When government defies the values of the Internet, we need to call them on it. Even if we sound, at first, stupid, we’re at least using others’ stupidity as an educating moment.
The government is placing its anti-drug ads and other PSAs on YouTube. Everyone in the media is treating this as a win-win-win.
In fact, it’s a nothing-nothing-nothing.
The content of the ads (most of which make "Reefer Madness" look like
"Gone With the Wind") is not the point. It is that people must choose
to see them before they are seen. Who is going to choose to see these
ads as anything other than camp? Who is going to load these ads, then
go, hmmm, I won’t take drugs? Anyone?
What will happen, no doubt, is that parents will push these things on
their kids in lieu of doing something really useful, like talking to
them, or modeling proper behavior for them. In that way, this is
counter-productive, and completely misunderstands the nature of the
medium. (Although it might turn into some interesting mash-ups.)
Now, say that any way you like, but you’re likely to be branded either a drug-lover or worse.
That’s when the educating starts.
