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efray
efray

What are some issues with ethics in business advertising? Can you analyze and reflect on ethics in advertising?

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Posted by efray on Sunday September 28, 2008 at 10:44 PM and tagged with advertising, business, ethics.

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  1. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    Ethical issues in advertising raise questions, for example,  about whether the company selling a product reveals the absolute truth about the product in their advertising.  Fully educating the consumer on a product is never the intention of advertising. 

    When a perfume or men's cologne prepare advertising, the suggestion is made that if you use this product, you will be more interesting, beautiful, attractive to the opposite sex.  Some ads go so far as to suggest that you will be irresistible. 

    When celebrities endorse a product, the ethics involved revolve around whether it is legitimate to use the reputation of any celebrity to suggest how you should spend your money. This advertising is seeking to get an emotional response from the buyer.  I want to be like Brad Pitt, so therefore, I will buy this product. 

    Ultimately, is it the buyer's job to be fully aware of the products usefulness.  Advertising does play on the buyer's emotions, trying to evoke a response that will result in a purchase.  They will use nostaglia, helping you remember why you were happy when you drove a Ford or a Buick. 

    Advertisers will try to convince you that your life will be better if you own or use a certain product.  This is not unethical, buyers should educate themselves by reading consumer reviews on any products that they are considering buying, before they buy.  No one is forced to buy anything.

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Monday September 29, 2008 at 5:33 PM