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How? People would still use their money to buy things. A lot of advertising is adversarial. If demand stays the same but neither you nor your competitors can ad

How? People would still use their money to buy things. A lot of advertising is adversarial. If demand stays the same but neither you nor your competitors can advertise your products, everyone makes more money. Of course, there are lots of products where people don't know they would benefit from the product - or don't think of it. For example, life insurance, business loans, university education, movie releases, etc. In those cases, arguably the advertising is creating a positive for society. (Since its resulting in a need being addressed that wouldn't be addressed otherwise.)

sanswork 2y ago
I'm a new business. How do people know I exist to choose me over the incumbents?
- kelnos 2y ago
  You create a website and do some SEO. If you're a brick-and-mortar business, you list yourself on whatever various directories exist for businesses, create a Yelp page, etc. Yes, you might get a slower start, but as more people visit your store and come away with a good impression, they'll tell their friends. But regardless, I... just don't care. Your need as a new business to find customers does not supersede my need to not suffer psychological manipulation every time I go outside or peruse the internet.
  - sanswork 2y ago
    Directories would be advertising. All your proposing is a world where first comer world by default have a stranglehold on the market. It's a dystopia. Outside I can agree with and prefer Billboard free areas but you choose it online. You choose to use services that are funded by advertising. They are all optional so why don't you choose not to use them?
    - josephg 2y ago
      > All your proposing is a world where first comer world by default have a stranglehold on the market. It's a dystopia. How so? Suppose I'm looking to buy a camera in a world without advertising. I'd still want to look up product reviews and find out information about good deals from different manufacturers before buying one. Some people may visit a camera store and see what they have in stock, and talk to the sales assistants. Someone else might ask their friends - who may also be in the photography community. In any case, I don't need advertisements at all. Why would you assume I'd only buy a camera from an old, established company? I don't think I've even seen a single advertisement for a camera for years. It didn't seem to stop me from shopping around and buying one a few months ago. Likewise if I want a packet of chips at the supermarket, I look down the aisle and decide what to buy based on price, brand familiarity, flavour and packaging. How would a ban on advertising change anything?
      - sanswork 2y ago
        How does your camera shop decide what to stock? How do they discover new brands to include? Without advertising smaller shops and by extension you would be unaware of any new brands or accessories available. A ban on advertising would again stop grocery stores from discovering new products and testing them. Why bother when you can just partner up with P&g and stock only their stuff, your customers won't know there is choice so might as well just stock the brand that can offer you the best deal.
        josephg 2y ago
        > How does your camera shop decide what to stock? How do they discover new brands to include? In the case of camera shops, camera brands actively reach out to the stores and have a relationship with them. The camera brands send reps out to train the sales people on the features of new camera models. Likewise, brands partner with supermarkets to sell their products. Thats not advertising. Nobody is proposing or talking about stopping businesses from forming relationships with one another.
        sanswork 2y ago

sanswork 2y ago

I'm a new business. How do people know I exist to choose me over the incumbents?

kelnos 2y ago
You create a website and do some SEO. If you're a brick-and-mortar business, you list yourself on whatever various directories exist for businesses, create a Yelp page, etc. Yes, you might get a slower start, but as more people visit your store and come away with a good impression, they'll tell their friends. But regardless, I... just don't care. Your need as a new business to find customers does not supersede my need to not suffer psychological manipulation every time I go outside or peruse the internet.
- sanswork 2y ago
  Directories would be advertising. All your proposing is a world where first comer world by default have a stranglehold on the market. It's a dystopia. Outside I can agree with and prefer Billboard free areas but you choose it online. You choose to use services that are funded by advertising. They are all optional so why don't you choose not to use them?
  - josephg 2y ago
    > All your proposing is a world where first comer world by default have a stranglehold on the market. It's a dystopia. How so? Suppose I'm looking to buy a camera in a world without advertising. I'd still want to look up product reviews and find out information about good deals from different manufacturers before buying one. Some people may visit a camera store and see what they have in stock, and talk to the sales assistants. Someone else might ask their friends - who may also be in the photography community. In any case, I don't need advertisements at all. Why would you assume I'd only buy a camera from an old, established company? I don't think I've even seen a single advertisement for a camera for years. It didn't seem to stop me from shopping around and buying one a few months ago. Likewise if I want a packet of chips at the supermarket, I look down the aisle and decide what to buy based on price, brand familiarity, flavour and packaging. How would a ban on advertising change anything?
    - sanswork 2y ago
      How does your camera shop decide what to stock? How do they discover new brands to include? Without advertising smaller shops and by extension you would be unaware of any new brands or accessories available. A ban on advertising would again stop grocery stores from discovering new products and testing them. Why bother when you can just partner up with P&g and stock only their stuff, your customers won't know there is choice so might as well just stock the brand that can offer you the best deal.
      - josephg 2y ago
        > How does your camera shop decide what to stock? How do they discover new brands to include? In the case of camera shops, camera brands actively reach out to the stores and have a relationship with them. The camera brands send reps out to train the sales people on the features of new camera models. Likewise, brands partner with supermarkets to sell their products. Thats not advertising. Nobody is proposing or talking about stopping businesses from forming relationships with one another.
        sanswork 2y ago