And nowhere is advertising more obtrusive, or more truly manipulative, than on television. We're accustomed to facing a gauntlet of hucksters when we sit in front of a TV set. While people with differing political views argue about bias in news coverage, the constant din of TV advertising eludes scrutiny. TV commercials are running roughshod on airwaves that supposedly belong to the public. Tremendous resources are poured into producing ads that lure, cajole and, yes, insult us.
Advertisers fill the air with demeaning techniques to boost sales.
We live in an extremely advertised society. Such whopping figures are tributes to this nation's ad business. Advertising isn't only about selling products. To a very great extent, it tells us who we are and who we should be. Many think that ads only influence other people.