To think that TV charity advertising has become mawkish and manipulative?

[FidelineandFumblin]

I have been working v v PT since Christmas due to illness. Prior to that I don't think I had seen more than a handful of TV ads in several years (thank you Sky +).

I am just at the advertising approach charities now use on television. I have just seen one for SENSE which takes a stinking attitude to 'deafblind children' (IMVHO) and tells me that "Elliot loves his Mummy but he doesn't know how to tell her because he hasn't learnt to speak" (I'm sure Elliot managed to communicate his love for his mum wonderfully all along actually, speech or not.) Lots of negative vocabulary and sad looking children and minor-key music. Then it all turns happy when the narrator talks about bringing the children "into our world"; The colour palette warms up, the music brightens, children smile etc. It is just a dreadful message and not only that it is all in our hands to bring this change about.

NSPCC ad is like a trailer for Mis Lit.

Lots of animal charities similarly. Where did this genre spring from?

I have recently posted elsewhere about how fucking miserable charity adverts are. I don't think they are supposed to spiral me into a depressive nihilistic mood, but they do.

I hate the ones that say "this child will die unless YOU do something". I understand the motivation behind using shock value but it’s condescending and manipulative.

I hate the way they make it your personal fault that someone is suffering. There are so many charities you'd have to be a billionaire to be able to donate a reasonable amount to all of them.

I hate them and I think they're manipulative - they're also distressing to elderly people who may be suffering with anxiety or dementia as they feel compelled to help.

I'd like those adverts banned - particularly the RSPCA one where they talk about someone grilling a kitten

Yes. "Text now to stop it" Eh what? It has shades of extortion.

There were people campaigning for a bee charity in the town centre the other day and when they stopped us DH said "we’re OK thanks" and kept walking, the woman called after him "WELL THE BEES AREN’T" made me

Yes I do agree OP. OTOH I really don't like the Cancer Research one on the radio these days with aggressive sounding people saying that they are coming to 'get' cancer. I always switch it off, the tone is all wrong.

Yes it’s like blackmail tbh.

And actually I'd rather support an organisation that affords some dignity and respect to the group they purport to be trying to help.

The TX Maxx radio ad says something along the lines of "you can help cure children's cancer sooner..." Hate it.

they're also distressing to elderly people who may be suffering with anxiety or dementia as they feel compelled to help.

YES

I really don't like the Cancer Research one on the radio these days with aggressive sounding people saying that they are coming to 'get' cancer.

Oh yes - there's a TV version of that too "lets all wear pink and snarl and cancer like it's an opponent in a pub brawl". Yes cause that will help, amazed the scientists haven't hit on that approach

I'm sick of seeing them, I know that sounds bad but I do my work for charity, and I'm miserable enough without seeing a donkey on it's last legs on a child with a swollen belly and flies on their face.

It has to be a marketing strategy with a short shelf-life. If I get bored enough I might email some of the charities concerned despite knowing what a banging head against wall exercise that no doubt is

YANBU. I have my charities I support and am not impressed by these tugs at the heartstrings adverts. I wonder if the multi millionaires are getting their chequebooks out. I expect not.

YY Corus and so PASSIVE

I'd like those adverts banned - particularly the RSPCA one where they talk about someone grilling a kitten

Laurie is that aired pre-watershed?!

Corus and Fideline - totally agree. They seem to ask for such very short term fixes. Contraception also seems to be the elephant in the room

I shook my head at a chugger in the street when asked if I'd like to donate and he shouted 'so you don't care about starving babies then?'

Thanks!

It always winds me up that the mums on those ads always look well fed too.

Yes yes yes.

I grab for the remote and change the channel or pause it now, there's only so much I can take and the ads are relentless sometimes, shown over and over again. And yes totally to women being treated like a nature documentary. Hate it.

the oxfam advert where everyone lifts up in the air i mean please they have their eyebrows done straight teeth they are obviously actors DH turns that one off if he can or criticized it loudly to be fair they have to be in the area most donated to and we are still giving them money so they can set up their own businesses why are we not sponsoring the uk like that?

picture the scene-chavs in trackies and bling with babies on hips and fags in mouth voice over some drivel about lifting their lives for good for just £4 a week if everyone pays just £4 a week that kid will be set for life (on fruit shoots and gregs)

(kind of went of on a tangent there didn't i?)

You lost me deak