ethics

A free market can only function effiently if there is a free exchange of information between seller and buyer.
Consumer must be informed about new products, new prices, new points of sale, etc.
But is advertising an attempt to inform or an attempt to persuade?

Can you ever tell a woman too often that you love her? ”A dimond is forever!”
”Things go better with Coca Cola!”

Is it relevant how I persuade you as long as you are persuaded? Can you be persuaded against your will?
Is effective advertising necessarily ’good’ advertising?
Is there such a thing as ’responsible’ advertising?
Should the consumer be protected?

Countries that have not been exposed to advertising. Is there a danger that western type advertisements are taken there too seriously and believed?
Will anyone believe that ”Things go better with
Coca Cola?”
How does the advertiser act responsibly in these countries? Should he act differently than in countires which are used to advertising? Why?

Do untruthful ads damage the company in the long run?
Ads with exagerated claims are seldom taken seriously by consumers.
If you lie someone will find you out, and your reputation suffers.
Leaving out ’relevant’ information in an ad.
”Smoking will damage your health”.

• Should techniques which do not leave the consumer in control of his mind be banned in advertising?
• If the advertiser has a method to make up your mind for you, should he be forbidden from using it?
• Should the testimony of experts and the use of celebrities in ads be banned? Why or why not?

Is the use of attractive models an attempt to influence the consumer or only a device to catch the viewer’s or reader’s attention?
Is it possible that using attractive models changes the norms of society as to how a ’normal’ person should look?
Is immoral to use sex in advertising? Why or why not? Does sex sell most of the time? Why or why not?

Should advertisers be allowed to target children with their ads? Why or why not?
Should some ads be allowed to be targetted at children but others not? Why? How should such ads be different from regular ads directed ad grown ups and why should they?

Is it immoral to associate a product with an activity it is not really an integral part of?
Do you have a better relationship with your friends if you all go to drink beer? Is it necessary to toast newly weds with champagne?
Do advertisers influence our culture by creating customs and rituals which involve the use of their products or services?

Is product placemment in movies and television programs immoral. Can it be mistaken for a genuine endorsement if a television personality, a movie character or a character in a television soap opera uses a certain product or service or makes positive/negative claims concerning it?

Is the good of advertisers the good of society?
Should all advertising be strictly informative advertising,and should it follow very strict guidelines, and not attempt to persuade or influence?