Of Facts and Fish

My brother was watching T.V. one day and suddenly, I see this commercial that immediately sparks my attention. It was about Sea World. No, I wasn't distracted by the cute whales or dolphins, but what intrigued me was the facts (I know, I'm a dork).

Last year, I watched a documentary called Blackfish. This documentary focused on the controversy over capturing killer whales and the treatment of them. The documentary showed the side of Sea World that most people don't know about. The side that captures the whales from their families and natural environment and causes them to go almost insane. They documentary follows the stories of how people were killed, but it wasn't the animal's fault; it was ours.

This helped to spark the debate over captive killer whales (who are really not killers) and now, SeaWorld is fighting back.

They start this commercial off by saying "There's some facts..." This immediately shows the technique of facts and figures. Throughout the video, they show several quotes from newspapers such a Wall Street Journal and from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. They also put their profession and on the screen to show that they are reliable sources. To people who love facts and will believe anything that's factual, then this commercial will persuade them easily or at least make them on the edge of changing their mind. It appeals to our need to satisfy curiosity.

If you have seen the documentary Blackfish and then you see this commercial, you now have two different perspectives that both claim they have the real facts. Both videos make us feel sympathy for the animals, as well. Now, we have two conflicting sides and even more confusion and tension to this controversial topic. However, at the end of the day, SeaWorld is still a large company name and was probably struggling with business after this documentary came out. All in all, both videos contained the technique of facts and figures and appealed to the need to satisfy curiosity and need to nurture.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

I hope you have a nice day and remember "fish are friends, not food" (Sorry. I was talking about fish, so naturally, I felt the need to quote Finding Nemo).