Do Not!

When I went to my office yesterday morning, I saw a sticker at the back of a car in front of me. The text printed on the sticker was like this: “NARKOBA. Jangan pernah coba” (DRUGS. Don’t ever try it).

Wait wait... Suddenly I feel something is not going well. There is something wrong with this ad. What's wrong?

Ok, let me explain it more detail.
The word “NARKOBA” (drugs) was printed in ALL CAPITAL, Bold, large sized, and use CONTRAST COLOR. With my not so normal eyes, I was able to read the text from about 4 meters.
The word “Jangan pernah coba” (don’t ever try it) was printed below the “Narkoba” text, also in ALL CAPITAL, but the text size was much smaller, and the space between each letter was small. The width used to print the 3 words altogether is the same with the width used to print the text above them. And for my eyes, the text can only be read from 1.5 meter or less.

What’s wrong then?

First, what was that ad tries to focus on? The drugs? Or the message to tell people to never try it?
I think it was obvious from the design.

Second, our subconscious mind cannot interpret the word “NOT”. Don’t believe it? I’ll tell you how to test it next time.

Third, how many times you have stronger desire to do something after someone told you NOT to do it?

Well… Honestly I think the ad somehow brings some people to have more interest in drugs.

Fourth, instead of focusing on how to avoid something negative, what if we start to focus on how to build up something positive? – In the context of human character. When the positive be dominant, hopefully the negative would fade away.

Note: This is the first time I write in English. So please be generous. My English is poor :D