice when in reality it is selling a service based on nonsense statistics or bad faith argument. I think some kind of pushback from society against the worst forms of advertising is needed.

Levitz 2y ago

Well yeah, and cutting someone open can save his life in the context of a surgery. The vast, vast majority of the time and the vast, vast majority of money spent on ads is nothing like this.

oneeyedpigeon 2y ago

I guess it depends upon where you draw the line between advertising and informing. The broad definition of "advertising" doesn't restrict it to commercial use, but I think the most common understanding of what it is would. Also, the author makes it clear that they're referring to this sense of the word: > [advertising is] a malignant mutation of an idea that efficient markets need a way to connect goods and services with people wanting to buy them.

quectophoton 2y ago
> The broad definition of "advertising" doesn't restrict it to commercial use, Example: The Merriam-Webster for example defines "advertisement" as, literally, as "1 : a public notice". Still, > but I think the most common understanding of what it is would. ... is probably the reason for their "especially" paragraph and examples, right below the definition.
- pindab0ter 2y ago
  I understand that defining advertising is hard, but "1 : a public notice" is so broad as to be almost meaningless as a definition.
  - quectophoton 2y ago
    I personally don't find it that vague, but that might be my non-English bias.
    - pindab0ter 2y ago
      It leaves a lot unsaid. Advertising has a lot of connotations and cultural significance. It can evoke strong feelings for one and be a livelihood for another. Simply stating that an advertisement is 'a public notice' doesn't do it justice. I understand that dictionaries are not encyclopedias, but a little more is warranted IMO.

acc_297 2y ago

I do not disagree. However all “good” ADs are less effective than they could be when the population experiences a nearly unavoidable torrent of “not good” ADs. People are savvy and broadly know the difference but on a subconscious level likely begin to perceive PSAs with more skepticism than is warranted when so much advertising masks itself as helpful advice when in reality it is selling a service based on nonsense statistics or bad faith argument. I think some kind of pushback from society against the worst forms of advertising is needed.