I enjoy receiving targeted products or services which I wouldn't have otherwise known about. That isn't toxic; we live in a world with tens of millions of products being offered worldwide. Just because we don't come across them "organically" doesn't make their advertising toxic. I'm still an individual who makes a conscious purchase decision.
>convincing you that you needed a product that you actually didn't
What if it's convincing him that he needs a product that is actually of benefit to him, that he didn't know existed?
I don't want crap pushed on me without consent. Once you have consent, (which is me doing a pull of what you're offering), then it's okay.
I'm surprised with all the controversy over consent in the last year or so that Tech and Ad companies still don't understand this. Then again, the wisdom of Upton Sinclair applies.
--It is difficult to get someone to understand what their paycheck is dependent on them not understanding
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees on the issue of consent. The following is what I replied to though, and is unrelated to consent:
>The user on the other hand gets no benefits, the society gets no benefits, and those who benefit are random people whose motives are unclear.
This is blatantly false. In this thread alone there are multiple people who have stated they find benefit through targeted ads.
>convincing you that you needed a product that you actually didn't
What if it's convincing him that he needs a product that is actually of benefit to him, that he didn't know existed?