Every once in a while I read an article or watch a video online that inspires me to write about it and share it immediately. Today is one of those instances. This video, an Australian advertisement, compares feeding fast food to your child to injecting your child with heroin. A bold statement, for sure. Too bold? Too abrasive? Unnecessary? Some people may think so. But I think it’s just what we need. To me, this is powerful. It’s eye-opening. And it’s necessary.
Since when are ordinary, run-of-the-mill, “safe” advertisements effective? We are bombarded with hundreds of advertisements every single day. You think a G-Rated advertisement that appeals to everyone is going to stick in your mind? No way. This is something you will remember and hopefully something that will have an effect on you.
It’s unfortunate that America is too prude to ever allow something like this to be broadcast. The irony is that we Americans need to see things like this more than anyone else. We’re the fattest, most obese, most unhealthy species ever to inhabit this planet. Feel-good, warm and fuzzy messages aren’t going to work. We need more boldness. We need more messages like this. We need more rude awakenings.
What do you think, is this ad too aggressive or do you think it’s necessary?
The Dynamic Life 
I don’t find it offensive in the slightest. (I think it would have been more affective, however, if they had used an obese child in the ad.) We’ve all seen those nauseating anti-smoking commercials where they disect lungs, show people with missing fingers, etc. – I don’t see why this is considered to be worse? So I guess us Marketers aren’t all that bad, eh Hugh?