Today’s post was originally going to be on a completely different topic however when I came across an article on Creative Boom that made me laugh..it was the only thing that I wanted to share! The Coronavirus has quite rightly been the centre of our universe since it was a) starting to spread across the globe like wildfire and b) when it was classified as global pandemic and c) when the alarming death rates led to us being forced into a nationwide lockdown.
Since then, the news has reported predominantly about the harsh realities of the Coronavirus with little or no discussion about any other topics. Each day we discuss the infection rate, death rate, impact on the economy and job losses. While this all make sense, it’s front of mind as it is the most pressing issue for the world right now – I find that it can get a little bit ‘too’ much in terms of the continual barrage of ‘bad news’. I actually had to take a short break from watching the news for about a week because it just became a little unbearable. In the midst of mental health week, it seems right to say that sometimes, too much bad news can adversely impact us – no matter how relevant it is.
I also think being able to see ‘good news’ right now is important for morale – and creating a slight sense of buoyancy in our moods.
EXAMPLES OF GOOD NEWS!
Captain Tom Moore is a great example of genuine good news. A Second World War Veteran, he continued to do his duty for his country and helped to raise money to support the NHS through a simple act of walking laps of his garden – what’s important to note is that at the point he started he was 99 years old and wanted to get in 100 laps before his birthday!
Sir Ian Botham got this 100% right too – I tuned into the news, just to find out how many laps he had done!
I really feel that that is the kind of news that people need to see right now – the positive kind mixed in with the harsh reality of what’s going on. However, over the past few days – it seems like the ‘good news’ in the world has started to diminish once more and we’re back to focusing on the ‘worry’ and ‘anxiety’ inducing news.
UNTIL I SAW THIS…
The piece written by Creative Boom was is not really something that I would class as ‘good news’ per se – but it sure did make me laugh. A real antidote to the grave language of Government warnings and “anxiety-inducing” media reporting.
A Brighton based creative agency called Filthy produced a campaign of ‘Viral Posters’, styled to look very official as though they had been produced by the Brighton & Hove council, yet on closer inspection they offer humorous and sarcastic statements to help to relieve some of the tension people are feeling about the pandemic. My personal favourite is this: ‘At least you haven’t thought about Brexit’.
Filthy’s Founder and Creative Director Joe Pilbeam said: “While recognising the seriousness and importance of the lockdown, we wanted to post some hopeful humour back on our local streets. Mixing the stoic British attitude of looking on the bright side, with some hard sarcasm and a hint of satire, the series covers topics ranging from politics and climate change to home-working and living in Worthing.”
As Brits, we do have an optimistic outlook mixed in a strong dose of sarcasm… and that’s what makes us pretty darn funny in my opinion.
What I like about these posters is that they are simple and actually reflective of what we’re all thinking. It’s a dose of what we need to keep moving through this difficult time. Sometimes just need a bit of sarcastic wit and an unexpected smile to help get us through the day.
(IMPORTANT NOTE: I do not think that Captain Tom Moore is a ‘marketing exercise’. I think he an amazing man who chose to rise up and do good in a time of despair.)