We've all seen those cheesy Public Service Announcements. Because knowing is half the battle!
What I am actually talking about are the anti-drug commercials. Personally, I have no intention of drinking, smoking, or using any illicit drugs within my lifetime. I made that decision long ago. But a great majority of (I hate this term) "iPod Generation" are into underage drinking, as well as drug use and abuse.
Psychology has been an interest of mine for some time, and I figured out that because of my parents, along with the people I attended church with, my lifestyle has been influenced in a good direction. Most of these kids never talked with their parents about such things, let alone have friends that have different viewpoints. But, another thing about psychology is how using shocking examples can affect a person's opinion.
When I was in middle school, we went to the city stadium for a thing on the dangers of smoking. A man who had smoked his entire life came out and began to speak. The sound of his voice was terrifying. Not necessarily frightening, but I can still here his voice, as he said, "DON'T SMOKE CIGARETTES." I also read the Stephen King short story
Quiter's Inc.. I am thankful that I have had all these positive influences in my life.
Now the topic of drinking. I don't drink. Religious beliefs and my personal opinions dictate that. I am a paranoid person, and I realize how easily I could be killed if I were to become drunk, or worse, if I were to drive while intoxicated. My fear of being taken advantage of is what ultimately steered me away from it, along with the knowledge of the negative impact on one's health. I was one of the few people that paid attention in Health class when we got to the chapter on drinking, apparently.
The major drug at my high school is marijuana. Last year for English, the teacher had us right a major essay on the dangers of marijuana use. She helped us fine sources, as well as categorize the topics. It disturbs me how it can ruin minds and damage bodies.
And of course, driving. Wear your seatbelt. Click it or ticket.
So I've talked about these different subjects but what I am trying to say here is this. Our Public Service Anouncements (at least in Virginia) are inefficient and ineffective. When I was taking Driver's Ed, the teacher showed us a commercial from the UK. It showed a guy without a seat belt crashing through a window in slow motion as blood gushed out of him and all that great stuff.
What did it present? IT SHOWED WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T WEAR YOUR DAMN SEATBELT.
There is one anti-drug commercial that I saw recently, where it shows a kid building a cocoon out of weed and he emerges as an adult, only to have his mother yell up that it is time for dinner. I understood the message that if you smoke marijuana, you are going to end up an inefficient person living at home with his mother.
OUR COMMERCIALS ARE NOT EXPLICIT ENOUGH.
Look at these commercials:
http://www.esquire.com/the-side/video/lunchbreak113007
For example, look at the Gun Control one.
As you know, I am a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, but even I was momentarily convinced that I should do something about restricting gun sales. Problem is that even if we make all types of guns illegal, the drug dealers, the rapists, the criminals, who are already doing illegal things, won't care about the law and will get those guns any way possible. This is not a case of me being biased, this is simply the truth.
Now as for drug use, and the issue of legalization of marijuana, I don't support such a thing. But we already know about prohibition. If people want something, they'll get it any way necessary. Even though I am against legalizing it, I realize that people are always going to use it because they want it, regardless of the law.
As you just read, I realize the evidence of two issues. I am for one and against the other, yet I still see a similar trend here.
Now I came across some videos from Montana that deal with the issues of Meth use, and I think these one's are more direct and explicit than the one's here:
http://www.montanameth.org/View_Ads/index.php
"Friends" is the one I looked at first.
I know I said a lot here, but do you understand what I am trying to say? Symbolism is not always the best way to get the message across, sometimes you need to scare the crap out of people.
Favoured: 0
via Email