The ad that triv­i­alis­es tragedy

If you’ve ever walked with some­one as they descend­ed into demen­tia, you know it is one of the most gut-wrench­ing, anguish­ing things that can hap­pen. We should all fer­vent­ly hope and pray for treat­ments and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Written by
Jeff Brooks
Added
May 14, 2013

And that’s clearly what the Alzheimer Society of Montréal wants too. But you can't really tell from this stupid ad:

Here’s a detail, so you can see the ‘punch line’:

Alzheimer’s almost hits the category of ‘too scary to talk about’. And that might lead people to reach for metaphors and analogies to talk about the disease and what it does.

But this computer hard drive analogy is inept. Not only that, it’s glib and dehumanising. Roger, even if he’s in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, is not a blank hard drive. He’s still a human being.

Worse still, comparing the deep human tragedy of Alzheimer’s with the minor problem of a broken hard drive just pushes everyone further from understanding and caring about this disease. Losing a hard drive is a pain – possibly a huge pain. But it can’t even come close to comparing to the heartbreak, fear and pain of Alzheimer’s.

What someone should have asked is: What are we trying to accomplish? What action or attitude do we hope to engender with this message? It appears nobody asked that, so they ended up with a pointless and misleading analogy that trivialises the very thing the organisation is dedicated to fighting.

As you might expect, this is the work of an ad agency.

Thanks to Osocio for the tip.

About the author: Jeff Brooks

Jeff Brooks has served the nonprofit community for more than 30 years, working as a writer and creative director on behalf of a variety of organisations including CARE, World Vision, Feeding America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, National Wildlife Federation, and many more. He blogs at Future Fundraising Now and Moceanic. In previous careers, he’s been an English teacher and a classical musician. He lives in Seattle in the USA.

Recent Articles

The Westminster Abbey Appeal

Damian Chapman celebrates the Westminster Abbey Appeal of 1953. A massive £1 million was needed to repair the damage caused by German attacks during WWII, but the Abbey’s appeal started off slowly. Keep reading to find out how the fundraisers involved reached their target.     

Read more

The Aberfan Disaster Memorial Fund – Wales, 1966

Alex Day shares what fundraisers can learn from the Aberfan disaster in 1966. Based on his superb presentation at I Wish I’d Thought of That (IWITOT) 2024, this article explores the tragic landslide in Aberfan, Wales and the bravery of those who stepped up to help.

Read more

Legacies through the lens of faith

In an increasingly multicultural world, how we engage and inspire donors from different backgrounds and faiths is important. This article explores the unique traditions and beliefs that underlie faiths and looks at how religion frames philanthropy.

Read more

As younger donors step up to donate, are charities ready for them?

Younger donors are ready to give to charities, but delivering fundraising messages in the right way could make a big difference to if they choose your cause. Blue State’s Anjali Bewtra shares what fundraisers should consider when communicating with younger donors, as well as examples of charities that are already doing it well. 

Read more

Will you listen to your heart and help the next generation of fundraisers?

Today SOFII wants to celebrate a group of fantastic fundraisers – the SOFII One Hundred. Every month, they help fundraisers around the world who want to be inspired and improve their work. Keep reading to learn how you can join them.

Read more

Also in Categories