The Australian MS Society is running another series of television advertisements to increase public awareness of MS. Part of the campaign includes showing excerpts from the following two videos.

http://www.msaustralia.org.au/jasons-story.asp

http://www.msaustralia.org.au/robs-story.asp

I'm really pleased that this campaign is happening, and although both videos are well done, I'm disappointed that the producers have shown 2 people with progressive MS. I think I'd have preferred them showing one person who was more independent, even if they added a third video and showed excerts from all three.

I daresay it's important to show the public what the disease can do, but I thought it might be disturbing for the newly diagnosed (and those still being investigated) to watch a video that only shows MS in the more advanced stages.

I am still mobile, even though I use crutches or a cane, even a rollator on bad days, but not all of us have advanced MS, nor will all those newly diagnosed!

I think this campaign should have have depicted MS a little differently... maybe shown a broarder look at the disease.

What do others think?

My computer won't let me watch those two but I did stumble upon this old advert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KukAjn3zfVc&NR=1
great thinking by the ad makers.

dear God, let them find a cure soon.

addition

found this too OMG!! that's just too awful...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KukAjn3zfVc&NR=1

addition
found them on youtube.
great stuff.
whilst i agree they should have covered RRMS and not gone for the fast track to wheelchair viewpoint, I think for the purpose of raising money, they do a fab job.
On the other hand, i'm upset cos I Have The Bloody Disease !!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and their "new" slogan make me mad.

"MS stops people from moving. We exist to make sure it doesn't."

To me, it makes people think that anyone diagnosed with MS will be paralyzed and in a wheelchair, unable to move at all!

As we all know, MS affects everyone differently, and this slogan is a scare tactic to get more $$.

Yes. I agree with both Koala and RW.

Although I would think that education about MS is generally good, it is almost counter-productive, if it gives people the wrong impression.

~ Faith

I'm finding more and more reasons to move to Australia.. First the big tax rebates and now this.

For marketing reasons, I can understand that giving the worse case scenario would be more effective.

But just the other day this guy said to me, " I know two guys with MS. Both started on a cane, then to a walker and now they are in a wheelchair".

In the name of God....why would someone say that to someone mobile with MS?????:co nfused:

Because people engage their mouth before their brain.

I'm to the point of asking people why they say certain things - especially things like that. It puts them on the spot but maybe that's what they need once in a while. They obviously don't stop and think about other people's feelings.

Videos like the two shown here are necessary but they also need to depict the other end of the spectrum. If you're going to show the worst case scenario at least be fair about it and show someone who isn't quite so immobile. MS is a disease that can be totally disabling for some and only mildly disabling for others.

Using scare tactics is the usual way most $$ is raised. I don't like the new slogan, either.

Thanks Kitty; that's exactly what I was trying to say! I know it's all about dollars raised these days, but surely they could have given the public a wider view of the disease.

What would be the percentage of people with PP or SPMS, compared to RR? My guess would be that RRMS would be at the higher end of the scale. If they want to educate the public, then give them accurate information.

Nor do I!

as cynical as this sounds .. the idea is to raise money .. people won't donate to people if they are perfectly healthy looking, independant, etc. They will donate to people in wheelchairs who 'need' it, even though everyone with MS is far from healthy.

I hear you PhireX, and I know what you say is true. It's all about the elusive dollar, but it concerns me that they call this advertising campaign one to increase public awareness of MS, when they don't depict the disease honestly.

I know how I'd have felt had I seen these ads in that first year or so of my diagnosis!