First and foremost, THANK YOU to EVERYONE who 'liked' me yesterday. And to EVERYONE who congratulated me on my recent anthology pubs! I APPRECIATE every single little comment and savoured them like lollipops!
Okay, my brain is a little AWOL today. Aside from Blogger changing the layout of the dashboard and not allowing me to scroll down to see more than approx 10 updates (which has totally sent me for a sixa), I saw a very odd commercial (on Greek TV) last night that was urging people to get an HIV test. OK, yes, this is should be a good thing, and it's definitely a step forward in this country, believe me. But after seeing it it left me feeling FURIOUS!
Okay, my brain is a little AWOL today. Aside from Blogger changing the layout of the dashboard and not allowing me to scroll down to see more than approx 10 updates (which has totally sent me for a sixa), I saw a very odd commercial (on Greek TV) last night that was urging people to get an HIV test. OK, yes, this is should be a good thing, and it's definitely a step forward in this country, believe me. But after seeing it it left me feeling FURIOUS!
Not only did the music behind the sexy velvety female voice over sound like it belonged on a late night phone sex ad, but the photographs of the 'everyday people' were all NAKED and wrapped in freaking plastic stuff, posing like models, in unique positions with pouted lips. They made it look like going to get a test was going to be like attending a modelling audition for an artsy/abstract edition of playboy magazine. I didn't catch everything the woman said, but a couple of the lines were "Get an HIV test. Do it for your self-esteem. Make yourself feel good." (and imagine that in a phone-sex voice) YIKES! I was totally repulsed.
I'm ALL FOR getting tested and preventing the disease from spreading, but honestly, does it really have to be made to look sexy to appeal to the 'younger generation'? I know that 'sex sells'. But hello? People get HIV from sex, and the result is not pretty. If people go get a test after seeing this add, all their gonna want to do afterwards is go have sex again. And who cares if they have to go back and get another HIV test, right? Because it's sexy, right? And it will boost their self-esteem and make them feel like models, right? Cool! Let's all go get HIV tests, shall we? I'm in need for a little pick-me-up ... Ugh.
What do you think about this? am I overreacting?
What do you think about this? am I overreacting?
I'm still scratching my head on the part about self-esteem. WTF??? "Hey, have poor self-esteem? Get an HIV test and problem solved."
ReplyDeleteHopefully we don't get a similar ad in North America.
Good grief. That sounds pretty ridiculous, and not to mention totally NOT THE POINT. People should be tested, but not because they think it's sexy or whatever.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised to see the same commercial pass here in france. About 75% of commercials sell sex here. I'm thirsty, how bout some milk? Some sexy milk- two teens roll around on the ground with milk mustaches. How bout some coffee! "it's like an orgasm". Sugar? there's one with a nake woman rubbing the cube on her body before dropping it into her coffee. I SWEAR TO GOD! lol.
ReplyDeletelol @Katie.
ReplyDeleteJessica, I don't think you're overreacting. I know where you're coming from. It's sad that it take a pair of boobs and a bulge to sell soda.
What the heck is sexy about HIV? This whole ad is ridiculous. People need to understand the pain of this disease -- there is nothing good about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning the Blogger thing -- I thought I broke something again. lol
I love that now it's all about HIV testing being sexy. I realize why they do it, I mean sex sells everywhere nowadays but it doesn't make sense to why they think it's going to make someone go get tested.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're overreacting, I would have felt the same way!
No you're not over reacting! That's crazy! And congrats on the anthology pub! :)
ReplyDeleteI would have to see the ad to have an opinion, but it does sound stupid.
ReplyDeleteI freaking HATE the new dashboard. How the hell am I supposed to get to all the blogs I love?!?!
Wow. That's really wrong in so many ways. It seems like they're just glorifying STDs.
ReplyDelete@creepyquerygirl--Eew. Especially the sugar commercial.
LOL. I know I shouldn't find that funny, but it kind of is. I can just imagine it. It just seems so... Greek.
ReplyDeleteBut I totally understand your fury, too. I guess it's one of those things that is just so outrageous that you can't do anything but laugh in disbelief.
My face is still stuck in a cringe from reading this. NAKED and WRAPPED IN PLASTIC??? Um...sounds like a bad scene from a B horror flick.
ReplyDeleteOne more time *cheers* 4 U. <3
I've never heard of that before, I would run a mile if I heard that.
ReplyDeleteSurely a person would know if they had the slightest notion they had HIV? It's up to the inividual.
Have a great week-end.
Yvonne,
What a confusing message! GAK! They ought to be saying something along the lines of, "If you have HIV and don't get tested, you could become a murderer." And have pictures of naked sick/dead people in body bags.
ReplyDeleteSadly, the world is mad, driven by people in positions of authority whose power has outstripped their maturity.
ReplyDeleteIf you imagine yourself living in a Mel Brooks film, you will save your sanity.
I am in Facebook but not of it. I never check in on my wall. I joined when I was convinced by my reading that I needed a Facebook account.
I also buy lotto tickets with similar results. Have some laughter along the way today, Roland
Serious? Ew. No you're not reacting. It would be nice if they put it into realistic terms.
ReplyDeleteyou are a critical thinker, and as a critical thinker, you're going to be repulsed by such pandering.
ReplyDeleteHowever, you are also a small percentage of the population. (Yes, it's true.) So regardless of how it feels... it's probably a good thing.
Take a breath, let it go~ :o) <3
I don't think you're overreacting, but at the same time ...
ReplyDeletesex does sell. If that's what it takes to get through to young people and have them get tested, then it's not all bad.
Having said that, I'd have to see that ad.
That's insane. I can see what you're upset! But... at the same time... if it catches people#s attention, I dunno.
ReplyDeleteThey're probably trying to find a new angle. Rather use fear, they're using sex appeal. This particular commercial sounds loony, but if it works, it works.
ReplyDeleteEwww! It sounds dreadful. I don't think you're overreacting at all - I think I would react the same way! :-)
ReplyDeleteWrapped in plastic? That's just creepy.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? That is just gross. I can never understand what goes through people's brains sometimes. This is just revolting. I'm so glad I didn't see it, I would've probably thrown a fit.
ReplyDeleteYay, me too (an Aussie from Melbourne!)
ReplyDeleteSeriously? WTF!!!!! Ok I really liked Greeks now Im thinking it alllll over. Ok, kidding, but damn that's gross. I dont think you're overreacting at all Jessica!
ReplyDeleteWhen I read that one word repeated through my mind:
ReplyDeleteEw.
Nope, not over reacting at all.
uh...staying alive and healthy is sexy? So getting an HIV test is sexy?? And mammograms are just aggressive foreplay. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteOKay - that totally would have been my thought too. Madness.
ReplyDeleteYeah... sounds like it is maybe suggesting being tested lets you be promiscuous... and while promiscuity in and of itself is a fabulous THEORY, it probably isn't smart, and certainly shouldn't be encouraged on TV.
ReplyDeleteBut YOU are a rock star. i'm thrilled for you with your short story success!
I don't have too much to say about this except EWWW!
ReplyDeleteSelf-esteem? Maybe you feel better about yourself when you know you don't have the potential to spread a deadly disease?
ReplyDeleteThey're trying to get people to do it. It ain't easy. I wonder if it will work.
Well...It got you to talk about HIV testing on your blog and got 31 people to think about and comment about HIV testing, so perhaps it did what it was supposed to do. Catch people's attention... I'm sure you aren't the only one leading a discussion about the commercials....
ReplyDeleteI have to say I'm equally appalled. WTF? went through my mind as well.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds pretty bizarre - I realize they're trying to get people's attention, but that's a really strange way to do it.
ReplyDelete