One of the best ways to hinder a cause is to promote it badly. I’ve just cringed through a bunch of videos on Blogorrah here and here urging young people to Rock the Vote. The idea is fair enough, and an initiative like Rock the Vote is an essential weapon in the war against apathy. However, these “celebrity” videos are so far off the mark that it hurts. I was planning on voting in this election, but after seeing none other than LOUIS WALSH encouraging me to do so, I have changed my mind.
The reaction around the place has been negative, to put it mildly.
Twenty Major
“Shove the vote up your hole”
Jim Carroll:
“Are young voters so dumb that they need sideburned singer-songwriters, lead singers of flop Dublin bands and devilish pop managers to remind them to vote?”
Adam:
The PR people that came up with this shite should be shot (along with most of the rest of them)”
Paul Campbell:
It’s a bit cringe-y
Maman Poulet:
Ryan Tubridy Rocking the Vote? I rest my case!
In fact, the only positive response I came across was Christine Bohan’s scintillating praise, declaring that the campaign is “kinda funny, gets the message across and it’s not nearly as cringey as you’d imagine.”
Unless I have got the wrong idea entirely about Irish people, the only young people that this will impress are under 13, and thankfully not eligible to vote. There was a lot of money put into this campaign, and I find it worrying, bordering on insulting, that they believe we can be seduced by the likes of Ronan Keating making the rock hand-sign. On the bright side, at least Marty Whelan/Linda Martin/Derek Mooney didn’t make an appearance.
