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A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

by jbearnolimits
11 replies
I was just wondering, when you see images on TV of starving children...what are your thoughts? Do you feel like the need is so great and want to help, or do you feel like "WHY ARE THEY SHOWING ME THESE POOR KIDS?!"

Just wondering if the general feel for this type of thing is one of sympathy or one of contempt?

I ask because I have an image that I am trying to make for my website to encourage people to help spread the message of the site (which is not about physical hunger, but rather spiritual hunger). I didn't know if it was considered bad taste to use such images to create an emotional response.
#picture #thousand #words #worth
  • Profile picture of the author pietjeplukt
    i have sympathy for the actual starving people, but contempt for the people involved in making this commercial, because the image or footage of the child is useally so old that the child already died long ago or is over 40 by now + the fact that for every 100 dollar you donate to these organizations hardly only 1 dollar will be used for the so called cause, and i can know because long ago i worked for these greedy companies who actually and really do not care about the starving, just care about stealing your money for their own wealth, and that is the truth!
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    • Profile picture of the author jbearnolimits
      Originally Posted by pietjeplukt View Post

      i have sympathy for the actual starving people, but contempt for the people involved in making this commercial, because the image or footage of the child is useally so old that the child already died long ago or is over 40 by now + the fact that for every 100 dollar you donate to these organizations hardly only 1 dollar will be used for the so called cause, and i can know because long ago i worked for these greedy companies who actually and really do not care about the starving, just care about stealing your money for their own wealth, and that is the truth!
      I do fully believe you about that. I also have a conflict about such things. Because I can't stop thinking "Put the camera down and feed that kid!"

      But at the same time I feel sympathy for the kids.

      That is why I was curious as to how others felt. Because part of me thinks the use of such an image can create a HUGE emotional response, but is it the right one for the right reasons?
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  • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
    I have never felt "contempt" but I do have a hard time seeing images of starving children. I do get a sense of exploitation and it makes me very suspicious of the real motives of the advertiser. It must work to get contributions, though, because charities have been doing this for decades.

    I am not sure that you should be quite as concerned about images of "spiritual hunger" unless they were too graphic just to sensationalize the issue. Well chosen images may be exactly what you need.
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    • Profile picture of the author jbearnolimits
      Originally Posted by Janice Sperry View Post

      I have never felt "contempt" but I do have a hard time seeing images of starving children. I do get a sense of exploitation and it makes me very suspicious of the real motives of the advertiser. It must work to get contributions, though, because charities have been doing this for decades.

      I am not sure that you should be quite as concerned about images of "spiritual hunger" unless they were too graphic just to sensationalize the issue. Well chosen images may be exactly what you need.
      Well the thought I had thought of is one you would see on TV showing these type of kids, but then have the image say that "If you think this is bad, how do you think the souls of those without God look? Here is your chance to help!"

      As I began to put the image together I started to think this may be too much and was thinking (as you mentioned) that this could be thought of as exploitation. So my thought is that it may be better to do something else. Not just for image sake but also because I don't want to be the one behind the camera so to speak.

      At the same time I am wondering what type of image would deliver the same message as well. Any thoughts?
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      • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
        Originally Posted by jbearnolimits View Post

        Well the thought I had thought of is one you would see on TV showing these type of kids, but then have the image say that "If you think this is bad, how do you think the souls of those without God look? Here is your chance to help!"

        As I began to put the image together I started to think this may be too much and was thinking (as you mentioned) that this could be thought of as exploitation. So my thought is that it may be better to do something else. Not just for image sake but also because I don't want to be the one behind the camera so to speak.

        At the same time I am wondering what type of image would deliver the same message as well. Any thoughts?
        You could always test it but I agree with your second-thoughts. It seems a little over the top and maybe even confusing to me.

        Maybe an image of someone looking lost, hopeless, lonely contrasted with someone that is happy, focused, with friends?
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    You may find this "funny".


    -Ray Ewards
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  • Profile picture of the author splitTest
    "Before and after" can be a powerful device in direct-response, so pics can help that way...

    I've seen it applied to charity ads like: "Here's what it was like for the villagers before & here's the same village today... This is what we're doing with the $$ you send."

    Not sure how you'd apply any of that to "spiritual hunger" tho...
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  • Profile picture of the author Nahawee A
    Am image with you in it doing something to remedy the problem, gets my attention.Otherwise I see it as a gimmick.
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  • Profile picture of the author CopyMonster
    You know what they say, "seeing is believing."

    Of course, like any tool of influence, results will vary. People have different perspectives and worldviews so interpretations will differ.

    Given the ongoing use of these images, you can presume that the general feeling is one of sympathy over contempt. If it were more contempt than sympathy, then they'd have to find some other image.
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    Scary good...
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  • Profile picture of the author Slade556
    I think we all know what marketing is all about. For someone who doesn't know these images are used with the sole purpose of creating sadness and they might not even be real images, yes a simple picture is worth 1,000 words! But for us, we already know all the tricks, so a sad image doesn't do much for me.
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    • Profile picture of the author jbearnolimits
      Well just a little FYI, I decided not to go with the hungry kids image. It was just too much for me on a personal level. Because I normally think to myself "Just give the kid some food!" and I also believe that the money normally never goes to the actual cause. So I didn't want to be part of that problem.

      I decided instead to go with an obvious stock image of a kid asking someone (who stopped to help) "I'm lost, can you help me find the Father?" and a split image of another person saying, "Who is this Jesus?"

      Below it are the words "You have what they need. Don't hold back."

      I think it is much better and helps deliver the message in a more clear way. By the way, the goal of this isn't just raising funds. It is also to get volunteers who will help share the message of the site. Even people who can't give money can give a moment of time.
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