Insulting Ad about Nurses by Johnson and Johnson

[Pup]

I submit that the charm and the tag line, "But I also believe in Stacking the Deck," does exactly that. The presence of this line, will, for most people, have exactly the opposite effect of the one that SG is worried about. Instead of reinforcing the popular misconception which it represents, it will actually anchor the ad's core message--it's opposite--in the minds of those who already hold that misconception, by sympathizing with their current belief.

The worrisome message is there, but it's actually been put to use to subvert itself.

I think that's a pretty fair assessment. What it depends on is the average viewer identifying with good luck charms and other woo, and thinking they're a warm, fuzzy, humanizing thing, rather than thinking they're an annoying sign of a frustratingly illogical and close-minded person.

The vast majority of people are going to see woo as warm and fuzzy, and the few people who don't... well, too bad, the ad's not meant for them.

Now, where the problem comes is if that matters. To many people, it doesn't, because they actively agree with the stereotype. Others may not care one way or the other, because they're so used to the message that woo is sweet, that it just seems a standard cliche.

It only matters to people who actively dislike the stereotype and wish it would change, but they're in the extreme minority. Personally, I lean that way, because I'm tired of woos getting all the sweetness and sympathy in the stereotypes, while scientists and atheists are portrayed as the cold, mean bad guys.

In real life, I don't want a nurse or doctor who thinks they can stack the deck by using my (or their) delusions. I hire them to provide accurate information about my health to overcome the biases, lies and personal agendas of uneducated people who are always too ready with free opinions.

But the ad's not for people like me.

It reminds me of a KFC ad aimed for an Australian (or maybe New Zealand?) market, showing a white sports fan with a bucket of KFC chicken, surrounded by black fans for the other team, who are cheering and being wild and rowdy. The white guy passes around his fried chicken, and they all eat it together and settle down. Totally inoffensive and cute for Australians, apparently, but when it hit the American market via Youtube, some Americans got angry over the stereotype that black people are savage but you can use their love of fried chicken to tame them.

If "everybody knows" a stereotype is true (sports fans are rowdy; people like fried chicken), using it in an ad is unremarkable. It's only offensive if the stereotype happens to be one you've been actively fighting against. In the case of the nursing ad, "everybody knows" woo is warm and fuzzy, so the ad works for the vast majority of people, and that's surely what J&J wanted.

 

[eijah]

I didn't take it to mean that the nurse believes in superstition, but when she noticed the four leaf clover she realized that the patient may be a believer. She puts it in his hand for his reassurance, not because she is superstitious. The ad is basically saying that compassion is an important part of nursing in addition to science.

I think this ad is a trivial thing to go on a rampage about. If Johnson & Johnson were marketing a four leaf clover for the enhanced treatment of ER patients, yes...I'll stand with you. But this? Meh.

"Amen". She discovered an item that was consistent with her patient's cognitive paradigm, one that might work for him psychologically. And she did something that could not hurt him. OTOH, if she had given him the token and not given him medical care, that would be a huge equine of a different hue. What she did was very meaningful to him and very humane. Thank goodness that there are such nurses. I've had a few who have made all the difference in the world. As for your outrage, I hope no one ever gives such a token to you if and when you are in need of medical care.

 

[Monketi Ghost]

"Amen". She discovered an item that was consistent with her patient's cognitive paradigm, one that might work for him psychologically. And she did something that could not hurt him. OTOH, if she had given him the token and not given him medical care, that would be a huge equine of a different hue. What she did was very meaningful to him and very humane. Thank goodness that there are such nurses. I've had a few who have made all the difference in the world. As for your outrage, I hope no one ever gives such a token to you if and when you are in need of medical care.

If you think it has value, isn't the hilited portion of your post rather inhumane?

You don't think well of morphine... I hope nobody ever gives it to you should you be in pain!

...sounds classy.

 

[fls]

I think that's a pretty fair assessment. What it depends on is the average viewer identifying with good luck charms and other woo, and thinking they're a warm, fuzzy, humanizing thing, rather than thinking they're an annoying sign of a frustratingly illogical and close-minded person.

...

If "everybody knows" a stereotype is true (sports fans are rowdy; people like fried chicken), using it in an ad is unremarkable. It's only offensive if the stereotype happens to be one you've been actively fighting against. In the case of the nursing ad, "everybody knows" woo is warm and fuzzy, so the ad works for the vast majority of people, and that's surely what J&J wanted.

That was well said. I think that's where I'm at, as well. Some people who have had to deal with stereotypes (or other relevant issues) which are foreign to me shared their experiences in a way which was compelling. And it allowed me to see why something which appeared innocuous to me gained such importance to them. And, of course, I have the perspective of my own set of issues I actively fight against. It makes me very reluctant to criticize someone when I'm in a position of ignorance and unfamiliarity.

Linda

 

[CaveDave]

I think that's a pretty fair assessment. What it depends on is the average viewer identifying with good luck charms and other woo, and thinking they're a warm, fuzzy, humanizing thing, rather than thinking they're an annoying sign of a frustratingly illogical and close-minded person.

The vast majority of people are going to see woo as warm and fuzzy, and the few people who don't... well, too bad, the ad's not meant for them.

Now, where the problem comes is if that matters. To many people, it doesn't, because they actively agree with the stereotype. Others may not care one way or the other, because they're so used to the message that woo is sweet, that it just seems a standard cliche.

It only matters to people who actively dislike the stereotype and wish it would change, but they're in the extreme minority. Personally, I lean that way, because I'm tired of woos getting all the sweetness and sympathy in the stereotypes, while scientists and atheists are portrayed as the cold, mean bad guys.

In real life, I don't want a nurse or doctor who thinks they can stack the deck by using my (or their) delusions. I hire them to provide accurate information about my health to overcome the biases, lies and personal agendas of uneducated people who are always too ready with free opinions.

But the ad's not for people like me.

It reminds me of a KFC ad aimed for an Australian (or maybe New Zealand?) market, showing a white sports fan with a bucket of KFC chicken, surrounded by black fans for the other team, who are cheering and being wild and rowdy. The white guy passes around his fried chicken, and they all eat it together and settle down. Totally inoffensive and cute for Australians, apparently, but when it hit the American market via Youtube, some Americans got angry over the stereotype that black people are savage but you can use their love of fried chicken to tame them.

If "everybody knows" a stereotype is true (sports fans are rowdy; people like fried chicken), using it in an ad is unremarkable. It's only offensive if the stereotype happens to be one you've been actively fighting against. In the case of the nursing ad, "everybody knows" woo is warm and fuzzy, so the ad works for the vast majority of people, and that's surely what J&J wanted.

Good thoughts.

"Amen". She discovered an item that was consistent with her patient's cognitive paradigm, one that might work for him psychologically. And she did something that could not hurt him. OTOH, if she had given him the token and not given him medical care, that would be a huge equine of a different hue. What she did was very meaningful to him and very humane. Thank goodness that there are such nurses. I've had a few who have made all the difference in the world. As for your outrage, I hope no one ever gives such a token to you if and when you are in need of medical care.

YEP.

That was well said. I think that's where I'm at, as well. Some people who have had to deal with stereotypes (or other relevant issues) which are foreign to me shared their experiences in a way which was compelling. And it allowed me to see why something which appeared innocuous to me gained such importance to them. And, of course, I have the perspective of my own set of issues I actively fight against. It makes me very reluctant to criticize someone when I'm in a position of ignorance and unfamiliarity.

Linda

Well said, too, Linda.

Dave

 

[Zelenius]

This ad is RACIST!

As an American of Irish heritage, I find it deeply offensive.

I agree, but I think the ad is racist because they are showing a black nurse, rather than a white nurse. They are implying that black nurses are more superstitious than white nurses. I am deeply offended by this. Maybe it wasn't intentional, but it is implied by the ad's use of a black nurse.

Worse yet, after re-watching it several times, the ad comes across as sexist too, since not only is the nurse black, but is also female. This implies women are more superstitious than men. Again, maybe this wasn't intentional(and I realize the overwhelming majority of nurses are female), but it is still obvious, even more obvious than pushing the idea that nurses are superstitious and that superstition is wonderful in hospitals.

If you are really opposed to racism and sexism, then you should have been very offended by this ad(like I was). If you're not, then....

I'll have to write another email to J&J to give them a piece of my mind.