Yay, Scrappy, congratulations!

Frank, how scary! I'm so glad you are safe, so sorry to hear about your landlord and about losing your home. Fingers crossed that you land in a good place.

And yay Scrappy! So glad you have found yourself a great job! I love the neighborhood where you will be working.

Yay, Scrappy! Good news is welcome!

Scrappy, congratulations! That's wonderful news!

Still waiting for a date who is now 4

That's a little, um, young for a date, donchya think?

Well, that's why she's waiting.

Gah, iPhone. 40 min late. After I warned him about parking and the venue selling out. Doesn't look promising.

Scrappy said what I was thinking, then I thought, babysitting? Aw, how cute.

Instead it's rudeness.

Bah.

So, I need a bit of advice.

Some of you may have seen this amazing child abuse poster campaign come across your social media feeds today.

It really is exceptional and high tech. Basically, it uses a technique where anyone under 4 feet tall sees a message saying "If someone is hurting you we will help" and offering a 911-like number to call. The image changes from a peaceful little boy's face, which the adult sees, to a bruised face, which only the child is supposed to see. Very clever.

It made me physically ill.

Not the reaction I think they are going for.

So, after mulling it over all day, I have decided to write to the advertising agency which created the ad. I am certain that they will have received hundreds of similar messages, but I can't be sure, so I'm going to add my thoughts to whatever pile is available.

My need for advice is this...is what I've written dispassionate enough to be taken seriously?

Except for the occasional conversation here, and the rare illustrative story in the therapy room, I really don't talk about that part of my history any more. Partly because I've exorcized most of what needs getting through and partly because I'd rather not be a sad sack bore.

So, I want to make sure I am making my point as effectively as possible.

Please do no fear offending me. I sincerely want to do this as best I can, so all comments will be appreciated.

Mr. Lynn,

I suspect you have received many messages about the innovative and exceptionally well-meaning ANAR campaign to help children in abusive situations via hotline numbers.

Of course, the image-changing poster is remarkable. A revolutionary advancement in advertising practice.

There is one extremely important issue with it, about which, I am particularly qualified to comment. I was the child of a violent, alcoholic pedophile, with whom I lived alone for many years. My story is similar to those they make very sad movies about but, it is also one which thankfully has a quite happy ending. I am healthy and very, very seldom experience flashbacks which I struggle to process.

However, when I first saw the video of the ANAR project, I have to confess, I had a very old, visceral reaction. One that I thought I had completely overcome.

I started shaking and sweating.

The image threw me back into memories of my father's reactions to anything...and I mean _anything_ that threatened his 'secret' or that might have resulted in my getting, or being taken, away from him. Anything at all that acknowledged the abuse resulted in a rage. It goes without saying, I suppose, but those rages exacerbated the abuse and led to threats that made me fear for my life.

If I were a child seeing the ANAR poster on a bus stop, I would have no idea that my father could not see the image as well. I would be _terrified_. If he even noticed me looking at the picture of a bruised child...well, you take my meaning.

Of course, the video describing the project does not mention how, or if, the poster will be distributed beyond the advertising award circuit...on which, I am certain it will do very well.

I beg you, if ANAR does decide to put the campaign into wide use, please, please add a line to the copy that says something like, "This message is just for you." Or, in some graphical way, indicate that the child is safe from the adult seeing it.

Otherwise, I fear Grey Spain's good work will have been for naught.

Thank you very much for your consideration of these concerns.

Full Name

website