to think Cancer Research should rethink some of their marketing?

[MrsCarriePooter]

This is a fairly mild AIBU but interested in what you think.

We were in our local Cancer Research shop this morning and in the window they had a big poster of a woman who had survived breast cancer, but the wording was something about "Vanessa wasn't going to let cancer beat her". I said to the volunteer insider when I was paying that I thought that was a bit offensive, as though those who die from cancer just had decided to roll over and "let cancer beat" them. Was I just being overtouchy? Having had relatives die of cancer I know I could be. The volunteer said "she'd pass my views" on to the area manager.

the message on our posters may have been misinterpreted

Don't see how "Vanessa won't let cancer beat her" can be misinterpreted. The clear inference is that other people have allowed cancer to beat them. Which is a pile of shit.

We would never suggest that people who have sadly lost their lives to cancer have not fought hard enough.

Don't imply it then.

the message on our posters may have been misinterpreted. What a crappy non-apology apology! Over 300 posts all in agreement about the 'message' these posters send out, and CRUK still can't see that they got it wrong?!

ME TOO!!! same response I mean

grrrrrr

so it's all the (many, many) readers' fault?

'It seems that we failed to anticipate all the possible interpretations of this poster, and we are very sorry to learn that we have caused distress to cancer sufferers and their families.' Then a promise to take care in future campaigns. How hard would that be?

I have no idea how someone presumably working in communications for a cancer charity can think a fingers-in-the-ears, la la la response is appropriate here.

Agree with you marmite - a pretty crappy non-apology apology - though granted it could have been worse.

I always hate that "we're soory if we caused any offence" thing.

Taking no responsibility really for actually being offensive