Be smart. Think less.

Everybody likes to show off how much they use their brains. Which is wonderful. Until it sucks.

Thinking is generally a good thing, but perhaps we’d be better off if we just talked it out. We should be speaking frankly about everything. This includes potentially uncomfortable topics like race, gender and sexual orientation.

Of course we should be sensitive. When creating ads, we should avoid depicting harmful stereotypes and perpetuating bigoted beliefs.

But we should also avoid over analyzing. Fact is, if you over-think anything, you can come up with a reason to believe it is offensive or inappropriate.

“You’re showing a white guy drinking milk in your commercial? C'mon, I heard about this white supremacist who loved milk a few years back. We better bring in some diversity.”

“Wait, you’ve got a black guy who wears sweaters on your website? Bill Cosby wore sweaters. What, does every black guy wear sweaters now? No go. Bring in the Caucasians.”

“You can’t show a gay woman playing piano in that print ad! My aunt is gay and she hates pianos. Find some heteros, stat!”

It’s all just pretty damned stupid. If you go about your job trying not to offend anyone, you will end up offending everyone with your stupendously boring advertising.

Just be smart. You know what’s right and wrong. Use your judgement. But once you do, stop thinking about it.

Sometimes you will make a mistake. But that’s life. We all screw up. As long as you are making a concerted effort not to be a moron, you should be okay.

Maybe. Let’s think about it a little longer, just to be safe.