Unit 2, Issue 7

"Is Advertising Good for Society?"

Through reading Calfee's response to "yes, i really liked how he pointed out the truth about advertising. Although it is a "tool for communicating information...it primarily seeks to persuade...to induce a consumer to do one particiular thing - usually, but a product". Advertising will always reflect something new and appealing to the public; something they are missing and can in some way use...or want! And im glad Calfee is aware that the advertising is meant to lure people in. As he also points out that "seellers focused on the information that favor their own product" to me is common sense, and its not only something that happens in advertising. It is in our nature as people to reflect the positive. People don't go around pointing our their flaws and much less showing their negative attitudes to everyone; to the contrary they may even appear to be something they really are not. Its when you really get to know someone that you can see who they really are. There is competition in all advertising, but there are certain things - such as slogans and logos - that mark them as unique. What has made certain products more successful is the simple fact that people have gone, tried their product, and stayed using it because of its quality. In my opinion, what makes a product successful isn't so much paid advertising, but quality and getting the liking of the people.

Now viewing Godreg's point of view for "no", i would highly agree with his statement, "advertising today has little to do with introducing a new product...it has everything to do with images, dreams and emotions". An advertisements rises in quality or attention through the use of images that engage a person's emotions. When a celebrity is seen using a certain product, it draws people's attention to want to try it or have it because they celebrities are people looked up to. It doesn't make the product any better or worse, it simply is an image to draw the attention and interests of the people. I would have to disagree with the fact that advertising "pins people down" out of causing people to buy and buy, or that it is just directed towards people with money. People in the world are guided to purchase our of self control - if no one had self control in any aspect the world would be a mess! So, although advertising is used to lure people into wanting something, reality is that a mature and responsible adult will simply know better than to buy something out of emotion. 

So to generalize my thoughts, i would come to say that advertising is good to expand business. There will always be competition, but i am a strong believer in honesty...especially of a product. And in this case, i would say its the "small print" that makes all the difference. It might be hard to read, but at the end one needs to pay attention to every detail if they are really interested.