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Comment by wat10000 | Hacker News Reader

If you want to argue that advertising is different for doctors than it is for me, and it’s useful for them despite being a drain and a danger for me, then go for it. But that’s the opposite of the argument you laid out.

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Yes, advertising is more relevant and works better for people with power over large purchasing decisions as the bidders have more at stake. Maybe you aren't in the market for plumbers or running shoes, and are instead looking for "download vlc media player". This doesn't contradict anything I said?

Ok, you must be taking the piss. VLC doesn’t advertise. If you search for VLC downloads and click an advertisement for VLC, you’re going to be downloading malware. Even someone who thinks advertising is a modern miracle must be aware of this.

...that was my point? You are so close to getting it.

I’m completely lost. You keep talking about how advertising to doctors and B2B is totally different from advertising to people like me. At the same time you keep talking about my personal experience with advertising. Why?

If you search for low-value consumer queries or aren't a buyer for high-ticket B2B items, you will get less relevant ads. Your personal experiences don't extrapolate well here: advertising for high-value goods is totally different from advertising for low-value goods.

Example: hypertargeted ads for F-35 engine upgrades in the DC metro - https://x.com/JosephPolitano/status/1683476652276236295

Is that clear enough?

Sure. I can totally buy that advertising is different for different people. Although I don’t think it’s good regardless. The part that confuses me is that you keep bringing up my experience of advertising despite repeatedly saying it’s not comparable.

I was trying to point out the selection bias in your experiences, since your queries are probably lower-intent than for the typical consumer. Good discussion though.

I get that. But you're the one who brought up my experiences in the first place! The last few messages have been, essentially, "Doctors need advertising to find new treatments just like you need advertising to find plumbers." "I don't need, and actively avoid using, advertising to find plumbers." "Your experience isn't comparable, it's not relevant to doctors finding medical treatments." Followed by many repetitions of the last part. I get it. The part I don't get is why I'm supposed to believe advertising is good for doctors, given your previous argument made no sense (what with comparing it to my own experience with advertising) and you haven't given a new one.

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