I'm sure you've seen that commercial...the one with the faceless girl using the drill Marlboro sent to her to build a sign in front of the office building with the words "Why do you sell products that kill your customers", all the while one of those damn harpies from TheTruth.org is hectoring the crowd with a bullhorn.
The big question they're trying to shock everyone is "why does big tobacco sell a product that kills their customers?"
Oh heavens! You mean tobacco's bad for you? Seriously? Well shit. So I shouldn't have started the kids on their first pipes? I shouldn't be using tobacco juice as a marinade?
*sigh* How long are we going to have to hear from these sanctimonious pricks telling us what we already know, and acting like tobacco executives are evil? We all know that those things that we really enjoy kill us. Why not just let us enjoy it without all the self-righteous preaching?
Although I agree with the "Duh?!" sentiment (yeah we know cigarettes are bad for us, we get it) I don't mind them using these kind of marketing tactics against tobacco companies. I think health advocates need a marketing edge against tobacco because of the inherently addictive nature of its product. I watched super-size me and although it was definitely an indictment against McDonald's, I didn't necessarily come out as anti-McDonald as I thought I would after having watched it because when push comes to shove there's nothing in a cheeseburger that's included in its makeup that is there to specifically make me addicted to it. It's my choice to eat it and it's my own willpower that's in battle. Cigarette comapnies up the ante on the evil factor by including an addictive nicotine for no other reason than to keep you hooked. If health advocates need to use some shock tactics to combat against that, I don't mind. Those PETA idiots on the other hand... don't get me started.
The point of truth.org is not to convince adults to stop smoking. We're adults. If we want to kill ourselves using a legal substance, then so be it. But children and teenagers are too young to understand the corporate world. The only thing that is being conveyed to them (aside from the evilness of the corporate world) is that you shouldn't start smoking because there is a strong possiblity that you will die. And yes, we are all going to die. But wouldn't you prefer a less painful way or to at least prolong your life by living a healthier lifestyle?
It is important for consumers to be educated verbally on what they are purchasing because warning labels aren't effective.
On the "evil corporate world" thing: I work in the corporate world. I know the good that my company does. Employees are encouraged to volunteer or voluntarily contribute something from their paycheck to United Way monthly. My company matches $ for $ every financial contribution an employee makes to a college/university or not-for-profit agency. But we also have a Gifts and Contributions department that donates to colleges/universities and to not-for-profit agencies.
Corporations do receive tax cuts for donations. But they should receive some type of reward for doing a good thing.