Comments on: Are adverts morally neutral?

By: Tim Simmonds

Tim Simmonds — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:40:05 +0000

I see very little information in adverts.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:44:04 +0000

Commercials are simply an exchange of information about the availability of products and services

What commercials has he been watching?

By: Mark Heath

Mark Heath — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:55:03 +0000

I think that some adverts can be morally neutral according to the first definition. They don’t necessarily need to be manipulative. Consider the following three brief “adverts”:

1. Cakes for sale
2. Really tasty cakes for sale
3. Only by tasting these cakes can you experience true pleasure

Only the third could be said to be “manipulative” (possibly the second).

Of course, almost all the adverts we see on TV are of the third type.