Oh no... Duffy gets on her bike in Diet Coke spot

I suppose the problem is that you're not really defending advertising, you're just rejecting objective truth, absolute values, etc.

Who's defending advertising? I was simply trying to point out that the giant/evil/despicable ad-man and the recuperation of detournement that comes from advertising is simply a reflection of the individual decisions we make every day: Statements that are "just a joke", an inability to give to charity, accepting established rules/ways, arrogance, indifference, etc.

but the same, highly simplistic argument can be extended to defend anything. Maybe the consumer likes her broken Unipack, thanks to advertising?

My simplistic jest does not equal a simplistic arguement, but I'm aware of your point.

I'm going to include the words "reductio ad absurdum" here, because I want Oliver to post the exploding head thing again.

I may use backwards logic at times, but it makes more sense to me than attacking outward elements of society before looking within yourself for the very same qualities. (This is not aimed at anyone, I just think a lot of anti-consumerist bull is unfounded and unhelpful most of the time, be the change and all that...)