Argument Essay on Banning Billboards

Introduction

Whether billboard advertising should be used or not has been in debate for past few decades. Many people and authorities claim that billboards in the city are not really beneficial for disseminating the information; rather their presence results in raising conflicts among different groups of population, lowering the value of surrounding property, affecting the beauty of the cit and threatening the health and well being of the people on roads. Regarding this issue, several legislations have also passed considering that billboards affect the beauty of cities. The four states of America, Hawaii, Alaska, Maine and Vermont have already banned the billboards. This essay argues that the billboards should be banned because

Discussion

It has been noted that various advertisements placed on billboards have been considered as unethical or controversial by some parts or groups of population (Dobie, 2013). This leads to raising conflicts and demonstration in the city and results in creating gaps between the affected groups. The ban on billboard and outdoor advertising can significantly resolve this issue, and can provide mental peace to the diverse ethnic, social or political groups. The billboards have also been considered to affect aesthetics because they affect the economic prosperity of the surrounding areas (Snyeder, pp.1). For example, the prices of homes and property surrounded by the billboards are relatively lower as compared to the similar property at the locality where it is not surrounded by the billboards.

Billboards affect the beauty of the city in numerous ways, and they also result in making the people involved in accidents. They cover entre buildings, litter the landscape of the city and block access of the people to scenic sites (Halbur, 2011). As compared to the sign and other boards, the billboards impact the beauty to the largest extent due to their large size (Synder, p.3). In addition to affecting the beauty and scenery of the city, the issue of billboards becomes more serious as there is high probability associated with their mounting for affecting the health and well being of the people. Various studies have shown that even without the presence of billboards, the eyes of car drivers and motor bike riders are at the road only for the 50% of the time while they drive (Chavira, 2012). Thus, it becomes clear that due to the billboards, this time of looking at the road even reduces as the drivers are captured by the billboards and feel the urge to read the message written over there. To add the threat for the drivers and people on roads, the billboards have been using the lighting and flashing technologies over the period of past few years. The electronic billboards change abruptly and flash wildly posing great threats to the people who weave dangerously through the traffic, keeping their eyes on the very attractive billboards and captivating messages.

Since this is the age of technology, and most of the people have access to digital and handheld devices 24/7, it would be a better option for the ...