A very interesting discussion is going on under the title "Woolies steals Frankies ....", which has given rise to a number of other issues one of which relates to the darker side of marketing. The questions that arise from that Thread are whether Marketing

is a friend or foe? ...
can it be trusted? ....
is it based on sound moral practice or does it distort and twist our moral fibre? .....
is it a craft that has emotional manipulation as its primary intention? ......

Sure, there is a good responsible informative side to some marketing, but is the good side not being overshadowed by an increasing darker side?
Is "successful" marketing not becoming a trade that attacks and gradually destroys most of what we should be protecting for the sake of our well being?
Has the bad side of marketing not blurred our sense of what is right vs what is wrong, often leaving us in the grey (undecided/confused) zone between right and wrong?

Is it an issue & should something be done about it. If so how big a problem is "dark marketing" and what should be done?