Did you just lose your lunch looking at this ad? I almost did when I first saw it. The creators of the nightmarish German AIDS awareness ad say that they "knew the face we gave to the illness could not be a pretty one" — and what's uglier than having sex with Adolf Hitler?
The video version, which will soon be played in cinemas and on television, shows a couple having sex. At the end, the man's face turns into Hitler's and the screen reads "AIDS is mass murderer." As you can expect, many people are outraged. Some say the campaign further stigmatizes people living with AIDS, while others argue that the sensationalized message fails to offer any preventative advice.
Do you think using Hitler in this ad is a necessary evil that will wake people up to the risk of AIDS, or is this ad unnecessarily offensive?
Prescriptives
Fontanelli
Tomster
I have to agree with those who feel the message is kind of lost. If you had protection, the chance of getting HIV from Hitler would be immensely lowered
1That's just disturbing.
2Hitler was a massive murder, and HIV is a terrible disease, however I'm afraid this can enhance the stigma that surrounds HIV positive people - and they certainly don't need more of that.
3it certainly is attention-grabbing, but I think it goes too far.
4The ad is very intense. It really makes you think. I can understand the whole Hitler face thing. He was a hideous human being. AIDS is a hideous disease. That's not to say that the people who have it are hideous people. Years ago, society made cruel jokes and mockery of HIV victims. Nowadays, society can still be cruel but with more awareness now than ever before, people are more apt to protecting themselves and being more empathetic with people.
I don't feel the ad is wrong.
Hitler was a mass murderer.
AIDS is a mass murderer.
Hitler was a horrible person.
AIDS is a horrible thing.
Hitler put people in horrible situations.
AIDS puts people in horrible situations.
Hitler hurt so many people's families.
AIDS hurts so many people's families.
If you ask me, there really isn't a difference between the two.
As for portraying AIDS victims as Hitler themselves, that is ridiculous. These people are certainly not mass murders that looked for a way to infect, affect, and inflict millions of people with harm the way AIDS and Hitler does and did.
The real message of the ad is to correlate the horror between the two situations not badger those within either of them.
5hey Tres, the ad actually says "aids is a mass murderer"
6goes too far.
7Oh dear.
And why do so many people keep bring up Hitler lately. Let that maniac go already. Don't try to make his name live again in a positive or negative way, as you see it.
8I find it offensive and vulgar. For me, the message is lost in that awful graphic.
9I do agree that it could further stigmatize people living with AIDS, even though that's not the ad's intention.
10Thank you Pink, my thoughts exactly.
Although we must never forget that man for the horrible things he's done- that would be dangerous, we don't have to bring him up more than is necessary, either, right?
But it's quite a ridiculous AD, though I get its intention. I guess living in Germany means not only you'll be faced with this part of history more, but you also feel regret for your country's actions. That must suck.
11This is disturbing only thing I have to say is don't worry about me ever having sex lol
12I'm with Gawjuslayd, but it would be nice if they had something along the lines of "but condoms greatly reduces your risk of contracting AIDS, or passing it on. Practice safe sex to stop the spread!"
13I mean yeah, compare AIDS to whoever you like, but spread the word of safe sex.
Ew-agreed with Pink.
Also, that post has just reminded me why I don't check Tres more often. Good thing I wasn't at work.
14Too much
15There is no "Safe Sex" practice way to go.... The safest way of not contracting any STD'S like HIV would be by abstinence and waiting until you get married and be in a monogamous relationship to keep both of you healthy.
16"I guess living in Germany means not only you'll be faced with this part of history more, but you also feel regret for your country's actions. That must suck. "
I don't know if you been here in Germany but that is a rather accurate assessment actually.
Well, I personally have not encountered that ad around where I live. It is grotesque, imo. I find all the Hitler/Nazi analogies to be overused. I also find "Safe Sex" ads generally ineffective for those who haven't already gone through comprehensive sex education (which is mandatory in all German schools). These ads only serve to remind those of us who've been educated about safe sex to practice safe sex.
17That's pretty severe. The image is disturbing too. But I've noticed, living in Washington DC, there is a similar campaign, citing AIDS as DC's Katrina. They are very strong comparisons. But AIDS is a pretty sick virus in itself.
18WHAT THE HELL HITLER???? Disgusting.. This ad is pretty vulgar. Actually, it is! But will people immediately get the analogy of AIDS being mass murder? Is AIDS the number one cause for most deaths in the whole world? We pretty much know that AIDS does kill a lot of people and that more and more people are becoming liberal with condomless sex. But only if you think of that you realize why AIDS is mass murder. But the ad having sex with Hitler shown vulgarly? The sexual appeal might affect the real message. It might work but at the same time, it might not (for some).
19Hitler is alive and well go to Showell.org and soon.
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