In examples such as the “mountain-fresh” Dasani water, I don’t feel so much that it’s a con as an advertising strategy. Nearly every producer purports that their product is the best on the market and will do this and that and change your life (whether it is true or not)... I think most people are aware that this is common to all advertised products and that each consumer must decide according to their own ideals what they will buy. I agree that this persuasion in advertising is likely to target certain people or certain peoples’ sweet spots, but I think that considering this strategy to be a con makes nearly everything a con. Doesn’t it?

-- WhytneBrooks - 21 Feb 2008

• Yes, in the first instance. We therefore discussed spring water as a Squaresville Pitch, favorable geography variant. Dasani raises the stakes a little, because it is not spring water, but just filtered municipal tap water, identical to what comes from the pitcher in the refrigerator. Of course the label discloses, so there is no question of fraud, but most people don't bother to read. And add a false source claim--or even just omit to mention that you can get this stuff from any local sink--and liability begins to hover in the offing.

-- EbenMoglen - 21 Feb 2008