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Re:German digital signage ban prompts confusion by registeredcorn on Friday August 26, 2022 @09:14AM (#32607048)
Are you thinking strictly in terms of massive, multi-national companies? For myself, it would be far more handy if I had seen ads for local plumbers, chimney repair, barbershops, etc. I try to support my local economy whenever I can, and I don't mind paying a premium for smaller shops since they usually do a better job, or are at least incentivized to do so.

When it comes to something like buying a car, I don't want to be advertised to since the manufacturer of that product 1) isn't a part of my community and 2) isn't supported by the people in my area.

I can absolutely think of cases where I would have liked to know what services are available for specific products, like chair making, or a project I have in mind, rather than having to ask around to figure out who even does it in my area. Obviously, I would still have to do some research to figure out if the person advertising is any good, but the fact that a small business has a budget for advertising is a very positive indicator that they are at least professional enough to have some revenue.

Advertising, when it relates to something a small business can exist within, reduces the amount of time and effort I have to put in to seeing how many competitors are in that space. It's not something that I'm thrilled about, but it does have benefit within certain circumstance.

Re:German digital signage ban prompts confusion by alexb_ on Friday August 26, 2022 @09:43AM (#32607406)
>I can absolutely think of cases where I would have liked to know what services are available for specific products, like chair making, or a project I have in mind, rather than having to ask around to figure out who even does it in my area.

We had this, it was called phone books. And I guess a phone book is technically advertising, but there's clearly a difference between info and manipulation.

Re:German digital signage ban prompts confusion by amelius on Friday August 26, 2022 @01:08PM (#32610132)
Yellow pages, also.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_pages

I don't mind advertising whenever I am actively looking for something.

What I have problems with is seeing ads when I don't want to see them.