Re: Advertising to Kids (was Re: Science has a new Martyr)

[Marvin Long, Jr.]

On Tue, 12 Jun 2001, Russell Chapman wrote:

> I keep imagining ads where they say; our products are bad, evil things, but if you're
> going to use them, use our brand before the other brand...

It's already happened.  Several years ago one of the tobacco companies (or
maybe it was a industry association, I forget which) was running ads in
newspapers and entertainment inserts which basically said, "Smoking is a
risky adult activity.  If you're still a kid, don't smoke.  But once
you're an adult, you can make the decision to smoke or not.  And when you 
do, we'll be there with the tastiest, smoothest cigs you can buy."

Cynical person that I am, I immediately read this ad as saying, "Smoking
cigarettes will make you more like a grown up!  Light up, kids!"
 

Marvin Long
Austin, Texas