Comments on: Today’s Social Marketing: Chicka Chicka Yea! http://www.kelandpartners.com/kelkellyblog/2009/03/22/todays-social-marketing-chicka-chicka-yea/ be SEEN. be HEARD. be UNDERSTOOD. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:47:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Kel http://www.kelandpartners.com/kelkellyblog/2009/03/22/todays-social-marketing-chicka-chicka-yea/comment-page-1/#comment-6637 Kel Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:42:52 +0000 http://www.kelandpartners.com/kelkellyblog/2009/03/22/todays-social-marketing-chicka-chicka-yea/#comment-6637 mark, i hear what you are saying regarding planting something inside someone's head that may never had appeared there. in this case i think it is more about changing a behavior that already exists. i have a friend who uses the r-word all the time. when i finally brought it up to him and explained why some may view it as offensive, it was as if a light bulb went off. he said he just never thought of it that way. the word "gay" gets tossed around the same way amongst teenagers. most kids have no idea it would be offensive to many kids who perhaps are gay themselves or have gay parents or friends. i think the intent of the r-word campaign is to raise awareness that using it is considered hurtful by many. i think getting even one person to rethink using the word would make it a successful initiative. mark, i hear what you are saying regarding planting something inside someone’s head that may never had appeared there. in this case i think it is more about changing a behavior that already exists. i have a friend who uses the r-word all the time. when i finally brought it up to him and explained why some may view it as offensive, it was as if a light bulb went off. he said he just never thought of it that way. the word “gay” gets tossed around the same way amongst teenagers. most kids have no idea it would be offensive to many kids who perhaps are gay themselves or have gay parents or friends. i think the intent of the r-word campaign is to raise awareness that using it is considered hurtful by many. i think getting even one person to rethink using the word would make it a successful initiative.

]]> By: Mark Palmer http://www.kelandpartners.com/kelkellyblog/2009/03/22/todays-social-marketing-chicka-chicka-yea/comment-page-1/#comment-6636 Mark Palmer Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:14:24 +0000 http://www.kelandpartners.com/kelkellyblog/2009/03/22/todays-social-marketing-chicka-chicka-yea/#comment-6636 Ear lobes? Since when do chickens have ear lobe --- uh, never mind! I agree with the sentiment behind this R-word thing, but I think it has tactical problems. For one thing, it's very difficult to convince people to *not* think or say something. If I tell you not to speak the word 'apple', you're going to spend all day thinking about apples. Even if you are one of the 99% who would never think of them in the first place.. (in fact, when I first read this, I assumed the R-word was "race") Better to offer a replacement *vision* that is positive and catchy. PC replacement *words* take on negative connotations eg 'challenged', or like when Obama said his bowling style fit better in the special olympics - that was clearly an attempt at self-deprecating humor, but people attacked him for even mentioning it - even though he tried to use PC words. I may have to try that mirror-suntan trick soon, though. JMHO Ear lobes? Since when do chickens have ear lobe — uh, never mind!

I agree with the sentiment behind this R-word thing, but I think it has tactical problems.
For one thing, it’s very difficult to convince people to *not* think or say something.

If I tell you not to speak the word ‘apple’, you’re going to spend all day thinking about apples. Even if you are one of the 99% who would never think of them in the first place..
(in fact, when I first read this, I assumed the R-word was “race”)

Better to offer a replacement *vision* that is positive and catchy. PC replacement *words* take on negative connotations eg ‘challenged’, or like when Obama said his bowling style fit better in the special olympics – that was clearly an attempt at self-deprecating humor, but people attacked him for even mentioning it – even though he tried to use PC words.

I may have to try that mirror-suntan trick soon, though.

JMHO

]]>