Philosophy
Schools have been having issues with the breast cancer awareness campaign in which bracelets are sold with the slogan "I love boobies." Similarly, cars across the country sport magnet signs urging us to "Save the Ta-Tas." There is no doubt that we need more research into the causes and treatment for breast cancer and to promote awareness in order to detect treatable cases earlier. Seemingly, anything we can do to foster this good end would be desirable.
Those who consider ways in which to raise this money no doubt realized that they had something that colo-rectal or esophageal cancer advocates didn't -- they had a part of the body that Americans are obsessed with. The earlier approach based on "it's about your mother and sister, and don't you love them, let's all wear pink" was effective, but surely "boobies" and "ta-tas" could -- and did -- become a cultural phenomenon. Given the attention we pay to breasts, shouldn't they use it to help save lives?
Or is the use of such objectification only further entrenching it? The breast cancer folks are not the first to use these tactics, consider, for example, PETA's Naked campaign in which they got famous actors, male and female, to pose nude under the tagline, "I'd rather be naked than wear fur." They are using cultural elements that are not ethically healthy for the society, that undermine unhealthy approaches to sexuality. No one is saying that breasts or nudity are inherently problematic, there is nothing wrong with either, but the folks running these ads know they are doing it in a fashion that is consistent with a certain approach to them -- it is cheap titillation, something that works every time. They are making themselves the Porky's of non-profits.
The response to such a line is often, "Lighten up." Maybe that's a valid response. It's just a joke, it's not hurting anyone, and it's helping people. Or is it subverting deeper virtues that need to be emphasized in the name of caring for those in need? Is there a problem here or is it just good advertising?
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Dr. Richard Ablin, the medical researcher who discovered the prostate specific antigen in 1970, wrote an op/ed in The New York Times a couple weeks ago in which he argues that we are wating a tremendous amount of money on PSA tests for men. There is a...
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Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, This weekend we consider another moral question in comedy. There is no doubt that humor can be used as a weapon. Indeed, our own Comedist security squad, the Fast Action Response Team whose motto...
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Sad news today. Merv Griffin died yesterday of prostate cancer. Originally diagnosed in 1996 and treated, the cancer came back and claimed the life of the famed talk show host and brain behind Jeopardy among many other great game shows. Prostate cancer...
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Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald 1957 to June 23rd, 2009 A time to be humble and attempt to fathom the psyche and suffering of the human species. "Doctor In Dramatic South Pole Rescue Dies At 57" June 24th, 2009 Associated Press Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald,...
Philosophy
Boobies, Ta-Tas, and the Ethics of Titillating Advertising Tactics for Non-Profits
Schools have been having issues with the breast cancer awareness campaign in which bracelets are sold with the slogan "I love boobies." Similarly, cars across the country sport magnet signs urging us to "Save the Ta-Tas." There is no doubt that we need more research into the causes and treatment for breast cancer and to promote awareness in order to detect treatable cases earlier. Seemingly, anything we can do to foster this good end would be desirable.
Those who consider ways in which to raise this money no doubt realized that they had something that colo-rectal or esophageal cancer advocates didn't -- they had a part of the body that Americans are obsessed with. The earlier approach based on "it's about your mother and sister, and don't you love them, let's all wear pink" was effective, but surely "boobies" and "ta-tas" could -- and did -- become a cultural phenomenon. Given the attention we pay to breasts, shouldn't they use it to help save lives?
Or is the use of such objectification only further entrenching it? The breast cancer folks are not the first to use these tactics, consider, for example, PETA's Naked campaign in which they got famous actors, male and female, to pose nude under the tagline, "I'd rather be naked than wear fur." They are using cultural elements that are not ethically healthy for the society, that undermine unhealthy approaches to sexuality. No one is saying that breasts or nudity are inherently problematic, there is nothing wrong with either, but the folks running these ads know they are doing it in a fashion that is consistent with a certain approach to them -- it is cheap titillation, something that works every time. They are making themselves the Porky's of non-profits.
The response to such a line is often, "Lighten up." Maybe that's a valid response. It's just a joke, it's not hurting anyone, and it's helping people. Or is it subverting deeper virtues that need to be emphasized in the name of caring for those in need? Is there a problem here or is it just good advertising?
- Profitting From Non-profits
Scott asks, "Executives and employees of non-profit organizations can in many cases make a lot of money. (search here for some notable foundation and organization top salaries) It seems like a sham when a non-profit/not for profit exec drives around in...
- Imperfect Evidence And Information For The Public
Dr. Richard Ablin, the medical researcher who discovered the prostate specific antigen in 1970, wrote an op/ed in The New York Times a couple weeks ago in which he argues that we are wating a tremendous amount of money on PSA tests for men. There is a...
- Making Fun Of Vs. Joking Reference
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere, This weekend we consider another moral question in comedy. There is no doubt that humor can be used as a weapon. Indeed, our own Comedist security squad, the Fast Action Response Team whose motto...
- Merv Griffin And Prostate Cancer
Sad news today. Merv Griffin died yesterday of prostate cancer. Originally diagnosed in 1996 and treated, the cancer came back and claimed the life of the famed talk show host and brain behind Jeopardy among many other great game shows. Prostate cancer...
- Deceased--jerri Nielsen Fitzgerald
Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald 1957 to June 23rd, 2009 A time to be humble and attempt to fathom the psyche and suffering of the human species. "Doctor In Dramatic South Pole Rescue Dies At 57" June 24th, 2009 Associated Press Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald,...