Ethics In Advertising

A few days ago I read something that ticked me off to no end. Ordinarily there's not much that gets to me. Of all the things that take place in this world, the one to most likely lead to me 'going postal' is to either be a victim of injustice or watch someone else suffering some injustice -- especially at the expense of big businesses.

Here's the issue...

On one of the forums I frequent, a fellow copywriter was asking for feedback on a product designed to help drunk drivers get their cases dismissed, without penalties.

The product isn't designed to make the person own up to their actions. It isn't designed to help them get help for their drinking problem. It has one purpose... "To exploit loopholes". To get the loser off without punishment or responsibility for his or her actions.

Here's basically what I posted to the forum in reply to the request for help:

"To me there are projects that are too unethical to take on. I recall an ad in Reader's Digest that said 9 out of 10 doctors preferred this certain brand of cigarettes, and that the filter in that cigarette prevented nicotine from reaching your lungs, and claimed the filter made the cigarette safe for smoking. No one today could argue the dishonest nature of that ad. We've matured as a society to recognize that was just wrong. The copywriter of that ad should have been taken out and shot.

So the copywriter needs to feed his family...that justifies the assignment? There's a point when ethics needs to come into play and you need to say 'no thanks'.

I have a friend, or let me say an acquaintance, who has a drinking problem. Six months ago he crashed his Mercedes into a light pole at 3 a.m. just blocks from his home. Totally curled the front axle under the car. It was totaled. He walked away unharmed. He had just enough brain power going to quickly

(...to continue please go to Ethics in Advertising Part2)