At my sometime stomping grounds of  Seattle PostGlobe, Eric Ruthford writes about a potential PR campaign to curb demand for child prostitutes.

He writes of such campaigns in other cities, campaigns based on shaming the “John,” or on stern lectures about criminal penalties.

He also quotes Debra Boyer, a local anthropologist who’s studied child prostitution:

“We need to somehow educate people so that they can see what harm they’re doing,” she said. “How do we create empathy in people who have objectified women?”

You’re not going to persuade these men by using words like “objectifying.”

And you’re sure not going to persuade these men by objectifying or stereotyping them.

Instead appeal to pride, to dignity even.

Say “Your sex drive can bring life. It can bring joy. It can even bring love. Or it can contribute to a living horror.”

Say “You really want to give your money to a pimp, so you can contribute to a child’s hell?”

Say “You’re better than that.”

Say “Make love, not hurt.”