[christophilus]

I hate ads. I really do. I use ad-blockers and vastly prefer billboard-free zones. On the other hand, I like getting a paycheck, and I don’t know how our company would have ever gotten off the ground without advertising itself.

[Nextgrid]

So essentially, doing someone that's detrimental to people is fine as long as you're the one benefiting from it?

[scarface74]

Do you work for a for profit company or is your company feeding starving children in Africa based on word of mouth?

[Nextgrid]

I am working for a for-profit company - I have done so for pretty much all my life, including companies that either rely on, or are directly involved in advertising.

However, I don’t try to justify it in any way (even though my current client is actually completely independent of ads). I know and agree that my contributions to that field are bad for society and try to do better whenever possible, including fighting back when my contractual obligations allow me to (and avoiding contracts that would prevent me to do so).

So not really a complete “dig” to the parent comment, but rather that we might have done wrong but we should strive to do better instead of trying to justify it.

[bittercynic]

Consider GP's company may (at least in his opinion) make some kind of positive contribution to society, but wouldn't have the opportunity without using some advertising to get off the ground.

[Nextgrid]

Yes, agreed. That’s fine if that’s the case and if it is then I misunderstood and my comment doesn’t apply (see my other reply for an explanation).

IMO, it’s one thing to be involved in harmful advertising, it’s another to try and justify it. I don’t mind if you are involved because you have no other choice, but if you have other options, tired to unsuccessfully steer the ship around and you’re still there, then it’s where there’s a problem.