I feel like everywhere I look on a computer is littered with ads, which are often scams or at least seem scammy. I want to add here that I didn’t say “on the web” and instead chose “on a computer” for a specific reason.
I recently bought a Windows laptop in order to run a specific program. I typically use a Mac or Linux, so I did not realize that Windows has pop-up ads IN the OS(!). Man, that is _messed_ up. Like please tell me why anybody would trust these companies on any level? Between that and Facebook making posts for dead people, I struggle to say which is worse!
In any event, I was actually seeking to talk about something altogether different. As I mentioned previously, I sincerely appreciate the utility of advertising. Let’s say I seek to buy something, but a more appropriate product exists. In that case, please, by all means, tell me about it. However, please note I said I want to know about a superior alternative to something I’m seeking. That _does not_ mean I want companies to try to brainwash me to desire blood diamonds.
My primary concern at the moment is that I think a lot of folks have arrived at the conclusion that sales and advertising are _supposed to be_ manipulation. Not only do I despise that approach, but I find it to be extremely unhelpful both on a micro and a macro level. Individual people hate that nonsense. Moreover, when many sellers employ this approach, it makes the entire marketplace less useful.
I’m cynical enough to think deception is inextricable from sales. However, I strongly believe in a consultative sales approach, wherein a seller seeks to help a buyer, not deceive or confuse a buyer. I have no idea why it’s commercially or socially acceptable to deceive customers. For one, that is a poor long-term strategy. Maybe someone will buy from you once, but they will tell their peers to avoid buying from you. If you look at the stories of people who consistently succeed at sales, they say that referrals and repeat buyers are substantial parts of their business. Deceiving people essentially guarantees neither.
I often think of something I once read about the USSR collapsing. Specifically, I read that after the Soviet Union, the citizenry was like woefully stupid. Years of propaganda — aka believing their own bullshit — had resulted in a population of information consumers who quite simply lacked the skills necessary to interpret shared reality. I think about that cuz it seems very relevant. As the saying goes, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and you can fool some of the people all of the time…” But if you can fool majorities routinely, you’ve got serious social problems.