So, a group of us were talking at work about the Superbowl commercials http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/46/commercials#video=09000d5d826a052a . Hands down, the Budweiser commercial about the lost puppy was the best. Then we talked about the socially responsible commercials, what someone referred to as the "daddy commercials." The comments included that they were depressing, weird, and downers. One person said do you suppose they were taking off on the NFL problems regarding domestic violence. My comment was definitely yes.
And, I sat there wondering what I had missed, because I was so pleased to see corporations using a platform like that to get out a socially responsible message. It was not until later that I realized that I had not really missed anything. I was just looking at the commercials very differently than they were.
I think my co-workers were looking to the commercials for their entertainment value. And I was delighted to see the message that the commercials brought, with no thought to the entertainment value. I do not always see television as an entertainment vehicle. I enjoy entertainment on television, but I like the information, education, and current events that television brings. Just a different point of view.
But, I thought it was sad. We are human service professionals, mental health professionals, and hopefully promoters of social responsibility. I guess I am naïve, but I am pleased to see the social responsibility message where I do. I think the sports venue can be, and is, an important venue for teaching social responsibility. It just does not surprise me that commercials for sport would take up the message. For me it is a natural. I guess I would have that my co-workers would applaud socially responsible commercials, too.
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