Dear Ms Man,
In these few days, my classmates have discussed the offer of an advertising company to pay our school a rent of $400,000 per year for putting an enormous slimming advertisement on our outer wall. Since our school is built on a hill and we can overlook the Victoria Harbour, it is a good point for the advertising company to put up an enormous advertisement. Everyone can see it clearly, just like some advertisements on top of the commercial buildings. However, I strongly oppose this idea.
Schools are places for students to gain new knowledge. It is unreasonable for the school to rent the outer wall for slimming advertisements. Research shows that when we see an advertisement repeatedly, we will be influenced subconsciously. We can see these kinds of slimming advertisements everywhere, in MTR stations, at bus stops, in the bus compartment and the like. If there is an enormous slimming advertisement in our school, I am afraid that my schoolmates may care more about their body shape than learning in lessons.
Although the rent of $400,000 for putting up a slimming advertisement is quite attractive, I must point out that slimming advertisements are notoriously manipulative. They will seriously affect our mind, and pressure us to be as thin as our idealized images. As a result, students will not concentrate on their studies but be obsessed with being slim and fit. Their academic performance may worsen.
Some people may think that these kinds of slimming advertisements bring positive images, which can let the students be healthier. I question it. From my point of view, some of the success cases mentioned in the advertisements are made-up. If there is a slimming advertisement in our school, and some students believe in it, I think the school is sending them to a trap.
To conclude, I oppose renting our outer wall to the advertising company for slimming advertisements because it will affect our school life. Moreover, there are healthier ways for us to keep fit, like doing exercise regularly.
Thank you for your kind attention. I hope my views are taken into consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Wong