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.

  • sfu@lemm.eeEnglish
    91·
    3 days ago

    I HATE when I am forced to watch commercials, in front of my face on the gas pump, while I am pumping gas into my vehicle. I should really get a discount on my gas for that.

        • MisanthropiCynic@lemm.eeEnglish
          1·
          21 hours ago

          Idk

          I only remember because there were two gas stations by my house and one of them you could not get gas at all because it was an all electronic system but the other one still had the manual handles you could flip up and the pumps still worked when they turned it on inside even without the screen

          • sfu@lemm.eeEnglish
            1·
            13 hours ago

            Many of them I see have video cameras next to them. And most I’ve encountered have a separate video screen above the touch screen. You know, that way you don’t have to miss your favorite ads while you fiddle with your card and put into your info and select if you want a receipt and if you want a carwash to go with your ad.

            Just 200 in one night is a lot, I would think there’d be some carelessness leading to getting caught. Did most of the gas stations fix them and continue showing ads? Just curious.