Legal But Not Ethical

I continue to be fascinated and chagrined at the choices people make when it comes to deciding whether to do what is ethical versus what is profitable. More and more and with disturbing consistency, going for the additional bucks seems to win the day. The tobacco industry, of course, is a great example. Only by government decree did they begin coming clean with the public that their product was addictive and harmful to one's health. In keeping with this, as far back as 1994, in an article in the Journal of Consumer Affairs, advertising professionals were reported to be more influenced by legal considerations rather than what is ethically or morally correct.

Granted, what is ethical is more of a matter of subjectivity and interpretation than what is written in black-and-white in the law. This gives people greater latitude to decide what they can or cannot do or say. Beer companies, for instance, spend millions of dollars talking about how cool it is to enjoy their product. They claim their targeted audience are those folks who are of legal age to drink, yet ignore the reality that their outreach efforts also appeal heavily to underage kids. Manufacturers of food products purposefully create products designed to appeal to the taste rather than "health" buds of consumers. What they do is legal, but is it ethical?

Sadly, examples of these unfortunate choices go on and on. It is not a matter of can we as beneficiaries of free speech do this. Rather, the challenge rests in the choice of whether we should. In terms of communication ethics, what side of the fence do the professionals fall when their bosses pay them to put together messages that mislead. "Try our new triple creamy cookie. You'll love the taste and keep wanting more!" Never mind these goodies will also contribute to the nation's growing obesity problem and add cavities to one's mouth. Yes, it is all legal but is it ethical? I think not. Perhaps a better way to go would be to promote the taste as well as the consequences of enjoying it.