Proud.

[baratron]

Preparing for Emergencies. Apparently the UK Government wants to ban this site, but it's sooo much better than the utterly patronising piece of crap they put through my letter box this week.

This story made me cry. Yes, in the middle of WalMart Asda. The Sun, the UK's right-wing newspaper aimed at people who can't read words with too many letters in, tracked down the long-lost father of the transsexual contestant on Big Brother - no doubt hoping for some sort of shocking revelation. Instead, the father said "After all this time, God has given me the daughter I always prayed for". If only more T* people's families reacted that way, the world would be a better place.

Comments

[baratron.livejournal.com]

The problem I had with the Preparing For Emergencies leaflet is that it's been pitched so totally wrong. It's at a level where ~75% of the population will flick through the first couple of pages and then drop it in disgust, while ~25% of the population will read it cover to cover and just be panicked further. That just seems like an utter waste of (my) money. It also didn't help me take it seriously to notice that it was done entirely in NatWest's house style.

Have you looked at, say, Second World War government-issued propaganda? It's interesting to compare it to modern stuff. The older adverts almost always have a strong sense of humour that helps to stop people who already knew the details from finding it patronising. There are some excellent examples in the Transport Museum, or maybe online.

[hiddenpaw.livejournal.com]

To be honest I think it's actualy writen in a way designed not to cause panic. Most of the emergenies are mentioned in terms that are every day and don't involve terroisum which is good as it may mean when common problems crop up instead of panicing people may have some idea of how to react. You would be amazed how many people seem not to have the most basic clue. You can forget 75% of people flicking through the first couple of pages. I imagen at least a third of the population won't open the thing as they have been told by the very media that demanded the govenment bring this thing out that it's Government propaganda and if they dear look inside they may be brainwashed.
I am quite sure many people havn't read it and judgeing by some of the things I've read both in the media and vearious journals a high proportion of the people actualy commenting on the book fall in to this catogry. The things I have heard this booklet contains would ceirtainly cover your wish for a sense of humor. I'm quite sure several people have picked up WWII leaflets by mistake.

As for the sense of houmor being used to stop it seeming patronising I don't see how it dose, but maybe that's just me I'm sure it wouldn't hurt, but I'm sure it would cost more.