People buy things because of ads all the time. Probably you've done it too.

I go out of my way not to buy products advertised to me, but I've definitely fallen to the incessant brain-washing of brand advertising. Probably regular advertising too depending what you include as adverts.

I was surprised speaking to someone the other day, just out and about. They'd purposefully gone out to buy doughnuts they'd seen advertised. Kinda shook me. They seemed happy as Larry about it all though.

I'm watching March Madness right now, and the Canadian sports network re-broadcasts with their own ads. They show a terrible one featuring a mid female basketball player every. single. break. The only emotions they've raised with me are anger and frustration, but I am well informed that there's a new Google phone out. If I was thinking about buying a new device it would be impossible to not associate that with the new Google Pixel 10a - available now!

The thing that really messed with me recently was when I started thinking deeply about the fact that I’ve been seeing so many Southwest ads about their switch to assigned seating…

I realized that they probably made that whole change, along with all of the ads, because they knew it would spark mild outrage and discussion from people who saw it — they’d discuss if assigned seating is actually better or worse than the previous fist-come-fist-serve system. I can understand either angle but I liked that they were different than other airlines, etc.

But really it’s because they removed the free checked bags that had been their policy forever, now you need to pay like any other airline. Which completely ruins their value prop. But by advertising the seating changes so heavily for months, they make you forget about that part that actually makes a much bigger difference in the experience

> I go out of my way not to buy products advertised to me

The most likely way to get me to not buy your product is to advertise it to me.