The marketing profession has always been accused of self-interest. As one who has practiced in the marketing profession for more than 30 years, and worked in the advertising business for 15 of those years, I can say without equivocation that the industry has much to answer for when it comes to the issue of ethical behavior. Let me not come off as a moralist. I've done things and worked on campaigns in the past that, today, I am ashamed of and genuinely regret. Everything from cigarettes to kid's cereals to name but a few.
Ads sell more than products.
The argument states that if it's not banned by government, it's fair game for marketers. A rational point of view, one would say. Applying that logic, any number of socially unacceptable practices could be deemed appropriate from the segregation laws of the '60s to the fen-phen marketing of today. From worst to questionable The best way for the marketer to confront the ethical conundrum is to address the specific case. Nothing focuses the mind better than applying the principle to the application.