Ad Nauseum, "Get Smarter", "The Persuaders"

Ad Nauseum
The section “How Do Kids Read Commericials” was particularly disturbing. Just like “Consuming Kids”, it shows how consumption is ingrained into us as soon as we're born. What’s most bothersome to me is the blindness of people to their manipulation; they think they are making personal statements by buying something, but really they’re just playing into the hands of the advertisers. As it says “…kids unwittingly reciting slogans, believing advertising claims, and misunderstanding commercial motives”. They are doing just what “The Persuaders” want them to do, consuming on impulse, without questioning the motives of sellers. As illustrated in “Consuming Kids”, it shows the needs for regulation on advertising to kids, especially at school!
“Shopping Spies” shows the creepy advertising research that is required for people to get “inside our heads”. It reminds me of “The Persuaders” when the researcher asks the man if he feels lonely when eating white bread. Everything about it just seems wrong. It’s an invasion of privacy and just the definition of creepy, yet that is what the ad industry feeds on. If this work was for something like solving social problems, it would be one thing, but it’s just to figure out the “code” that will lead to ultimate consumption. Not only is it disgusting how marketing tries to get into our minds, its terrifying how its invisibly weaving its way into our lives. Restaurants avoiding selling water, pharmaceutical reps manipulating physicians, and movies that are essentially commercials; we seem to be headed toward total envelopment by advertising.

Get Smarter
“Get Smarter” shows that the adaptation required to modern evolving technology will make us more intelligent, using it to solve the increasingly complex problems that we face.
I agree that younger generations are much more adapted to technological change. Younger kids can figure out Facebook without effort, while older users struggle to comprehend how to use it correctly. This, however, is specifically related to technological change, and other change, such as sudden loss of this advanced technology, would be devastating to younger generations.
I also agree that technology has in some ways allowed us to become “wicked smart”, with access to data, simulation capabilities, and pattern-matching abilities. This external smarts is inarguably helpful in understanding and solving complex problems.
I disagree with his enthusiasm for increasing intellgence artificially. This seems unnecessary since I believe the current intellectual capabilities of human are far from fully utilized. He should look towards improvements in public education for solving our future problems.
I disagree with his idea that change happens slowly, rather it seems changes are coming increasingly quickly, with skeptics raising concerns over the unforeseen impacts. Texting, Facebook, Twitter, iphones, ipods, etc., all of these are extremely new phenomenons. How will the affect learning in school? Obesity? The environment?

The Persuaders
1.Ads are working to find a deep connection with viewers, so it no longer even feels like persuasion.
2.Marketers work to build cultures and experiences around their products.
3.People are unconsciously persuaded to manufacture needs for products and then try to justify these wants.
4.Entertainment and advertising are becoming indistguishable.
5.Politicians can now use narrow-casting to target very specific demographics with what appeals to those voters.