The new "Second Hand Smoke" campaign

[stratus_020202]

This is ridiculous. I'm going to call and write them to let them know how bad this is looking to the herp community. AND that snakes are not poisonous!

http://www.smokeispoisonous.com/

Has anyone else seen this add? I saw it on a bus today, and they were passing out t-shirts at my work.

[MasonC2K]

I think you are overreacting a bit.

[stratus_020202]

Really? I just think there is enough misconception about snakes. Do we really need more bad publicity?

[Freakie_frog]

We must face the fact that in Anglo American culture for the most part snakes are viewed in as threatening, cold creatures you don't want to mess with. So much so that we name fast cars after them (Cobra, Viper) and even name horrible drinks (snake bite) after them. We live in a society that uses snakes as an image of evil.

It's just part of it. But were not the only ones dog's get bad raps from locksmith company's, insects get a bad wrap from farmers and plant advertisements, Look at cute fuzzy rats they get as bad if not worse press than snakes ever thought about getting..

[stratus_020202]

I think there is a big difference in using a snake as a bad image, and not being truthful about it. It wouldn't bother me if it said second hand smoke is venomous. Which I think sounds more effective.

I'm just not the kind of person to sit back and watch people get misinformed. At least I have convinced the people in my office. They don't wear the shirts (around me at least).

[unspecified42]

Consider that the majority of the population is Christian, which is a religion that uses a serpent to symbolize evil. I'm not sure an anti-smoking ad is a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

(note: not digging on religion, just stating fact)

[unspecified42]

I think there is a big difference in using a snake as a bad image, and not being truthful about it. It wouldn't bother me if it said second hand smoke is venomous. Which I think sounds more effective.

Wait...so your objection is over improper diction?

[xdeus]

I think there is a big difference in using a snake as a bad image, and not being truthful about it. It wouldn't bother me if it said second hand smoke is venomous. Which I think sounds more effective.

Huh? Smoke is a poison... it's passive. Just like venom is a poison, but snakes are venomous. Make sense?

[stratus_020202]

Well, you can't say I didn't try, regardless of whether or not it makes a difference.

[unspecified42]

Well, you can't say I didn't try, regardless of whether or not it makes a difference.

But I'm not clear on what you tried or why.