I’ve complained about this blogger, Dare Obasanjo, in the past.

But I want to buy him a drink right now. He’s put into words something I’ve been wrestling with for 30yrs. Ever since Ron Shewchuk tried to convince me that advertising was a “good way to inform the general public about new products”. (Ron was being indoctrinated into some cult of Journalism at the time.)

I knew then what I know today. Advertisers are lying, cheating scum who will advise their clients to poison the water supply for an extra penny per unit profit.

If you want to be as incensed about advertising as I am, read Fast Food Nation.

“Want lies with that?”

Where was I …

Ah, yes. My ephiphy.

Here’s the key quote:

… thats when the whole idea of advertising will go poof, will disappear. If its perfectly targeted, it isn’t advertising, its information. Information is welcome, advertising is offensive.

Dave Winer

Obasanjo gives some examples:

… If you think about it, the reason Google makes so much money from search advertising is because the ads are particularly relevant when a user is seeking information or a trusted opinion as part of the process to make a commercial decision. If Im searching for “iPod” or “car insurance” then it is quite likely that ads selling me these products are relevant to my search and are actually considered to be information instead of intrusive advertising. …

Dare Obasanjo aka Carnage4Life – SocialAds Implications: Facebook will Acquire iLike and Flixster

Advertising will go poof.

I like the sounds of that. How much time have I wasted hearing radio and TV advertising that not only hold no interest to me, but that offends my intelligence?

The recycling tub here is stuffed with dead tree that we do not even glance at.

Happily, the future is nearly here. We will be able to buy everything without ads if we wish. Or get the same content ad supported — but, we will be able to choose what categories of ads we want.

I would choose outdoor gear, kayaks, bicycles, Apple products, etc.

Those advertisers will pay very, very dearly to get me to look. I’m a motivated buyer.

Go Google!

Google is driving this whole revolution. Though it may be Facebook where I get to opt-in first on-line.