Is it ever all right to exploit something tragic just because you can?
Take for example, the "Red Card", Target's credit card. We guess that it's called that because Target's logo color is red. The term "Red Card", however, is scary to many older Americans -- it has strong ties to Senator Joseph McCarthy's claim that he possessed a list of 205 card-carrying Communists employed in the U.S. State Department. In the early 1950s, Communism was commonly referred to as the "Red Scare".
We've always been bothered by the show Jubilee! at Bally's Las Vegas where at two shows a night audiences can watch the ocean liner Titanic hit an iceberg and sink. That's entertainment?! Over 1500 people died when Titanic sank.
And then there's the "Giant Inflatable Titanic Slide!" that's appeared at malls and carnivals and birthday parties for years. "Can you survive the slide down the 25' high Titanic Adventure slide? Truly a memory to write home about!" screams the advertisement. Apparently whomever wrote that copy didn't stop to think about the 1500 + real people who weren't ever able write home again.
We're appalled by each of one of these examples and we don't think we're alone. And we're scared to think what other tragic events might someday become fodder for profit and the amusement of the masses.
So, here's the question:
Take for example, the "Red Card", Target's credit card. We guess that it's called that because Target's logo color is red. The term "Red Card", however, is scary to many older Americans -- it has strong ties to Senator Joseph McCarthy's claim that he possessed a list of 205 card-carrying Communists employed in the U.S. State Department. In the early 1950s, Communism was commonly referred to as the "Red Scare".
We've always been bothered by the show Jubilee! at Bally's Las Vegas where at two shows a night audiences can watch the ocean liner Titanic hit an iceberg and sink. That's entertainment?! Over 1500 people died when Titanic sank.
And then there's the "Giant Inflatable Titanic Slide!" that's appeared at malls and carnivals and birthday parties for years. "Can you survive the slide down the 25' high Titanic Adventure slide? Truly a memory to write home about!" screams the advertisement. Apparently whomever wrote that copy didn't stop to think about the 1500 + real people who weren't ever able write home again.
We're appalled by each of one of these examples and we don't think we're alone. And we're scared to think what other tragic events might someday become fodder for profit and the amusement of the masses.
So, here's the question:
Is it ever okay to turn something tragic into something fun just because you can? Click on comments and tell us what you think.
I have seen the Titanic slide at my local mall and it was obscene. I mentioned that to the mall manager who just looked at me like I was nuts for bringing it up. I think we retailers have a responsibilitly to research what we name our programs and a responsibility not to exploit tragic loss like the Titanic slide.
ReplyDeletewhile I would agree that some promotions are in 'questionable' taste, I'm not going to be a hypocrite about this matter.
ReplyDeleteThe sales of patriotic materials have increased geometrically since our country's involvement in the 'terrorist conflict'. Tragic as it was, '911' helped many companies to increase their net income. Were the songs & shows about that tragedy exploitive? Probably.
Frankly, I find the original question to be emotionally 'slanted'. Knowing the author[s], I'm sure that was not their intention.