Advertising like every marketing activity is directed at manouvering human psyche to make it succumb to stimulus to buy their product. If you dispositioned individual most likely a large number of consumers are, like they are more erotic than sublime or they have repressed erotic wishes etc; then the impulses that stimulate unconscious fullfilment of those wishes if met at the point of contact, sale, ales etc; will be designed to close the sale. So the only wrong with it is instead of treating the consumer to get rid of repressed wishes they use it to further the corporations self interest.

For example teenagers or a sex starved housewife when sees a product designed to symbolise sexual intercourse the unconscious wishfullfilment will create the stimulation unconsciously and will fall for the product. For example a vase designed for symbolising the above procreative function will make a closure of sale. Nude models sitting on an expensive car is an example where the association to the unconscious creates the stimulation to make it part of ones choice when deciding on a car.

This I think is inevitable in marketing because these sorts of managed illussions sometimes create marginal increase in foot falls and other managed methods can create a conversion like point of contact and point of sale tactics. Yesterday Alka was writing on 'moment of magic' which is purely something similar to this, the unconcious 'wish' of being taken care off which works up from libido and fanatasies form the same create repeat customers who dream and fantasise which I think everybody does in their private life till they trun to understand reality which is reason. Libidic symbols are sometimes used extensively to close sales exploiting the trauma of the consumer. Marketing has no meaning if they don't develope this as time progress.

True, Advertisement upto the level of information and social message does good.

The rest is total waste of resources on fantasies for company and irritant for consumer.

Case in point ads of several never heard of perfume brands or undergarments....... .........,that draw a reaction is almost strong as though to switch off the TV or at least change the channel. 

You said it. Do more harm than Good. That means there is something good in it. Let us cherish and promote the goodness of it.

We have all seen commercials: on television, on websites, on phone lines, and even on highway billboards. But when do we think about them? More specifically, where can we complain about their drawbacks? This debate discusses whether or not advertisements (that is, commercials on television, billboards, signs, Internet ads, etc.) are beneficial to the majority of people in a society. I will take the Pro/For side of this debate: I believe advertisements do more harm than good. By accepting this challenge, you are saying that advertisements are good. Basic Rules and Agreements: 1. No vulgar, slang, or other offensive language is allowed. 2. Intentional spelling or grammar errors are not permissible. 3. The first round is for introduction and agreement purposes. 4. If sources are used, they must be cited with URLs or titles of books. Please post a comment in case there are ambiguities in the topic or agreements of this debate.