In Defense of Ads

"Advertising adds value to a product by changing our perception, rather than the product itself." Perhaps this is a good thing:

As Usual, The Onion Nails It

New Device Desirable, Old Device Undesirable

"The new device is an improvement over the old device, making it more attractive for purchase by all Americans," said Thomas Wakefield, a spokesperson for the large conglomerate that manufactures the new device. "The old device is no longer sufficient. Consumers should no longer have any use or longing for the old device." (more...)

I Approve This Dishonesty

What do you get when you take the intellectual dishonesty of politicians and combine it with the intellectually dishonesty of advertising? A work of distorted art:

After a Word from Our Sponsors...

Here are some links on advertising and reasoning.

• The first is about the underlying intellectual dishonesty in even the most honest of ad campaigns.
  
• By the way, if you're into advertising, that entire blog is great. I'm a bit biased, though, since I used to work with the guy who writes it.
• Here's a radio interview with the director of FactCheck.org, a great website devoted to debunking claims in political ads.
• I also used to work with the guy who interviewed FactCheck's director. Yup, I'm a pretty big deal.
• I wish those fact checking websites made a difference. Actually, I just wish they didn't hurt their own cause. Silly humans and your naturally biased minds!