Aggressive Advertising
Advertisements are everywhere, traveling by all ways possible, infiltrating the privacy that every person holds important to themself and their family. Ads may travel inconspiciously, while the final message they deliver through radio, tv, or billboards, is a harmful nuisance, and one that may root itself unscrupulously into the unconcious minds of honest people. Companies have taken on such aggressive promotional measures that advertising has become degrading, disruptive, and destructive.
One of the most corrupt forms of advertising comes from cigarette companies. Cigarette advertisements are degrading not only because the products behind them are proven to be a health hazard, but because the advertisements are focused toward younger generations. Many advertisements use young, attractive, healthy looking models when advertising for a brand of cigarettes or beer. Company promotions have led people to affiliate certain products with feelings of happiness or euphoria. There is no doubt that people smoke the most heavily advertised brands of cigarettes.
"Tobacco advertising increases young people's risk of smoking by using themes that appeal to them, such as fun times, action, and being popular and attractive." (Family Education 1). Ads that supply the Surgeon General's warning along with the main body of the message are blatantly contradictive. These ads prove that there are many forms of advertising without any morals, and that companies will go to great lengths to have their name and image promoted regardless of the results. The nation's companies have put themselves before the children.
Visual product promotions may not only corrupt viewers, they may also be financially destructive to the communities surrounding them. A billboard can negatively impact the visual character of the area as well as financially lower the surrounding property values. Local economies don't suffer when communities control billboards. "A study in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania found that property values...