When I was in sixth grade, my school decided to teach me about STDs. I remember that we were going to watch a film about it in health class and that I was excited about it — after all, movies were always less boring than class, and I could sleep if I wanted to.

Unfortunately, I didn’t learn anything from that movie. I didn’t learn the names of any diseases or how to treat them. In fact, I was bombarded with horrifying images of disfigured genitalia to the point that at the age of 11, I thought if I had sex I would grow cauliflower on my privates and immediately die a horrible and gruesome death.

It’s funny now, thinking about what an inadequate form of education that was, until I realize that there are groups out there trying to educate people in the same way even now.

Scare tactics and sensationalism used by groups such as the Genocide Awareness Project, the shouting Oval Priest and even people like Michael Moore, not only irritate me, they insult my intelligence. I want to be educated, not screamed at.

See, strangely enough, I don’t have a problem with the genocide awareness people trying to tell me why they think abortion is wrong. I think that the goal of educating people about abortion is admirable. However, bombarding me with photographs of black people getting lynched, the holocaust, chopped up babies and a smiling Obama as I go to work in the morning does not teach me anything. It really just makes me want to vomit my breakfast.

Not only do these scare tactics fail to educate people, they discredit beliefs that actually are not that outlandish. Take PETA for example. PETA has given vegetarians and animal rights advocates a horrible name because of the group’s sensational ad campaigns, as well as its very public protests that include throwing paint on celebrities wearing fur. Is it weird to want to care for animals and eat only veggies? No. Is it weird to try calling fish “sea kittens” in order to make people feel bad for eating fish? Yes.

How many times have you rolled your eyes at “crazy environmentalists” or “religious zealots?” Entire groups of people are categorized based on their beliefs thanks to some individuals’ poor communication skills.

The worst part of this kind of “education” is that there are people out there who believe it. I think that when you go out in public to inform people, you have a responsibility to give them factual information and let them decide if they are convinced. Groups such as PETA, the Genocide Awareness Project and even the media, at times, just scare people into believing something without thought.

I’d like to think that most people try to research topics or look at multiple sides of an issue, but the reality is most people don’t. They hear what Jon Stewart or Glenn Beck has to say and call it a day. However, if you just gave people statistics and examples, I’m sure they could come to the right conclusions themselves.

For example, I think there are probably plenty of factual statistics and situations the genocide awareness people could tell me about that illustrate the downsides of abortion without showing me a Photoshopped poster of baby remains juxtaposed against a visa card. And if they are going to advocate adoption, they need to show me facts about adoption too.

So Genocide Awareness Project and Oval Priest, please don’t shout at me while I’m at school. Look presentable and calm. Don’t send crazy-looking middle-aged people, but people who look educated and informed. Talk to me reasonably, or have a rational debate with me instead of trying to make me feel like scum for not believing you.

Or you could continue doing what you’re doing. And I, like most of us, will ignore you and roll my eyes.