Truth and Deception in Advertising

ruth And Deception In Advertising There is much to be discussed about what the role advertising has in today’s society. Everywhere you look, and go there is usually some sort of advertising present. Whether watching TV, walking around a mall, or reading a magazine, people are bombarded with advertising. So it brings into question, what kind of role should advertising have, and what kind of ethics should merchants of products go by. There are many different opinions on the ethics merchants should have. Some people believe they should have a tell all type of approach when making a sale, while others on the other end believe that merchants should do whatever it takes to make the sale, even if it means lying. Here I have presented the two opposite ends of the spectrum. I believe my own view on the situation lies somewhere in similarity with what Tibor R. Machan has presented in his paper “Advertising: The Whole or Only Some of the Truth?” My views on the role of advertising and merchants lie somewhere with Machan’s idea of the merchant ethic, meaning that the buyer is trying to make the sale, however the seller needs to be honest as a business person and may not mislead or deceive, but they do not need to tell all. Caveat Emptor must play a role, meaning the buyer must beware, and a salesman does not have to obligation to tell all. I feel that a business person/merchant/advertiser does not need to straight up tell for instance the shortcomings or complaints about their product, however if the buyer asks about them then they need to be honest and tell. I feel this ethic with a twist is fitting to what I believe is best.
The twist is that I believe that merchants should follow the merchant ethic until their own personal morals come about and interfere with this ethic. If one really cannot make a sale because their own morals tell them that it is not right (maybe the product is completely wrong to a customer who has no clue whatsoever about what he/she is buying for