Comments on: Dangerous Business http://antiadvertisingagency.com/2008/08/18/dangerous-business/ The Anti-Advertising Agency Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:01:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anne Elizabeth Moore http://antiadvertisingagency.com/2008/08/18/dangerous-business/comment-page-1/#comment-42995 Anne Elizabeth Moore Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:31:12 +0000 http://antiadvertisingagency.com/?p=836#comment-42995 <p>No, I'm well aware of the slope. And I'm clearly not arguing for tolerance of repression <em>or</em> oppression. I'm calling for an action greater than branding. Which, you know, as much as Ms. Wappling was maybe sort of trying to do with a brief note at the end of her post, she was also participating in by rebranding all the images of the Swedish Red Cross ad campaign with the logo of her own site. The result being, a sensationalized situation in which she benefits from—at the expense of "real" journalists, humanitarians, artists, and our friend James in Beijing.</p> No, I’m well aware of the slope. And I’m clearly not arguing for tolerance of repression or oppression. I’m calling for an action greater than branding. Which, you know, as much as Ms. Wappling was maybe sort of trying to do with a brief note at the end of her post, she was also participating in by rebranding all the images of the Swedish Red Cross ad campaign with the logo of her own site. The result being, a sensationalized situation in which she benefits from—at the expense of “real” journalists, humanitarians, artists, and our friend James in Beijing.

]]> By: mjb http://antiadvertisingagency.com/2008/08/18/dangerous-business/comment-page-1/#comment-42993 mjb Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:08:40 +0000 http://antiadvertisingagency.com/?p=836#comment-42993 <p>I guess some speech is more equal than others. You may be sliding down a slippery slope. Milder and sweet repression is still repression. Tolerance of it leads to, well, this: </p> <p>http://antiadvertisingagency.com/news/grls-james-powderly-detained-in-beijing</p> I guess some speech is more equal than others. You may be sliding down a slippery slope. Milder and sweet repression is still repression. Tolerance of it leads to, well, this:

http://antiadvertisingagency.com/news/grls-james-powderly-detained-in-beijing

]]> By: Anne Elizabeth Moore http://antiadvertisingagency.com/2008/08/18/dangerous-business/comment-page-1/#comment-42984 Anne Elizabeth Moore Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:24:40 +0000 http://antiadvertisingagency.com/?p=836#comment-42984 <p>Hmm, I've been writing about repression—and oppression— for years, although rarely make a big deal out of death threats I've received. (Not that they're not scary. I just think that's a little dramatic.) </p> <p>But the repression of ads is wholly different than the oppression of journalism. Different because milder. It's sweet that Wappling seems to get that—now, after she's been subjected to threats—but ridiculous that the ad world in general doesn't. </p> <p>Content intended to promote the sales of goods or services, or forward the work of a not-for-profit agency, even—despite what the ad world believes—is not the most significant material affected under clampdowns on freedom of expression. It's lives. It's journalism. It's art. </p> <p>Of course, if the ad world is interested in supporting those movements, there are a ton of human rights organizations and places like PEN that could use a hefty donation to do their great work. Support those "real journalists," Wappling—or MediaBistro, who ran the piece on her plight. And do something to change the very mild version of real oppression that you experienced. </p> <p>And in the mean time, if you violate oft-noted limits to freedom of expression, don't be surprised if you get death threats. Like a lot of other people have. And unless you pitch in and help, like a lot of other people probably will.</p> Hmm, I’ve been writing about repression—and oppression— for years, although rarely make a big deal out of death threats I’ve received. (Not that they’re not scary. I just think that’s a little dramatic.)

But the repression of ads is wholly different than the oppression of journalism. Different because milder. It’s sweet that Wappling seems to get that—now, after she’s been subjected to threats—but ridiculous that the ad world in general doesn’t.

Content intended to promote the sales of goods or services, or forward the work of a not-for-profit agency, even—despite what the ad world believes—is not the most significant material affected under clampdowns on freedom of expression. It’s lives. It’s journalism. It’s art.

Of course, if the ad world is interested in supporting those movements, there are a ton of human rights organizations and places like PEN that could use a hefty donation to do their great work. Support those “real journalists,” Wappling—or MediaBistro, who ran the piece on her plight. And do something to change the very mild version of real oppression that you experienced.

And in the mean time, if you violate oft-noted limits to freedom of expression, don’t be surprised if you get death threats. Like a lot of other people have. And unless you pitch in and help, like a lot of other people probably will.

]]> By: mjb http://antiadvertisingagency.com/2008/08/18/dangerous-business/comment-page-1/#comment-42982 mjb Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:39:34 +0000 http://antiadvertisingagency.com/?p=836#comment-42982 <p>Ad blog or not, why wouldn't you be up in arms about repression and death threats?</p> <p>The blogger in question had this thoughtful response at the end of the post you linked to: "If this happens to me — an adblog that simply showed a campaign — then what do real journalists who write about China have to endure? That's scary," said Wappling.</p> Ad blog or not, why wouldn’t you be up in arms about repression and death threats?

The blogger in question had this thoughtful response at the end of the post you linked to: “If this happens to me — an adblog that simply showed a campaign — then what do real journalists who write about China have to endure? That’s scary,” said Wappling.

]]>