semiotics, a response to the reading

After reading the semiotics reading, I found myself wondering how often I'm influenced by advertisements without realizing it. I like to consider myself rather perceptive of when someone is attempting to influence me, but I think I need to realize that its probably inevitable that as long as there are signs and connatations, I will be influenced. The article did a good job of portraying both sides of a sign, how it is necessary/inevitable, yet also harmful/dangerous. All in all, this reading was an interesting introduction into a topic that I have never encountered before.