Next to acting, advertisting is one our purest forms of bullshit while still trying to convey usefull information...along with politics....reality t.v......personal relationships.....the justice system......

...economic systems...

Bullshit everywhere!

.....Religion......

Haha! The list goes on!

Personally I think a world where adverts like this didn't exist, would be worse off for it

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9wMs5bUkjO0

(Although it's probably not funny unless you've seen "The Snowman")

Yeah, if all ads were banned in the world, then I probably wouldn't have a job in the future. So thats great.

Its not that all ads lie...its more like most don't tell the whole truth. They promote the best things that a product or service has to offer, and if the viewer does or doesn't want to learn more about it, thats their fault. You can't blame a business for wanting to come off as the best or the "good guy" in order to sell their product, because business is all about creating an image to engrave into the minds of people. Some businesses try a little harder than others...for instance, look at Coke and Pepsi. Here in the US, Pepsi very recently did a logo and branding overhaul. They changed the look of not only their Pepsi products, but also the look of Mountain Dew and Sierra Mist. Each logo has been individually altered and the packaging and fonts have all changed. (And in my opinion, as well as the opinion of many others I've talked to, the new look sucks.) Coke, on the other hand, have changed nothing and are still remaining competitive.

People are beaten to a pulp with the bombardment of ads from when they first are introduced to television and magazines until the day they die. They feel as if they can rely or trust a certain brand based on what they've heard, seen, or believe, so everytime they go to a supermarket, they choose the name they recognize. Its why people go after Colgate toothpaste instead of Arm & Hammer, why they eat Cocoa Puffs instead of the cheaper stuff in the bags on the bottom shelf, and why they make most of the other purchases they do. Its is twisted of companies to try to play with people's choices like that, but when it all comes down to it, the main purpose of an ad is to introduce a business or their product to a large number of people. After that introduction, its up to the consumers to make a conscious decision about what they want to try/buy. Don't blame all ads everywhere...blame either the content of the individual ad or the people who are stupid enough to be convinced by their half-truths.

advertisements are a part of our social institutions and whether people like to admit it or not, they do play a part in shaping or upholding our social lives.

the beer example is a good one, another one (which they're cracking down on now with all the PSA ads) is smoking.

i'm all for them removing associated imagery from beer commercials -- for the kids if nothing else

edit: i don't have a problem with advertising. I think it's good - how could a market economy function without it? supply on its own does not create demand, you need something to provide a stimulus. advertising only becomes a problem when there are underlying metanarratives/symbols associated with the products that could have negative effects. for that matter, i'd argue that the television is an advertising machine and everything on it is can be taken as an advertisement in some form. but that's another topic for another day. gotta run to work!