If the Partnership (who is more responsible for this garbage than the government, because they voluntarily decided to waste their brains to produce this stuff) really wants to produce an ad campaign that results in fewer teenage drug addicts, here's an idea:
How about a campaign that encourages stupid, apathetic morons not to fuck until they feel like actually raising a kid?
Or, even better. How about a campaign that emphasizes the importance of self-esteem and individual responsibility? That might even help a few kids, as well as the drug-addicted kids' parents. How about a campaign the reinforces the importance of reality, and the need to be conscious of it? And that drugs prevent you from doing so? How about a campaign that talks about the importance of using your own mind (not mommy's love) to identify reality and take some attempt to deal with it?
How about a campaign that says maybe it's alright if a kid is a black trench coat-wearing loner, just as long as he understands the importance of setting goals, thinking for himself, and making his own decisions?
"We are creating an entirely new media environment. Now, whenever our nation's children turn on the television, listen to the radio, or surf the Internet, they will get a powerful message against drug use."
- Barry R. McCaffrey, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy
Sure. And they might just pop the tab or snort the coke just to give you, Mr. McCaffrey, the middle finger. Do you, Mr. McCaffrey, actually give a shit about a child? Have you ever been a child? Would you have liked it if someone stuck their nose in your face when you were feeling your worst and said you'll look like a loser if you do drugs?
Just say no to collectivist bullshit.
Whether you look like a loser isn't the freaking point. Lots of kids do drugs and join gangs precisely because they worry about how they look to others. Why would you try to persuade them not to do drugs by reinforcing the very premise that leads them to drugs in the first place?
The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is the winner of the savethehumans.com DOG Award. They have earned it. They have spouted their pseudo-moralistic bullshit in such a way that:
- Wastes millions and millions of dollars (dollars which are confiscated from taxpayers without their consent)
- Satisfies the altruistic urges of guilt-ridden pseudo capitalistic advertising employees to sacrifice their time for others
- Pretends to help others by saying unhelpful things
- Features "creative" work that basks in the glory of its own implausibility
- Talks down to people in the most self-righteous tone possible.
It is for these reasons that the Campaign wins the first DOG Award. The best summary of the campaign is given by Barry R. McCaffrey, the mighty Director himself:
"There are no points for style,"
(Wall Street Journal, Apr. 26, 1999)
We would have to agree completely.
