I want to get as far away from the ad economy and ad culture as possible. Since there’s a 0% chance the morons supporting it will ever learn from their mistakes, I’m starting to realize the only option going forward is to create new places where we aren’t stuck with the “tunnel vision of the stupids.”
It doesn’t have to be large, start small and work our way out. It also doesn’t have to be expensive. It shouldn’t be too difficult to enforce a ban on physical advertisements within the borders, but digital advertising is a whole 'nother ballgame.
Even for a small town, would it be possible to sue companies for running ads in it? Similar to how the same company will show different content on their web services depending on where the user connects from to adhere to local laws. It would be fine if they just blocked connections from where advertising is illegal, but it’s not okay for them to show ads to our residents.
Any insight into this besides useful idiots saying advertising is good or necessary would be greatly appreciated!
Sounds like bad news for the local newspaper.
Local newspapers are already closing en masse even with ads, and many of the ones left barely count as newspapers anymore. We need to solve this issue separately. Maybe start rolling out straight-up subsidies? That would open up local newspapers to government censorship, but that’s not necessarily worse than newspapers ruled by adspace buyers, and generally better than no local newspaper at all.
The Corporation For Public Broadcasting (RIP) did a good job of helping NPR, PBS, etc stay impartial and relevant.
Impartial?
NPR hasn’t been impartial in my lifetime. See also the radio programs the US projected to the rest of the world (I forget the name of it) - essentially a propaganda arm of the government…
Government should have zero involvement with such stuff.
You may disagree, but the intent and practice of NPR has always been to remain impartial as a news source. The lack of a profit motive encourages this, whereas other media organizations rely on catering to their desired audience. Maybe you don’t like what you hear there, but consider the motivation of any news org before judging it.
As far as the propaganda aimed at other countries, I can’t speak to it as I’m ignorant in this area.
Maybe - i suppose one way around it is newspapers run by specific organisations or for specific topics. For instance, universities have their own free newspapers, there are newspapers in my city for artists and musicians to share news relevant to their craft and any gigs going on.
Or you coukd have a completely digital one run by volunteers who have an interest in journalism, websites, and are willing to pitch in a bit. Also they can charge fees for anyone who buys it.
Could ban ads but allow for “free space” for local businesses to put ad spots or for people to advertise their freelance services or make headhunting requests. Remember how people used to seek dates using newspaper spots? I guess thst’s obsolete now. But still.