please tell the truth or you'll get found out

I like Ernie Mosteller and I trust him, here's why...

erniesblog: The Truth. Take our word.

But honestly, what matters more to me at this very moment is the disdain the blow-hard had for the crackpot, when it was the blow-hard who was completely wrong.

Ok, so where's he going with this? Here: It's not just me and Woody Allen anymore. The web means access to information, true and untrue, about everything. If people are so inclined, they can find out anything about anything. And, for the most part, as I've said, they'e not all that inclined -- when you look at "people" as a group. But it doesn't take the whole group. It just takes one or two influentials, and the truth spreads. And because of the web, it spreads quickly. In short, your customers don't have to take your word for anything. They can, and will, either (A) take someone else's word; or (B) find out for themselves.

If I'm creating advertising (and I am,) that says two things to me. One, the product better be able to live up to the truth. And two, my advertising better contain it. You don't want to do it any other way. Take my word on that.

That's the end of a well told story, but the important bit. Advertising needs to be truthful, unfortunately too much isn't as honest as it could be, just as honest as it can get away with.

It's an uphill battle to get your own team onside with why we should be more truthful rather than lie less, but it's something to keep on doing; otherwise we'll find out just how right our mum was. And we hate being wrong...