The average “smart person” thinks a trillion dollar industry can’t brainwash them.

In terms of the people with products to advertise being crewed over by the ad industry, I think it is more that they don't see the similarity between the ad industry brain-washing us and the ad industry brain-washing them. Perhaps the disconnect happens because they want to interact with the ad industry, so get their stuff hawked to us, but we'd usually rather not.

Another interesting disconnect is that sometimes a person is both the “us” and the “them” in different contexts. i knew someone who would complain about some of it on other sides but when pointed out that his site used some of the same tricks he'd respond with “yeah, but I need that because …”.

"advertising works, even when you know exactly how advertising works"

Meh. I have no idea if I am smart or not -- the last several years proved to me I am definitely stupider than I thought -- but I know that with time I only started buying things I directly derive value from or in the worst-case scenario, I'll undoubtedly need during the next few months. No cutesy phone cases, no gadgets "because why not", no extra socks "because you never know", no new toaster because the current one just a tad too big etc. Almost no unnecessary purchases.

It's much more related to maturing on this or that axis than being smart IMO.

You lost me at socks ! :O

Buddy “I only buy things that I am convinced I need when I’m convinced I need to buy them” isn’t the demonstration that you’re immune to advertising that you seem to be trying to make.

Let me guess, when you are convinced that it is time to buy something that you need, you tend to buy from brands that you trust are of high quality or value — in a way that’s totally disconnected from and unrelated to any advertising or marketing efforts though?

You seem to have missed the criteria that I gave: namely that I buy stuff that I'll derive direct value from now or VerySoon™.

As for brands, obviously that's a thing but it's not always due to propaganda / ads -- often it's also about trying a few and sticking to what you have observed works best (or is longer lasting, or both).