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Friday 10 May 2013

The "Don't" campaign and Kak, 1973

This public information poster is from the "Don't" campaign, which started in 1973.

The council became increasingly concerned that citizens were too actively involved in 'doing.'
Because 'doing' is a morally and politically ambiguous activity the council decided to take control and enforced 'not doing' until they could clarify and ratify only positive, socially acceptable expressions of 'doing.'

The campaign's mascot was called Kak the bird. To disseminate the 'Don't' message among the youth, all school corporal punishment, daily vaccinations, and dentistry had to be carried out by an adult dressed as Kak.

Parents were also encouraged to dress as Kak then rush in on their young, sleeping children at 3am, and screech as loudly as they could: "Don't, don't, don't."



A "Don't" Kak button badge (1973-74)
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45 comments:

  1. 10 May 2013 at 07:14

    This gives me pause...

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  2. Anonymous10 May 2013 at 08:07

    can you market some Don't products? buttons, t-shirts... that sorta thing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Julian Vayne10 May 2013 at 10:01

    I think I detect the beginnings of a peculiar style of taoism emerging within the Scarfolk community...

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  4. Ben10 May 2013 at 10:19

    I *really* want one of those badges. I've printed off the poster and it's by my desk, to stop myself from doing. More Kak merchandise please?

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  5. Anonymous10 May 2013 at 13:30

    bwhahaha in the Afrikaans language Kak means shit.

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    Replies
    1. Johny Freewheeler1 November 2015 at 20:46

      Same in Dutch, imagine that ;)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous28 August 2016 at 15:45

      Afrikaans is basically Dutch that's been curing in the African sun for a couple centuries.

      Delete
    3. Birkonian20 October 2016 at 20:21

      Kak means shit in Scouse too.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous29 October 2016 at 05:06

      Kak sounds 2/3 like shit in Spanish.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous26 November 2016 at 18:53

      and english

      Delete
    6. Unknown7 August 2017 at 12:46

      Sounds like ¾ of shit in my lang. XD

      Delete
  6. Anonymous10 May 2013 at 15:39

    I need that poster. Why do you not sell these? I need to help other people not do things as well.

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  7. English Pariah.15 May 2013 at 20:11

    I didn't.

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  8. Howie16 May 2013 at 08:21

    By commenting here, *you already did*

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  9. Marianne Wheelaghan16 May 2013 at 11:09

    at last, some common sense ... ha ha ha!

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  10. Flowdeeps16 May 2013 at 13:52

    I haven't since I last did just now when I was doing this.

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  11. Anonymous17 May 2013 at 06:33

    Reminds me of if...

    "Stephans. Whatever you're doing now... don't."

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  12. English Pariah.18 May 2013 at 10:32

    I did?

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  13. kdub_nyc18 May 2013 at 16:05

    This is now displayed in my office. My coworkers have taken to randomly popping in and saying in an ominous voice, "Don't!" and then disappearing again.

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  14. Stereoblab21 May 2013 at 22:50

    Birds don't have external ears. If only the modelmaker had heeded official advice.

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  15. About me22 May 2013 at 07:37

    In Scarfolk, birds have external ears and large human hands inside them.

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    Replies
    1. ephelba18 March 2017 at 06:20

      The better for Charlie Barns.

      Delete
    2. Unknown1 July 2017 at 10:16

      I think this owl is based off the sported eagle owl, which has "eyebrows" that from a distance resemble ears? Also consider the horned owl.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous2 June 2013 at 08:32

    I'd buy one of those badges.

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  17. Sasha4 June 2013 at 15:29

    I want a Kak button...

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  18. Robert Lamb27 June 2013 at 17:27

    I also would purchase a Kak button. ~rl

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  19. Unknown10 July 2013 at 23:51

    I would buy a Kak button.

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  20. Unknown19 August 2013 at 12:49

    "Keep Calm and Don't" ?

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  21. citymonster14 October 2013 at 19:26

    and now, the weather.

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  22. Librarianguish23 November 2013 at 06:09

    i need a t-shirt with this on... now!!!... get it sorted.

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  23. Anonymous6 August 2014 at 13:38

    don't think. too "ambiguous" to engage in thinking, be morally and politically apt god damn it - stop doing, just don't. (Nike's definitely their favorite fan)
    so freeze - preferably with the owl look, on your face.

    it's in the brain guys, once you embody the 'don't' you instantly get the owl look.

    it's like an absurdist play set in a village/town/community of sorts - turned reality. much wow.

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  24. William Aubrey1 July 2015 at 09:11

    Still want a poster

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  25. Cloud Cuckoo25 January 2016 at 16:10

    I never did. Still waiting for my gong though.

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  26. Sam20 February 2018 at 19:06

    I just (for real) completed a grant application with the question, "All applicants must complete this question. Does this question apply to your application? Answer YES if the question DOES NOT apply. Answer NO if the question DOES apply."

    If I may translate this into Scarfolk, "If don't, please yes. If not, please do."

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  27. Anonymous28 March 2018 at 17:22

    My brain melted.....that means I was doing....gasp......doom....

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  28. Vettechintraining19 May 2019 at 04:03

    I want a don't pin

    ReplyDelete
  29. Nick Alcock24 March 2020 at 15:00

    This is *especially* relevant in these days of lockdown. Hasn't the PM basically gone on national TV and done the moral equivalent of reading out this poster?

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  30. Ben9 April 2020 at 16:32

    2020, the year of Don't.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Forrest Aguirre4 January 2021 at 15:07

    I wish people had . . . done . . . this? . . . in 2020. Don't. Just don't.

    ReplyDelete