>I thought this was an especialy interesting for
you to post because If I recall correctly, you are
a graphic artist who creates print ads, yes?
--and in some ways advertisement is the
ultimate >form of manipulation. So I am
wondering how (or if) you think your job has
influenced your thoughts on this subject, you
being in the business of manipulation, so to
speak.

I wasn't even thinking about my profession
when I wrote that post, but rather about
personal relationships and social interaction.
Still, it's something to think about, although I'm
not certain how you would argue that
advertising is the ultimate form of
manipulation. I've never thought of it that way,
but more along the lines of "getting the word
out," you know, "here's what we have, isn't it
great!?"

In a way, I suppose you're right,
because we're attempting to persuade people
to buy our merchandise because it's in *our*
best interests -- our paychecks come from the
revenue our sales bring in. On the other hand,
though, the truly effective advertiser is the one
who is excited about his product. Kind of like a
missionary, he's trying to persuade -- i.e.
manipulate -- people into doing something
because he thinks it's in *their* best interest to
do so.

But as usual, that's in an ideal world. I'm
certainly not that gung-ho about the majority of
the merchandise I advertise. Sure, I think it's
good stuff, but it's not like I'm trying to make
the world a better place by selling it. No, I'm
earning a paycheck, and I want people to buy
our stuff so my company can make a profit
and I can get a big fat raise next year.

>I also wonder if we are more easily
manipulated than we used to be, since
advertising is down to a science now--or if we
are less easily manipulated because we are
jaded from >over-saturation?

I think I fall into the jaded, less-easily
manipulated by advertising category myself.
The fact that I make advertising for a living is
probably part of that, but even before I started
working here, I could never get worked up by
an ad for a big sale. Maybe in part it's also
because I'm a stereotypical male when it
comes to shopping. I don't like to do it unless I
actually plan to buy something, and then I
know what I want ahead of time, and I just
want to go and get it as quickly as possible.
To be honest, I hardly paid close attention to
most advertising before I worked here, and
even now I mainly only look at it to see how it's
been designed, and how effective the
photography is, and not for what the great sale
is this week.

>koala"just wondering"mom

Gri"good questions, you thought-provoker,
you"shny