What if we banned all advertising? Not regulate it—abolish it. This proposal would transform manipulation machines, and maybe save democracy itself. A thought experiment worth considering.

The idea feels like sci-fi because you’re so used to it, imagining ads gone feels like asking to outlaw gravity. But humanity had been free of current forms of advertising for 99.9% of its existence. Word-of-mouth and community networks worked just fine. First-party websites and online communities would now improve on that.

The traditional argument pro-advertising—that it provides consumers with necessary information—hasn’t been valid for decades.

  • Koarnine
    41·
    13 days ago

    Nuance that is not definitionally a part of what constitutes ‘propaganda’ whether you infantilize someone else for seeing things differently or not.

    Go on, provide some examples and sources if you want to make such a grand claim.

    Something being propaganda does not necessitate that it contains subliminal messaging, propaganda can be entirely overt and without unconscious conditioning techniques.

    A convincing argument is propaganda, you just wrongly believe yourself to be above propaganda, the same way you seem to consider yourself above others generally…

      • Koarnine
        4·
        13 days ago

        Nowhere did I misunderstand your post, you stated it back to me?

        I’m saying that the difference you are describing doesn’t exist, thus the nuance you ascribe ‘mental children’ to lack to perceive is imaginary.

        I understand words convey a meaning beyond definitionally, but definitionally there is no mention of such a requirement. Thus I asked you for any sources backing up such a claim.

        I have not deviated from what I said previously. Nor misinterpreted you intentionally whatsoever. Rather, I disagree with you.

        Also I am not an llm, and I intend to discuss with you calmly and fairly and not misinterpret what you are saying. If you are willing to engage