AIDS Strikes Fear

I picked up this video from one Dan Savage's recent blog posts. (Under the title "Effective HIV/AIDS Education," posted 10.10 at 10:30 am.) Savage writes: "Some gay bloggers, according to Queerty, are calling this ad “fear-based,” which is what folks always call ads that touch on the reality of HIV/AIDS and don’t just hammer away at vapid “safe sex is hot sex” messages that most gay men tune out. I wouldn’t call it “fear-based,” more like “reality-based.” This is what it’s like when you do something stupid and then have to go get your ass tested—you worry, it’s scary, and you decide, sitting in that chair in the HIV/AIDS clinic, that it wasn’t worth it. Why shouldn’t this be part—part, not all—of the safe-sex message?"

This brings up the question with which I will begin the semester: Are fear appeals ever good? Watch the clip and tell me what you think.