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Adfree Cities

adfreecities.org.uk

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101–110 of 278 posts

Re: Adfree Cities

#101

Post by jareklupinski »

Tempest1981 wrote: post #43
tylervigen wrote: post #6

I have personally gotten very aggressive at removing as many ads from my life as I can. I pay for the "premium" version of everything I can to remove ads (Spotify, YouTube, podcast subscriptions) and use adblocker aggressively. It's so much nicer than the alternative. There are two places where ads remain: 1) Social media where the ads are integrated and not blocked (Facebook, YouTube in-video promos) 2) Billboards i…

Do you watch any sports on TV? The amount of ads packed into an NBA basketball game on TV is startling and exhausting: - each player's jersey - arena walls - courtside walls (tv screens) - projected onto the court floor (updated each minute) - on the side and top of the backboard - most TV graphics ("Taco Bell play of the game") - split-screen ads during free-throws - traditional commercials during time-outs

- each player's jersey

i noticed some pretty no-name companies on jerseys recently

makes me wonder how much it actually costs to get them to wear like a pin with my face on it for a few games

"did you see me at the knicks game last night? i was everywhere!"

Re: Adfree Cities

#102

Post by vlvdus »

legitster wrote: post #69

I'll be the contrarian here and say that I actually like certain advertisements and billboards. If you are stuck in traffic or on a bus in an ugly urban hellscape, is a billboard really that bad? I'm sorry, they are not going to plant trees in Times Square to replace the billboards. Even in their own press photos, they are showing several billboards that are covering up even uglier buildings! Maybe you are an enlight…

I support you. I've been living in a city with no billboards for a while - it's rather boring for various reasons, billboards would be an improvement.

Re: Adfree Cities

#104

Post by MiddleEndian »

technotarek wrote: post #32
tylervigen wrote: post #6

I have personally gotten very aggressive at removing as many ads from my life as I can. I pay for the "premium" version of everything I can to remove ads (Spotify, YouTube, podcast subscriptions) and use adblocker aggressively. It's so much nicer than the alternative. There are two places where ads remain: 1) Social media where the ads are integrated and not blocked (Facebook, YouTube in-video promos) 2) Billboards i…

I don’t know where you live, but what about all the mail spam — physical mail like catalogs and email advertising/marketing? And that half of what’s published by most journalistic outlets is now veiled ads? Dear Products, I know me better than you. I’ll come find you WHEN I need you. In the meantime, please just sit tight and stay out of my way. -Mr Consumption is Overrated

Email I almost ignore entirely. I generally only read emails that I send myself and a few specific filters.

Physical mail I just go down and throw it all out every so often. I wrote the date down on my whiteboard once after checking it and I noted that I go roughly three months in between times when I checked my mail.

Re: Adfree Cities

#105

Post by bvirb »

tylervigen wrote: post #6

I have personally gotten very aggressive at removing as many ads from my life as I can. I pay for the "premium" version of everything I can to remove ads (Spotify, YouTube, podcast subscriptions) and use adblocker aggressively. It's so much nicer than the alternative. There are two places where ads remain: 1) Social media where the ads are integrated and not blocked (Facebook, YouTube in-video promos) 2) Billboards i…

Years ago I was driving home and saw a Corona beer billboard and distinctly remember thinking that I would love a Pacifico. So it kinda worked on me.

Re: Adfree Cities

#106

Post by hot_gril »

citified wrote: post #93
legitster wrote: post #69

I'll be the contrarian here and say that I actually like certain advertisements and billboards. If you are stuck in traffic or on a bus in an ugly urban hellscape, is a billboard really that bad? I'm sorry, they are not going to plant trees in Times Square to replace the billboards. Even in their own press photos, they are showing several billboards that are covering up even uglier buildings! Maybe you are an enlight…

I agree that ads on ugly 10-lane highways don't really detract from anything, but this is not the case with the cities this organisation deals with. They are mostly historic, pedestrianised cities in England where (especially digital) advertising would be of serious detriment to the surroundings, which is what is being campaigned against here.

That makes sense. I wouldn't want ads or anything else ugly in a historic area, but also this is normally something you combat locally. It seems like this site targets an oddly broad audience.

Re: Adfree Cities

#107

Post by pastacacioepepe »

helen___keller wrote: post #12

I understand why people hate advertising but if I’m honest, I don’t agree with having an “adfree city”. I personally like the aesthetic of visual overload that you find in ad-laden cities (let’s say in Tokyo). It makes the space feel living, breathing, and alive, which a city should be. And then the visually quiet spaces, like temples and parks, feel much more sweet. Also at a conceptual level I disagree with the jus…

You don't need ads for that, it could just be art. You could enjoy vibrant artistic billboards without anyone trying to shove products down your throat.

Ever thought of that?

Re: Adfree Cities

#108

Post by Nagyman »

digging wrote: post #60
arketyp wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They will appear elsewhere because fundamentally: we want them. Now I can steelman the argument against ads by likening them to parasites or drugs. The "want" can then be put into question. Any way, the bottom line is that simple exposure to ads is not enough for their efficacy and continued existence. Someone has to actually buy the stuff too, and that's a choice which is up to the person. Are we so incapacitated we…

I do suggest you read the FAQ page on the linked site because it answers all of your disagreements. In particular: > Any way, the bottom line is that simple exposure to ads is not enough for their efficacy and continued existence. Modern ads are so effective at exploiting our minds that their existence is enough to drive our purchases. You don't even have to be aware of them. > personal responsibility is never the an…

It seems that so many here think they're above being manipulated by advertising. Don't trust your brain - it's soft and malleable.

> Vulnerable people do and always will exist.

Hear! Hear! Not to mention that children are even more susceptible than adults, and they do not get a choice in their exposure to advertising. There's so much "think of the children" talk to justify intrusions into privacy, but little to be heard (in North America) of exposing them to manipulative marketing tactics _specifically_ designed to wiggle their way into young and adult brains, alike.

I'm strongly in favour of protecting ourselves from advertising in publicly visible areas. Fill it with nature and beautiful things (i.e. art). It's our world, and nobody has a right to our attention.

Re: Adfree Cities

#109

Post by JumpCrisscross »

This is disappointing. They’re covering ads…with their own ads. Their methods appear to be mounting targeted campaigns against specific ad runs. That’s totally unavailable.

Highway billboards cause crashes [1]. In cities it kills pedestrians [2]. What we need is model legislation folks can introduce to their city councils. Not gushy nonsense, aimed at making participants feel good more than tangible effect, where the front-page call to action is to join a mailing list.

[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31408362/

[2] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46413392_Effects_of...

Re: Adfree Cities

#110

Post by jabroni_salad »

tylervigen wrote: post #6

I have personally gotten very aggressive at removing as many ads from my life as I can. I pay for the "premium" version of everything I can to remove ads (Spotify, YouTube, podcast subscriptions) and use adblocker aggressively. It's so much nicer than the alternative. There are two places where ads remain: 1) Social media where the ads are integrated and not blocked (Facebook, YouTube in-video promos) 2) Billboards i…

If you ever visit washington DC it is absolutely wild the kind of things that are advertised via billboard. Raytheon making sure everyone knows where to get their missiles etc.
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