# Public information films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 27, 2019, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287 "2019-02-27T12:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Princess\_Perfume](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/princess_perfume/32/16518_2.png) [@Princess\_Perfume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princess_Perfume)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/1 "2019-02-27T12:07:43Z")
This kid looks slightly mature to be falling into a backyard pond… and as for how they switch her out for a very unconvincing dummy… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5YSKmMkQ7d0/hqdefault.jpg "Children And Ponds 1979 Public Info Film") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YSKmMkQ7d0) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/2 "2019-02-27T14:04:54Z")
Did they cut out the part where Frankenstein’s monster showed up? 😕 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/3 "2019-02-27T15:07:24Z")
With the swimming pools around here, we’re constantly reminded that [two seconds is too long.](http://ktar.com/shortal/fulton/2seconds/) Still lose a couple kids every year. Same thing with forgetting them in the back of a car and [baking to death](https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2014/05/02/dont-leave-children-or-pets-in-a-parked-car-2/). ---
**Author:** ![Princess\_Perfume](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/princess_perfume/32/16518_2.png) [@Princess\_Perfume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princess_Perfume)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/4 "2019-03-03T07:51:08Z")
It’s not anyone’s fault they use kids a lot in PIFs/PSAs. It’s the quickest way to tug heart strings. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/5 "2019-03-04T21:42:37Z")
[I learned it by watching YOU!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUXb7do9C-w) ---
**Author:** ![Princess\_Perfume](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/princess_perfume/32/16518_2.png) [@Princess\_Perfume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princess_Perfume)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/6 "2019-03-07T10:12:13Z")
Someone should do a BBC local radio interview with people who were featured in PIFs as children. Not all are still alive - Terry Sue-Patt who was in _Lonely Water_ is now dead - but some of their reactions to the PIF fan cultists would be interesting to hear. The woman who was the little girl “Sal” in _Andy Lights the Fire_, is probably hurt by the comments online making fun of her strong accent as a child. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/7 "2019-03-07T14:43:16Z")
> [@Princess\_Perfume](#): > > Someone should do a BBC local radio interview with people who were featured in PIFs as children. Not all are still alive - Terry Sue-Patt who was in _Lonely Water_ is now dead - but some of their reactions to the PIF fan cultists would be interesting to hear. The woman who was the little girl “Sal” in _Andy Lights the Fire_, is probably hurt by the comments online making fun of her strong accent as a child. Don’t know of any such program, but the BBC has done [an entertaining history of public information films.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07vjsvv) ---
**Author:** ![Princess\_Perfume](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/princess_perfume/32/16518_2.png) [@Princess\_Perfume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princess_Perfume)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/8 "2019-04-25T09:37:47Z")
I always wonder about sexual health PSAs like this - must be pretty embarrassing having to kiss and cuddle in a bed on national television. poor Tracie Bennett in this one: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr5i--1ivPU) Then there’s this one from my native Australia. Once again, must have been pretty embarrassing to be kissing and cuddling in a bed on national television: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DGv63hFdWlw/hqdefault.jpg "AIDS HowMany") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGv63hFdWlw) ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/9 "2019-04-25T10:27:43Z")
[Modern water safety videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG4zVxWTFCE), on the other hand, are way less wordy. Also, creepier… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/10 "2019-04-25T13:52:53Z")
In the US, I think we have [Rick Prelinger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Prelinger) to thank for preserving many of these films that might otherwise be lost. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-information-films/830287/11 "2019-04-25T14:03:46Z")
[quote=“Princess\_Perfume, post:8, topic:830287”] I always wonder about sexual health PSAs like this - must be pretty embarrassing having to kiss and cuddle in a bed on national television. poor Tracie Bennett in this one: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr5i--1ivPU) Then there’s this one from my native Australia. Once again, must have been pretty embarrassing to be kissing and cuddling in a bed on national television: [/QUOTE] How are PSAs with kissing and cuddling different than the countless movies and tv shows that show kissing and cuddling? Love scenes may not be an actor's favorite thing to do, but it's extremely common. Probably the first or second most common scene there is. Is it just PSAs that make you feel bad for them, or is it all kissing scenes in all mediums that bum you out? You mention “national television” twice, as if that makes it worse. Is your regular television not nationwide?