First Posted: 01- 4-11 10:34 AM
Updated: 01- 4-11 10:34 AM
The NYC Department of Health, which recently has made a name for itself by publicizing startlingly graphic public service announcements, has release a new ad about H.I.V.
The tag is "it's never just H.I.V." and the video, which resembles an NBC drama promo, goes on to explain how the virus can lead to other terrible diseases like osteoporosis or dementia.
But the video, which shows only men and flashes graphic illustrations of broken bones, and even documentation of anal cancer, is striking some as far too aggressive a campaign.
The New York Times reports that the ad is dividing health experts and gay activists alike. Those like Larry Kramer, the founder of the AIDS activist group Act Up, think the commercials are effective. "This ad is honest and true and scary, all of which it should be," he told the Times. "H.I.V. is scary, and all attempts to curtail it via lily-livered nicey-nicey 'prevention' tactics have failed."
Others think the message is exploitative and unnecessarily graphic.
"We know from our longstanding H.I.V. prevention work that portraying gay and bisexual men as dispensing diseases is counterproductive," said Marjorie Hill, chief executive ofGay Men's Health Crisis. "Studies have shown that scare tactics are not effective."
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Hmm interesting discussion. I agree that they should not have limited the characters in the ad to men (presumably gay men) As far as "scare tactics" vs. exposing reality, there are ways to convey the messages of the realities of HIV (or any disease) without being scare tactic-ish. I think that requires more time and in depth education in order to be effective. I do believe that since HIV is no longer the "death sentence" it used to be, some people have gotten a little too cavalier in their attitudes, and while there are many who live productive happy lives, being on intense and expensive medical treatment in order to stay that way is no picnic either.
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