Advertising

I've been reading a book on the history of advertising, which I found very interesting. The main thing that struck me is how little is new in the world. Reading eighteenth century classified ads. in which people announced their comings and goings, and aired their dirty linen in public, makes me think that people then would so have had reality TV if they'd been able to. Reading early nineteenth century writers, lamenting how the only rule now is self-promotion, makes me wonder just how short-lived are those "old-fashioned English values" like modesty and restraint. ( More on advertising )