[jjj1232]

The stalking is the problem, but the ads are too. Ads have been a problem well before tracking was a thing.

Since at least the 1920s (I’m thinking of Edward Bernays but there are probably earlier examples) the goal of advertising is to manipulate consumers into making irrational decisions. The majority of ads make us feel inadequate to get us to buy something, like the only the thing that will make us whole is a new instant pot or whatever.

[noir_lord]

> The majority of ads make us feel inadequate to get us to buy something

I know it's hard to disprove but I don't think adverts have that effect on me, partially it's because I don't see many adverts and partly because that kind of blatant manipulation is so hilariously blatant.

I acknowledge that someone might be running a really effective advertising campaign on me but since I basically don't buy anything I don't actually need I can't imagine what that would be.

[jjj1232]

I’m going to conflate packaging with advertising here but I think it’s the same idea and a little easier to visualize:

Our cogniitive biases act as shortcuts to save energy when making decisions, and advertisers exploit those shortcuts. If you’re on high alert while shopping, catching and recalibrating for your biases at every step of the way then yeah you can probably escape most marketing but for most people that doesn’t come naturally.

If you’re not careful I bet you too slip up sometimes. I know I’ve caught myself at the grocery store reaching for one product over another just because it’s in unbleached cardboard packaging (signaling to me that it’s somehow more local or organic or whatever).

These tricks become obvious when you consciously work through them (ex: obviously some megacorp can package their items in cardboard the same way mom and pop small businesses can) but most of the time we aren’t processing consciously, and that’s how marketing works.

[noir_lord]

Fair points, as I mentioned elsewhere I have a pathological loathing of been manipulated so I do pay attention to everything u buy - the missus however likes brands and does most of the food ordering.

[cmeacham98]

Even if you think you are immune, you probably agree ads attempting to psychologically manipulate people into buying a product are unethical?

[quantum_magpie]

Exactly. For the most part I'm also immune to the ads, but not because of the ads. It takes a huge mental effort to constantly stay aware of all the bullshit that these scum are trying to manipulate me into buying. And it's even more infuriating that all these 'people' who have no morals and ethics whatsoever try to convince everyone that we actually want to see ads!

If people were interested in seeing ads, a business of selling pure ad catalogues would actually be a successful venture! As it stands now, you can't even give such material away for free without generating hate. Because people don't want to see ads! It doesn't matter if they're tracked or not. The ad is the problem!

[ExtraE]

Do you have a new $gadget/$smartphone/$tablet/$whatever? What about your SO/father/niece? (You might not, but I bet a lot of people reading this and agreeing do buy a bunch of stuff they don't need without realizing it).

[noir_lord]

Nope, mobile is three years old, desktop is nearly three, ThinkPad is nearly four.

Haven't bought anything techie for about 18mths and when I do mostly shop on specs, reviews from sources I trust.

I viscerally loathe advertising, I don't like been manipulated in any context so I run a background process mentally watching for it :).

I'm an advertisers nightmare, I'll not only ignore your advertising I'll go to significant technical lengths to block it for myself and everyone in my family.

[ExtraE]

Do you buy brand name clothing? Cereal? Medicine? Did you buy your car/bike/transportation new or used? Where do you go to find a job? Etc