| ▲ | koliber 7 days ago | ||||||||||||||||
I am taking a broader definition of ad to include things that also have other names. - job ads and classified ads that can also be called listings - ads for events that can also be called notices - product description on services like Amazon and Ebay - websites describing products and services - 1st hand and 2nd hand mentions of products and services online that can be as close to the Some of the comments here seem to hold only for a narrow definition of ads. I prefer to think of all of this as marketing, as ads are part of the marketing mix. As we see, the distinction between ads and other similar things is blurry. I am not defending the volume of ads. There's way too much of it. I am making the unconventional and unpopular statement that sometimes marketing and ads do deliver value. It's better to narrow the critique of ads the way you did because that leads to a more constructive conversation. | |||||||||||||||||
| ▲ | dghlsakjg 7 days ago | parent [-] | ||||||||||||||||
A huge distinguishing characteristic is that some of these things come to you, or are found passively, and some of them you seek out. I think that when the ad comes to you, there is a very good chance it has little or no value. Job listings are useful, but I have to seek them out. An event calendar is something I seek out. Product descriptions are only shown to me when I seek details about the product. An ad on the street is somewhere in the middle. For most people the acceptability of it is about setting (not in a nature park, please), and ignorability (LCD billboard vs. telephone pole flyer). I think that is the distinction that people are making between marketing and what is being called ads. | |||||||||||||||||
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