Without a doubt the fastest way to generate masses of publicity is to do something or say something that is a bit weird or controversial.

Pop stars like Madonna and Michael Jackson have known for decades that controversy sells.  Why else would you choose to adopt a chimpanzee, bear a bleeding stigmata in a pop video or deny reports that you are a hermaphrodite.

Even politicians, such as David Cameron are getting in on the act. In a recent radio interview he commented that “Too many twits might make a twat”

But can you go to far in the quest for publicity? AIDS awareness campaigners in Germany may have done just that. The campaigners have launched an advertising campaign featuring mass-murders such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Saddam Hussein having sex.

The shocking  ‘Aids is a mass murderer’ campaign has not only been criticised for featuring these tyrants in such sordid scenarios, but also for stigmatising those suffering with HIV and AIDS.

Perhaps this was one idea that should have been dropped at the brainstorm stage?