how would you define evil?

[miriam_e]

Proof at last that it is not a genuine ad. Breathe a little easier folks. See here for a reply by its creator, rjwhite.

Thanks to annie_lynne for making me think... better late than never. I reflexively jumped too soon. I should have checked it out first. The picture below may actually be a fake. I can't find any definitive proof, but looking more carefully at its text I notice the word "guaranteed" has been misspelled as "gauranteed". I really don't think ad-men would miss that one. Sad that I think they'd care more about spelling than damaging babies.

If you find it difficult to read the text:

For a better start in life start cola earlier!

How soon is too soon?

Not soon enough. Laboratory tests over the last few years have proven that babies who start drinking soda during that early formative period have a much higher chance of gaining acceptance and "fitting in" during those awkward pre-teen and teen years. So, do yourself a favor. Do your child a favor. Start them on a strict regimen of sodas and other sugary carbonated beverages right now, for a lifetime of guaranteed happiness.

The Soda Pop Board of America.
1515 W. Hart Ave. - Chicago, ILL

The labels on the Coke bottle read:

• Promotes Active Lifestyle!
• Boosts Personality!
• Gives body essential sugars!

Perhaps advertisers were so used to lying they didn't see the problem in addicting babies to that crap. This stuff is up there with that sociopathic stuff about "more doctors smoke Camel cigarettes than any other brand".

Has it changed? or are these monsters just more subtle now?

Comments

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... a little harsh. Blame the victim?

I know there is a culture of praising intelligence and devil take the stupid, but one of the most wonderful people I ever met was mentally retarded. He was a finer person than me and the ten smartest people I've ever known.

I tend to think that if stupid people are sucked in by con-artists then it is our failing as smart people for not protecting them. We all have something to contribute to society. Intelligence is just another quality. Admittedly it is an incredibly powerful one, but it is just one more thing that some of us bring to the table.

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

Your example is an exception. Someone with a disability is going to need assistance to cope with life in general. Far better to assist those who need it than to reduce everything to the lowest common denominator. A lot of people simply make dumb choices because of peer pressure or laziness or not caring. Really, it's none of our business if some people want to make what we consider dumb choices. Diversity and personal responsibility are good.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

Diversity and personal responsibility are good.

Absolutely! Diversity is imperative if we are to survive. And personal accountability is extremely important, but so is social accountability. Predatory practices should be brought to account. Those without the wits to defend themselves against the predators need help. It isn't about reducing things to the lowest common denominator, but raising the quality of, for example, advertising. In my view the day advertisers cease lying to their customers and performing a real service is the day I stop being repelled by their slimy profession.

When I was a kid I used to enjoy reading the advertisements in science magazines because they actually informed. Nowadays advertisements in science magazines are generally no better than those in trashy magazines from the supermarket checkout -- all about the slick look, and peppered with falsehoods.

It is totally our business if people make dumb choices because they have been lied to so much that they don't know what a smart choice is. If we abandon having a sane society then we deserve whatever fucked-up thing we get. I'm not talking about imposing strict laws with harsh punishments, and I'm not talking about being a vigilante. All I mean is helping a couple of less smart people see the predator's fangs behind the colorful façade. If each smart person helped just a few of those around them we would have a really nice world.