Should All Advertising Be Banned?

[averybluemonkey]

Which resources exactly are we supposed to be running out of?

[Stoppy2000]

People are actively working towards renewable energy forms all over the world. And when the breakthrough comes then I'm sure they will advertise the fact - unless adverts have been banned by then of course.

[averybluemonkey]

Yeah, I've got a friend who's working on getting petrol from algae. There'll be replacements or alternatives for fossil fuels and I can't think of anything that's concerning beyond food and water, neither of which would result in us become extinct or slowing progress.

[Charlie]

Oil, gold, copper, tin, and in time all of them. Picture a heap of silver and sulphur and iron and zinc and every other resource. You take a bit from each heap every day and gradually increase the amount you take. Eventually those heaps will be gone. Even if you could somehow recycle 99.99% of what you take and use and return it to those heaps you will still reach the point where the heaps are gone. It's simple mathematics.

[averybluemonkey]

Except that we develop alternatives, we find synthetic ways to manufacture them, we cannibalise what we can from previous usage. What do you think all those natural sciences PHD students and research assistants are doing in every university around the world? Let alone private corporation R&D?

[Charlie]

People are actively working towards renewable energy forms all over the world. And when the breakthrough comes then I'm sure they will advertise the fact - unless adverts have been banned by then of course.

Let's hope the breakthrough in renewable energy does come. But you still haven't explained how the chances of mankind mining elements beyond our planet is more a plausible likelihood than those on earth running out?

[Stoppy2000]

Mankind will find a way. There are people whose job it is to find the answers to these problems. And they won't find the answers by watching lava lamps and reading books about enlightenment. It's not all doom and gloom for mankind you know? Personally I'm pretty happy!

[Charlie]

Except that we develop alternatives, we find synthetic ways to manufacture them, we cannibalise what we can from previous usage. What do you think all those natural sciences PHD students and research assistants are doing in every university around the world? Let alone private corporation R&D?

Sounds a bit like alchemy. It's an interesting idea but I have my suspicions. My basic (and I do mean basic) understanding of the elements and their construction at the molecular level is it takes events as powerful as supernovas (which are generally 4 billion times more powerful than our sun) to arrange the protons, neutrons and electrons into the heavier elements.

[nakamura]

Personally I'm pretty happy!

Alright alright, no need to advertise the fact!

[Stoppy2000]

Alright alright, no need to advertise the fact!

Haha, you win the thread.

[Charlie]

Mankind will find a way. There are people whose job it is to find the answers to these problems. And they won't find the answers by watching lava lamps and reading books about enlightenment. It's not all doom and gloom for mankind you know? Personally I'm pretty happy!

Saying mankind will find a way doesn't mean mankind will find a way. Just like ignoring facts doesn't mean they cease to exist. In regards to discovering answers in books by enlightened thinkers, I think it's as good a place as any to look. It's not like we're living in an age of great wisdom right now, is it?

But, you're right, it ain't all gloom and doom. And maintaining one's happiness is a virtue. It's life and life only.

[dataDave]

I work in advertising. Yes, it should be banned.

I actually go out of my way to boycott any products that are advertised aggressively, within reason.

[Neon Ignition]

Advertising shouldn't be banned for numerous obvious reasons, that said the entirety of the media industry (not just including advertising) needs a phenomonal kick up the arse and a huge overhaul to bring it kicking and screaming in line with the modern world.

[dataDave]

I think completely destroying our country's economy and the subsequent loss of tens of thousands of jobs would have a far greater effect on peoples happiness.

So yeah, I'd keep adverts.

This is happening regardless of adverts.

[abigsmurf]

A prime example of the need for advertising is the IOS app store. Without companies pimping their latest releases, it'd be incredibly hard to find decent games on it (advertising also supports the review sites).

Advertising should always be regulated heavily though. Biggest annoyance with current advertising is the ease at which brands can mislead through weasel words.

Orange Juice drink*
Low fat curry**
?349.99 laptop, ?200 off! ***
1/2 price frozen chicken breasts ?2.99 ****

Amazing offers!

*10% fruit, the rest is just sugar and citric acid
**same calories and fat content as the regular curry, we just charge you more for it
*** Laptop was at the full price for a week hidden away in a dark corner of a single store. You didn't think anyone would seriously pay ?550 for a crappy celeron laptop did you?
**** We're not even trying with this one, at full price it'd be a rip off, we've been selling this at 'half price' for at least 5 years. You should see the small, low quality fresh BOGOF pizzas that we try to convince were on sale for ?3.50!