This makes me very sad. It used to make me mad, now it’s just sad.
We are killing our kids by making drinking and smoking marijuana fashionable and tolerantly illegal (meaning very little legal ramification if caught).
I have featured Urban Outfitters apparel above, but there are other companies with similar products. You can read the latest 11 Urban Outfitters Controversies here–they like to push the envelope more than most.
I envision the creators/owners/designers of Urban Outfitters as over-aged rebellious wanna-be teens intent on profiting from their mistakes by leading others down the same path. Certainly, they are a conscienceless group.
There is another way to make money, they are just enjoying being too wasted to care. Compare Urban Outfitters to Blake Mycoskie, the founder of Tom’s Shoes. Tom’s Shoes appeals to the same target market of the population, 18 to 30 year olds, but he has made giving to the poor fashionable. For every pair of shoes you buy, he gives one away for free.
Choices–it is all about choices. Nations, companies, families, and individuals all make choices every day for good or for bad. There is no neutral choice and every choice has the potential to effect someone else. Some of the choices effect a lot of people, as in this case of Urban Outfitters choice to promote drinking and drugs.
Why would anyone do this? For money? For the thrill of pushing others to the wrong choice? For the comfort of enticing others to your own indulgent misery?
It is sad that anyone, or any company would be so selfish. For the last month, at iMOM, we have had a character focus in several of our daily emails. Each character trait, such as diligence and trustworthiness, has a printable and tips on how to teach it. If we don’t teach character to our children we run the risk of perpetrating more of the above, and that would really be sad.
