Charities Hard Hitting Adverts

[Wee Kaz]

Don't know what you lot think, but I find the recent adverts for the likes of cancer and the RSPCA really disturbing. I have already picked up the phone and donated money every month for the Brittish Red Cross because the ad was so heart wrenching but I find the above mentioned ads really hits you hard. I know that's what they are supposed to do so you will pick up the phone and donate but it makes me feel so guilty and mad at the same time. I don't like the fact that I'm sitting in my own home being made to feel guilty because I'm not contributing to these charities. The RSPCA ad with the dead kitten is awful, I even feel like phoning up and complaining about it but what good is it going to do? Let me know what your opinions are.

[Cetti]

And that is exactly how the charities want you to feel Kaz! It's advertising at its cleverest - but also I believe at its cruellest - emotional blackmail at its worst! Having said that every time I see that highly emotive ad where that dear little boy is looking in the mirror with his mum it makes me weep. The simple fact is that it's impossible to give to every good cause - don't feel guilty just give if you feel like it, but first read about the charity concerned and how much of your hard-earned money actually goes to your chosen charity - and how much for admin. This was the deciding factor for me, I have now found one where all the money goes exactly where it's supposed to.

[Miss Zippy]

I avoid watching the RSPCA ad as it upsets me too much, but of course this is the desired effect. At the end of the day, charities are in competition with each other (not to mention our council tax bills/mortgage payments/tax bills/congestion charge etc etc) for a slice of our hard earned cash so their adverts have to become more hard-hitting to make any sort of impact. They also know that many people are quite fickle and are swayed by their emotions when choosing a charity, rather than be impressed by the cold hard facts, hence the highly emotive ads you mention. I give a small amount to two charities every so often, but then feel guilty that I'm not giving nearly enough so you can't win!

[WendyW]

Another thng I dislike is junk mail containing cards/pens etc from charities. I now have a policy, like cetti, I only give to charities that deduct little or nothing for admin cost.

[woodpam]

I made a credit card donation to a charity for a very modest amount, some time ago. Since then they have obviously put me on their mailing list and must have spent at least what I sent them in trying to get more out of me. I don't like to feel co-erced so haven't repeated the donation and am annoyed that the value of my original gift has been wiped out by their marketing costs.

[sir_mixalot]

Every now and again they seem to change tact and go into another gear. After a while people will get desensitised again and they will go to a new level of exploitation of the audience.