[zanny]

I don't buy for a second that the end of advertising would harm GDP. It would take generations of cultural turnover to move people away from consumerism. If people were not being psychologically manipulated into buying certain products they don't need or want, they will just buy what they want instead.

[superuser2]

How will people know where or how to buy what they want without advertising?

[DavidWanjiru]

How do people know where to find/make the things they do have an innate need for without advertisement as you seem to define it?

[tszymczyszyn]

Advertising does not equal flow of information.

[superuser2]

Sure it does. Advertising is the flow of information about what products and services are available, how much they cost, and where to purchase them. Some are crass, some are subtle, some are sprayed, some are targeted, and the very best (personal recommendations and such) aren't even paid for. They are all advertisements.

[dwaltrip]

The way your post comes across, given the context: "It's impossible to learn about things in the world that one might pay money for without advertising"

Is this what you actually mean? Because that's an absurd statement. Unless you dilute the meaning of the word "advertising" such that it covers literally every human action. But then we aren't having a useful conversation anymore.

You're aware that a small number of years ago, in the scope of human civilization, most objects were not branded, billboards didn't exist, etc?