This is a comment from a Fox network executive about their new show "Moment Of Truth"
“This is going to be the talk of the town and knocked out of the park. You’re either going to love it, or think it’s the end of Western civilization. And that’s the stuff that works.” -Mike Darnell FOX
I think that kind of summarizes how reality show programming goes, as well as some ad campaigns. They expect (and want) both positive and negative feedback for it to be successful. We know some people that do advertising for major corporations and when they run a campaign like that they are actually high fiving when the cards and letters start coming in.
Used to people would say that any publicity is good publicity. Today the bar has been raised (lowered) and in order for it to qualify as publicity it has to tread on previously sacred ground. That is what it takes to push your buttons these days and they know it. Some companies take a tongue in cheek approach to it and get in the mud. Others don't; only the market decides the winner.
Either way, it probably isn't the end to western civilization anymore than Elvis was (a lot of parents thought that was bad). Not really comparing the two, they are miles apart, but both could be viewed as bad by parents.
We just don't take it too serious, teach our kids to do the same and value it for what it really is. A 30 sec joke, that is marginal in taste. Like the ones your strange uncle tells at Christmas that keeps the whole family a little uncomfortable...........
“A friend is someone that will help you move............a TRUE friend will help you move the bodies." -- anon