Americablog: Snickers airs inexcusable homophobic ad, complete with bigoted "player reactions"

[Maven]

I guess we shouldn't be surprised, considering this comes from the Mars family--a well known enemy of progressives and one of only 18 families to spend millions trying to repeal the estate tax.

Snickers Superbowl Web site promotes violence against gays and lesbians. Bears & Colts players react in disgust, on camera, to gays.

If you thought the Snickers ad during last night's Superbowl was somewhat homophobic, you ain't seen nothin' yet. My good friend Andy Towle alerted me this morning to the fact that the Snickers' Web site outright endorses violence against gays.

A bit of background. The ad in question showed a mechanic eating a Snickers bar. Hi co-mechanic is so desirous of the Snickers that he starts eating it from the other end of the same bar that's already in the other guy's mouth. The two butch guys eat their way down the bar, like the dogs eating the same string of pasta in the Disney movie - until they're accidentally kissing. The guys, naturally, recoil in disgust - then, oddly, start ripping out their chest hair with their hands. Yeah it's homophobic, but it's also kind of funny, though a bit weird, so I was going to let it go. Well...

...

Ad 3: "Motor Oil." After the guys kiss, they say "I think we just accidentally kissed - quick, do something manly," and proceed to drink motor oil and I think anti-freeze - they guzzle it down, screaming at the top of their lungs, making them sick to their stomachs. The ad is vaguely violent - better to die than be gay.

Ad 4: "Wrench" (these are the actual names Snickers gave the ads). The two guys accidentally kiss, they say to each other again "quick, do something manly," and one guy proceeds to pick up a huge oversized wrench and violently attack the other guy, while the second takes the first and throws him under the hood of the car, slamming it down on his head. Yes, the appropriate reaction to a guy kissing you is to beat the crap out of the guy who kissed you. Maybe Snickers should rename this ad "Matthew Shepard."

More at Americablog

Just in case the message didn't come through clearly enough, we get to see players from both teams reacting in horror and disgust to the kiss.

You can see the original ad, along with the three "alternate endings" and the player reactions contact Mars, Inc. and let them know what you think about promoting hatred and violence against a minority to make a buck. :grr:

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. link?

[Maven]

2. fixed.

[Whoa_Nelly]

31. Wrote to Mars company

The Super Bowl Snickers' ads are a slur against a group of people you obviously consider less than second-class in rank of the species called Human.

Instead, of the characters saying, "Do something manly!", why not just have them call each other faggots, queers, homos, and more? Why be dishonest? Just cut to the chase and share your real agenda.


Your ads exemplify and further advance the hatred, and fuel the political activism, against all gays.

You should be ashamed of promoting this hatred.

What's next on your agenda? Showing more "Moms belong at home", such as in the kitchen and performing role-delegated 1950s-style duties? Women in this country are still treated as second-class citizens, by the media, as well as in real life. It's clear, that by your company's standards, gays are even less than that.

Negative use of situational dilemmas to promote products is just more of the same "You, the consumer, are a stupid five-year old" garbage. More negative use of situational dilemmas to promote anti-gay, political agendas, and hatred is morally and ethically unconscionable. The Snickers ad in using the wrench immediately brings to mind the horrific death of Matthew Shepard.

Perhaps Mars candy is in league and actively working with the anti-gay pseudo-Christian Fred Phelps. Stranger things have happened.

No more buying of Mars candy by me. And, hopefully, I can convince others to boycott you as well. I know of many who will listen and actively follow through.

[JackRiddler]

89. Actually they are aimed at a group considered second-class

These ads are hate propaganda aimed at the very large minority of men who can't process their own sexuality and have an irrational fear that they might feel desire for other men. In their reaction, they do hurtful and self-destructive things. Are all homophobes really this bad? Are they this stupid? Why, the ranks of homophobes include scientists... politicians... religious leaders... homemakers. They can't help how their breeding and society and inchoate neuroses led them to their constant discomfort, angst and irrational jumpiness. Do they really need to be portrayed as fools, who would drink motor oil rather than acknowledge a queer urge?

No. They need our help.

[liberaldemocrat7]

261. Mars co. and their advertising company have baited Americans with this ad.

Just like the Republican party baits Americans with their twisted, distorted view of economic and social issues. I did not see the ad but apparently it appears very divisive based on what people have described here.

Yes, Mars wants people's attention and they play upon the theme of approaching someone of the same sex accidently to get attention and it works because it evokes big reactions. If Mars could show an ad of lions eating Christians and get attention and get away with it they would run the ad if it sold chocolate bars.

If you want to stop such ads, stop buying their products and complain to them.

Also, there appears a nasty divisive social climate fostered in America by this Republican party over the last 27 years and if you want to put an end to the Republican party stop buying from their contributors and complain to them as well. We need to get rid of the Hooverite, christofascist political party seen as the Republican party of the late 20th and early 21st century. If you cut off their money it will happen.

It does not appear enough to complain and it does not appear enough to boycott silently. You have to do both.



Let each person live their lives the best that they can and stop the hate.

[raccoon]

266. Some more gems in this thread, which I think bear repeating:

"If you want to stop such ads, stop buying their products and complain to them.

Also, there appears a nasty divisive social climate fostered in America by this Republican party over the last 27 years..."

And the Repukes ENCOURAGE this nasty divisive social climate. Same as an abuser encourages divisiveness within the family. Divide and conquer, yeah.

[raccoon]

265. Great letter, Whoa! Well said. nt

[Whoa_Nelly]

280. Thanks, raccon

And just read in LBN that Mars has pulled the ad due to groups such as GLAAD speaking up and stating it as offensive. In fact, there is no more of viewing of the video of the originally aired ad, or any of the alternative airings. If anyone goes there, they get a redirect to the home page.

[Whoa_Nelly]

289. Mars Company emailed me--and I wrote back

Their "apology"

From: [email protected]

In response to your email regarding SNICKERS BRAND .

As with all of our SNICKERS Brand advertising, our goal was to capture the
attention of our core SNICKERS consumer.

Feedback from our target consumers has been positive. In addition, many media
and website commentators of this year's Super Bowl commercial line-up ranked the
commercial among this year's top ten best. USA Today ranked it #9 of its top ten
pick.

We know that humor is highly subjective and understand that some people may have
found the ad offensive. Clearly that was not our intent. Consequently, we do
not plan to continue to air the ad on television or on our SNICKERS Brand
website.

Please be assured that we appreciate your feedback and value you as a consumer.
We will continue to forward your comments on to our Marketing Managers.

Sincerely,

Consumer Care
Masterfoods USA
A Division of Mars, Incorporated


My reply:

Target consumer? Oh, you mean all those big macho guys watching the Super Bowl last Sunday! Am sure there were no children, especially male children, watching the subliminal bashing and hatred of gays. After all, children don't eat Snickers very often, if at all, unless they get them in their Christmas stockings, Easter baskets, Halloween Trick or Treat bags, or even from a kind teacher at school as a reward or treat. And, God Forbid! if any of those children have any confused or confirmed personal feelings about their sexuality. Do you really think that I, a consumer who obviously was not considered part of the targeted audience, am that naïve?

Something is deep and really stinks, and I am not about to step into the "Target Consumer" apology dark brown mess you are laying out into which others will wade blindly. The entire email you sent in response to my negative view of your ads is disingenuous and highly dishonest.

I am so sick of the gender biases/issues, especially one as politically charged per the ad campaign route you chose, being displayed as an acceptable method to reach people and entice them to purchase a product. All that does is influence me to turn off the television, or mute and ignore it, while I make a mental note to let others know what trash they are supporting if they purchase that product or from that company for any reason.

Think your company can come up with ads that actually are positive in the message? I highly doubt it based upon the callousness your Snickers ad blatantly displayed, as well as your messy and shallow response to me via email.

It's ad campaigning such as yours that keeps reinforcing the message that our nation is still in the dark ages of the mid-20th Century: Women belong in the kitchen, only macho men play football, and gays are demons of that, "I think we accidentally kissed," outre sub-human species that must be driven out by doing "something manly."

I ain't buying your apology. You are so last Century. And as for buying your products ever again... Nope. You lost me, and many others, as a consumer. Guess that lightens the load for your next "Target Consumer" group.

PS How the hell could there be anything "positive" from any "target consumer" group, unless you select only homophobic morons to preview your trash? Oh! I think I just answered my own question.

Snickers' Target Consumer Group Member

[goclark]

3. I was shocked and disgusted

After all they made over Janet when Justin exposed her breast, this was well over the edge IMO.

[Sequoia]

19. But breastesays are evil.

And it's the woman's fault even though it was Bumberlake who did the pulling. His star rises, her's fades. I didn't see the commerical you speak of; I was in the kitchen making gucamole.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Maybe they're making fun of homophobes?

:shrug:

[JackBeck]

6. Given their history spending millions against progressive causes

I doubt it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. Mars does that?

I was unaware.

I'd imagine given the buying power of the homosexual community one wouldn't want to offend them.

[JackBeck]

9. I goes a bit beyond our "buying power".

I would think that anyone who supports the community would also be offended.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. I haven't seen the commercials myself.

But I certainly would be offended if they're homophobic.

[JackBeck]

15. I had no idea that there were alternative endings where they beat the crap out of each other.

It's promoting violence against the GLBT community and it's disgusting. I'm calling HRC and GLAAD today to see their reaction. I invite you to do the same.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Meh.

Again, it sounds like they're making fun of insecure homophobes, and possibly the inherent underlying homoeroticism of football.

I'll take a look.

[ScreamingMeemie]

73. "Meh"???

All you can say is Meh when faced with a reasoned explanation for this obviously poorly thought out ad?

[Solo_in_MD]

83. I saw it that way too, sort of a slur against the homophobic

[pink-o]

226. Hey, maybe they can do a Coors....

...and hire a token to smooth things over. Mary Cheney should be off Maternity leave next summer, right?

[Maven]

7. I don't think that's how most would read it.

And judging from the player reactions, I seriously doubt that's what they intended.

Unless you believe their goal was to insult NFL players on Superbowl night.

[Guaranteed]

200. Exactly how I saw them. Those guys' homophobia led directly

to their own stupid reactions of injuring themselves. They were scared of being gay, but they were idiots.

[TankLV]

236. Suuuuuuureee...

because you say so...

[Maraya1969]

244. I was thinking the same thing because I've seen sitcoms where they make

fun of guys who are homophobes. But maybe it's the comment, "Do something manly" that is the problem because that suggests that gay men are not "manly".

Then again I am not a gay man so I am not one who really knows.

[JackBeck]

5. As if "do something manly" wasn't offensive enough.

After we saw the commercial last night, I turned to my husband and remarked how I can only imagine the collective scream of many who were watching the game last night.

Now this just adds insult to injury. Disgusting. Ironic to see this, given the Edwards marriage debate flaming away right here in GD.

[BuyingThyme]

10. As I understand it, this ad does not ridicule homosexuals.

There are no homosexuals in the ad. There is no homosexuality in the ad. And there are no shots taken at homosexuals or homosexuality in the ad.

As I understand it, the ad simply makes fun of a particular version of manliness.

Is that about right?

[JackBeck]

12. Why do people think that two guys kissing isn't manly?

And did you see the player's reactions? What wonderful role models for our kids.

[Lex]

14. Since it was 2 men, then I think it's extra manly!

:)

[BuyingThyme]

20. Some think bar-fighting is manly; others think acting

like an adult is manly.

I think building sand castles is manly.

[Lex]

22. Duly noted. nt

[BuyingThyme]

16. As I understand it, the players were not in the ad.

And some people think kissing is unmanly in a similar sense that they think pink satin shorts are unmanly.

[JackBeck]

21. What's you point?

It's still homophobic. And I invite you to voice your outrage by calling GLAAD, Snickers and the NFL.

[BuyingThyme]

26. Not homophobic. The only bigotry is that which is aimed at

people who don't like to kiss other men.

It's EXACTLY the same as being disgusted by people who enjoy kissing other men.

[JackBeck]

29. Gotcha.

:eyes:

[Maven]

24. The players were invited to comment on the ad

so that you would know what the "proper" reaction to two men kissing is.

I really don't know how Americablog could have spelled it out more clearly.

[JackBeck]

25. Americablog did.

I'm having a hard time restraining myself from blowing a gasket right about now.

[BuyingThyme]

28. If you want to argue that there are bigots in the NFL,

you won't likely find anybody to argue with.

But if you argue that NFL players are some kind of role models, I disagree.

[treestar]

207. But they are reacting to two straight guys kissing

That's different.

[Maraya1969]

247. You mean the players that saw the two guys kissing were looking agast or something like that?

Or they were looking disgusted?

I think I should not have commented now since I saw another thread where I may be put into the homophobe category for not thinking that this was necessarily an anti-gay ad. To repeat I did not see the add, I just read about it in the OP. I hope I have not offended anyone. I am certainly not a homophobe. I'm talking myself into a hole here. :eyes:

[Lex]

13. " . . . there are no shots taken at homosexuals"

Unless you mean with a gun, then I disagree with that statement.

[BuyingThyme]

23. Then explain.

[Lex]

27. Umm, go and read the explanation in the link in the OP.

If you can't understand it after that, I certainly can't help you.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/

[BuyingThyme]

30. I thought you might want to think for yourself.

As if we were in a discussion forum.

[Lex]

33. You were the one who was asking for an explanation, and

I was trying to oblige.

Your post is otherwise a non-sequitur.

[BuyingThyme]

35. I didn't know you were blogging over there.

[Lex]

40. .

:crazy:

[swimboy]

85. The information there will give you a more informed platform

for continuing to contribute to this thread.

[LeftyMom]

17. The ad shows men driven to increasing heights of stupidity to prove they aren't gay

Sure, they're clearly idiots, but the underlying assumption behind the "joke" is that it's horribly wrong and embarrassing to be perceived as gay.

[BuyingThyme]

34. It is embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight,

particularly when you just found yourself kissing a co-worker of the same sex. You might want to do something to convince the co-worker otherwise, just to clarify the status of the relationship.

Hey, I bet somebody could base a ridiculous commercial on this theme.

[JackBeck]

41. Why is it emabrrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight?

Care to explain?

[BuyingThyme]

43. You don't know why it's embarrassing to be caught in a situation

where you seemingly kick off a romantic relationship with somebody you're not interested in?

Is it the word embarrassing that's giving you trouble?

[JackBeck]

45. No, it's your whole statement that's giving me trouble.

And given the alternative endings to the commercial that you could vote for online, coupled with the players' reactions, I would think that any progressive who supports gay rights would take note of what is actually going on here.

[Name removed]

Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BuyingThyme]

209. As you know, that's not what we're discussing.

But I understand why you had to do this.

[LeftyMom]

42. They aren't clarifying the relationship

They're each trying to prove how "manly" (because apparently that means they aren't gay) they are.

[BuyingThyme]

52. I don't see the difference.

[LeftyMom]

58. Apparently

1. Clarifying the relationship is essentially neutral in attitude toward homosexuality. One could clarify to a man or a woman that one is not interested, or the clarification could be non-sexual (ie I really don't want to be your friend outside of work.)

2. One could clarify that they aren't gay. This doesn't have to be homophobic, but in implying that being gay and being manly are mutually exclusive is homophobic.

[hfojvt]

70. the ad is supposed to be making fun of the cavemen

just like the Geico commercial. See, these cavemen, who think that there is something wrong with being gay, something unmanly about it, suddenly find themselves in an awkward situation. So they do something stupid, thus lampooning the whole caveman mentality that manly = violent, manly = cruel, manly = stupid.

The stupidity of the homophobia is supposed to be funny.

[LeftyMom]

74. But the underlying pemise isn't questioned,

The idea seems to be that the increasing craziness of their responses is humorous, but the underlying idea that they must establish manhood to prove that they aren't gay isn't questioned or mocked.

[hfojvt]

170. the mocking is in the stupidity

the fact that they do stupid things shows that their original premise was stupid, or at least hints that people who believe that premise are not very bright.

[swimboy]

81. It seems you are out of your depth

Words have actual meaning and when well-meaning progressives quote your own words back to you word-for-word and ask for clarification it is lame for you to state that they are attributing others' words to you or that they are being dishonest.

I want to live in a world where it is NOT embarrassing for someone to think a person is gay, whether that person is gay, straight, bi, or trans, EVEN if that makes it harder to sell candy bars.

[BuyingThyme]

88. Okay, let's take you to your own depth.

I find it interesting that you would write such nonsense without even quoting me, but let's go ahead and do this:

(1). Where were my exact words quoted back to me (word for word)?

(This is going to get embarrassing for you, so you might want to get it over with quickly.)

[swimboy]

110. I don't think you're going to understand this, but

You posted in Post No. 34 that "It is embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight"

In Post No. 41, you were asked, "Why is it embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight?"

In Post No. 43, you failed to provide the answer I and several others are looking for and instead began your campaign that I will call "BuyingThyme is the only person who understands the meaning of the word embarrassing."

When someone repeats your entire statement again, word-for-word, as I understand that phrase, you follow up by saying, "You're going to have to do better than attributing other people's words to me." You call people dishonest, and go on and on about the meaning of embarrassment. When someone provides you with the link and suggests you look at the information on the other site, you gave what appears to be a snide reply, and that's okay. That let me know you didn't really want anyone else explaining why they disagreed with you or didn't understand you.

Maybe it is just that gay people don't understand about being gay as well as you do. And that WOULD be very embarrassing.

[BuyingThyme]

121. Now, Swimboy, did you really think nobody would notice

that you decided do delete half of the sentence from #34. Really?

I mean, even after you made a big deal about "word-for-word" and all?

And then, to attribute this nonsense to having something to do with understanding about being gay?

Well, I'm beginning to see the light on one thing: There really are people here who don't understand the meaning of embarrassing.

Posted by swimboy

I don't think you're going to understand this, but

You posted in Post No. 34 that "It is embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight"

In Post No. 41, you were asked, "Why is it embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight?"

In Post No. 43, you failed to provide the answer I and several others are looking for and instead began your campaign that I will call "BuyingThyme is the only person who understands the meaning of the word embarrassing."

When someone repeats your entire statement again, word-for-word, as I understand that phrase, you follow up by saying, "You're going to have to do better than attributing other people's words to me." You call people dishonest, and go on and on about the meaning of embarrassment. When someone provides you with the link and suggests you look at the information on the other site, you gave what appears to be a snide reply, and that's okay. That let me know you didn't really want anyone else explaining why they disagreed with you or didn't understand you.

Maybe it is just that gay people don't understand about being gay as well as you do. And that WOULD be very embarrassing.

[swimboy]

138. Tiresome

A poster quoted you entirely, for your benefit as you tend to get very caught up in this sort of Phariseeism:

Post 60: 60. I didn't just find the word "embarrassing" troublesome, I found this whole statement weird.
"It is embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight, particularly when you just found yourself kissing a co-worker of the same sex."

Your response:

Post 63: 63. Am I supposed to pretend you still don't understand
that it is always embarrassing when you mistakenly plant a kiss a person you're not interested in romantically?

Why does your answer to every question involve only your pwnership of the word 'embarrassing'? Most of us are really people of good will that you have perplexed beyond measure?

Is your mama up your ass? (This is a southern expression, so I hear.)

[BuyingThyme]

148. So, are you asking me what embarrassment is?

Or do you have trouble understanding why I use the word embarrassment when responding to questions about embarrassment?

What is it that has you so perplexed beyond measure?

[swimboy]

165. As I understand it, embarrasment occurs when you kiss a colleague

when you did not intend to. This has not happened to me, and yet I have experienced a feeling like embarrassment in other circumstances and now I'm not sure what to call it.

What's perplexing is that most here are trying to discuss the larger issue of why two men kissing is still the big taboo that it is and why it would be comical when two accidentally kissing men are driven to such actions immediately after.

The concept that it is embarrassing to be perceived as gay, even when it is connected to a subordinate clause that confines this to an unlikely kissing colleagues scenario, is larger than your inadvertent introduction of it, and truly causes pain, anger, discomfort in many gay people. You have called a number of people dishonest today, but they are trying to explain their honest unhappiness with this commercial and this issue in society.

It is hard to connect and advance when we get bogged down in semantics, although I do believe the way we employ words is important.

[BuyingThyme]

185. Taboo? It was on network television during the Super Bowl.

Where's this "taboo" discussion. I want in on that.

[swimboy]

202. The hand-job is over.

What is a five-letter word for idiot?

[BuyingThyme]

208. I'm assuming the discussion was fabricated?

Never existed? Made up?

Again?

[swimboy]

211. No means no.

Now take your hands off my cock. Now.

[Bluebear]

214. ...

:spray:

[Name removed]

215. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluebear]

234. Some real trolls here today.

[TankLV]

239. Stop it already - Swim boy and the rest of us have it right - it's YOU that can't read.

Swimboy presented it PERFECTLY - IN YOUR OWN WORDS...

you protest too much...

And you, honey, don't understand "homophobia" and "bigotry"...

[BuyingThyme]

242. Yes, presented perfectly if you need to delete

half of the sentence in order to support an unsupportable position.

Why do you have to do this to yourself? What's wrong with the truth?

[treestar]

210. Is it embarrasing to be thought straight if you're gay?

The term "embarrasing" doesn't necessarily imply anything homophobic.

Two straight guys are embarrased they may have kissed - it does not follow that either of them is homophobic.

[Name removed]

179. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yardwork]

44. Yes, I'm waiting to hear why it is embarrassing to be perceived as gay

if one is straight. Is it equally embarrassing to be perceived as straight if one is gay? Hmmmmm....?

As a lesbian, I'm eagerly awaiting your reply.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bear425]

54. Well said. n/t

[BuyingThyme]

56. Okay, I'll help you, too. It is ALWAYS embarrassing

to be in a position where you have apparently initiated a romantic relationship with somebody you're not interested in.

How is it that you don't understand this? What does the word embarrassing mean to you? Give me an example of embarrassing.

Really, try to explain what you're saying. I have no clue what you're saying.

[TroglodyteScholar]

143. Not really arguing for one side or the other...

...but it's a potential source of embarrassment to be perceived as ANYTHING that you, in reality, are not.

I was embarrassed one time when I was a teenage boy with long hair and someone called me ma'am. Do I hate women or somehow think I'd be a less valuable human being if I were female? Absolutely not! Someone had simply gotten a mistaken impression of me and it took me off guard. And I've NEVER been too concerned with being "manly," so that isn't what caused the embarrassment. It was simply awkward. Sometimes that's all there is.

[TankLV]

238. exactly - some here aparently still don't get it...

thankyou...

[TankLV]

237. keep your blinders on - its' soooo much easier...

[KansDem]

32. It's crap! Don't eat it...or any other "chocolate treat" crap!

Ingredients

Snickers ingredients list (U.S. version): milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, lactose, skim milk, milkfat, soy lecithin, artificial flavor), peanuts, corn syrup, sugar, skim milk, butter, milkfat, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, lactose, salt, egg whites, artificial flavor.<1>

Wikipedia

If you really want to satisfy you cravings for chocolate (as I often do!), spend the extra nickel and get the real stuff...:9

[Oeditpus Rex]

36. 'reacting in horror and disgust'?

They were laughing, for chrissakes! Grossman said the ads are "up there with some of the best I've ever seen."

Anyway, as I understand it, the players' reactions were not aired. I didn't watch the game, so I could be wrong.

It's clear to me that the "message" here is "Homophobia makes you look pretty stupid."

[Maven]

38. That's not what they were laughing at.

"Oh my God! Did they actually have to kiss like that? I hope they got paid a lot of money for that..."

[Oeditpus Rex]

46. Ah

Sorry. Didn't know we had mind-readers here.

[LoZoccolo]

64. Is my boss going to give me the promotion I want come next review? n/t

[seabeyond]

37. i saw it the opposite of homophobic. ridiculing the idea n/t

[boobooday]

39. It was really just stupid

Not funny, not original, not clever, or interesting.

It just sucked.

[stonecoldsober]

47. I'm officially boycotting SNICKERS bars

I really like them, but lord knows I really don't need them.

What else does Mars make?

[JackBeck]

53. Don't only boycott, but email them as well as GLAAD.

I've already emailed GLAAD. And John at americablog brings up an excellent point. This is a two-fer for Congress. Not only can you point out the homophobia at Mars, but you can also bring attention to how the Mars family is one of 18 wealthy famlies that supports overturning the estate tax.

[Kurovski]

218. Check this post from another thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x131003#131095

[pink-o]

229. M & M's

...unfortunately. The peanut variety are among my favourite junk candy.

But Reese's nutrageous tastes just as good.

[beyurslf]

49. My gay friends and I all laughed when the commerical aired.

It was tasteless and dumb but kind of funny too.

[JackBeck]

55. We had the I can't believe they just did that kind of reaction.

But then when I saw that there were alternative endings to choose from the promoted violence, coupled with the gross out reactions of the players on the Snicker's website (an endorsed by the NFL) I got pretty upset. I think this issue needs to be addressed and I can't believe people on here are blowing this off.

[beyurslf]

233. Maybe all men should be offended that Mars depicts them as so stupid they

would do those things to themselves anyway. Or that the idea of being manly is equated with being stupid. Or that any two people would be so "into" a candy bar that they would suck down opposite ends only to kiss.
It was a commercial. It was stupid. We laughed. Others laughed. Some didn't laugh. We'll probably never see it again anyway. (Until they come up with another stupid commercial for next Feb's big day.)

[JackRiddler]

50. Sorry to dissent but this is completely wrong

The ad is really dumb. I think 90 percent of ads qualify as dumb. Like many other ads nowadays, it's trying to riff on social themes unrelated to the product being advertised, for the purpose of being funny, controversial or otherwise memorable.

The theme is that the two guys are homophobes. So irrational and stupid are they in reacting to the possibility they might desire someone of the same sex that they prefer to engage in totally self-destructive behaviors.

For whatever it's worth, the message is not that gay is bad but that homophobe is stupid.

[Sapere aude]

57. I agree that it is not anti gay. It makes you laugh at the homophobes.

In that vein it is pro gay.

[JackRiddler]

59. Actually I think it's neither

It's just the usual stirring up anything to get attention and hope people remember this out of the 3,000 ad messages they are exposed to every day (supposed average for Americans).

To the makers of the Snickers ad, the existence of this thread represents a success. If they can get you talking about it, they've succeeded. (Having watched the game, this was the only ad I remembered specifically, even before I saw this thread. Except that the Coke ads were really lame and annoying attempts at eye-candy.)

[JackBeck]

60. Let me get this straight.

The Mars family, a billionaire family who give oodles of cash to Republicans, coupled with the NFL, who endorses the content on the Snicker's website and allowed their players to show their gross-out reactions, came together to show the world that not only can a Republican family make fun of homophobes, but the NFL also wanted to show their players' homophobia as well, in order to produce a pro-gay advertising campaign.

[JackRiddler]

71. Who says "the Mars family" even knows this commercial exists?

Remember kids: Snickers.

You want to boycott their products, be my guest. Two good reasons are that they sell sugar-fatty poison to children and that the owners spend for bad political causes.

But ads are devised by ad geeks and signed off by corporate suits, a process in which owners are rarely involved. If you get a good big protest going based on these ads (as opposed to the products or the spending proclivities of the Mars family), they'll 1) pull the ads, 2) issue a weepy liberal apology in which they pretend your lame case has any merit and they just looooove gay people, 3) watch their name-recognition and brand identity ratings shoot further up, 4) throw a big party to celebrate, at which they will laugh all night at you.

Kids, remember: Snickers. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

[JackBeck]

76. If they didn't know it about before yesterday, they will by tomorrow.

And the NFL should be held to task for letting their players be a part of this.

[Sapere aude]

78. I did not say it was intentional. I said in the vein that it makes you laugh at a

homophobe it could be pro gay. I don't think Mars family wanted to make a pro gay commercial.

[BlackVelvet04]

61. I agree....

it struck me as ridiculing homophobia, not homosexuality.

[JackBeck]

68. Have you been to the website and seen the players' reactions?

Is the NFL also into outing their players as homophobes in order to further the gay movement?

[JackRiddler]

82. Breaking News: NFL Full of Homophobes

Remember kids: Snickers.

To answer your question: the NFL probably isn't involved in policing this commercial.

I can't imagine a more homophobic environment than organized sports (among boys, anyway). The suppression in Hollywood is strictly for business reasons (fear that a gay Tom Cruise will lose box office appeal). But these reactions are so obviously honest... I don't see that the site is promoting these guys as role models, or taking any stance on them. By not using commentary, it's exposing them, their fears, their unexamined selves.

Again, this is not the noble intent of the site. The site has no intent whatsoever, except one: to make you remember Snickers.

Kids, remember: Snickers. Now back to our program.

[TankLV]

240. As a gay man - it is HOMOPHOBIC.

it backhandedly ridicules gays, NOT homophobia...

Period.

[LoZoccolo]

66. You do not need to be sorry to dissent. n/t

[Bark Bark Bark]

51. Think About It

Just. Think. About. It.

A pair of easily-threatened homophobes, terrified by the very thought of their own 'contact,' wail, "DO SOMETHING MANLY!" then proceed to behave like self-destructive brain-damaged Neanderthals.

Can a commercial featuring two immature "heterosexual" "manly" men, hysterically beating the fudge out of each other and/or mutilating themselves because they touched, actually advocate hate of another group?

I'm not a professional kulturviktim, constantly on the lookout for things that "offend" me so that I can publicly cry and snivel and organize a protest over it, so I'd have to say, "no."

Oh The Irony: I saw part of this commercial last night as I was walking past a break-room TV at work. I just glimpsed a split-second of two guys with their faces smashed together, then went about my business, thinking to myself, "...On the Super Bowl? Aw hell. Tomorrow, Little Green Fools and Freeptardia will be spewing with rage about THAT."

[Maven]

62. Oh, it's all clear now. Thanks.

I just hadn't. Thought. About it.

Yes, that's one way to read the commercial. If you begin with the presumption that homophobia is stupid, then yes, that's one way to see it. If this is how you saw it, good for you.

But that's clearly not the only message here. The ad clearly laughs "with" people who are repulsed by same-sex contact--in slapstick fashion--more than it laughs at them. The player reactions make that clear, unless you believe that Snickers intended to mock NFL players. I doubt that young kids would see the commercial your way, but, hey, you know, shit happens.

I would rather not give my money to a multibillion dollar company that makes a buck by stepping on my back. Coors Co. got the message, and so should Mars, Inc. Verstehen Sie mich?

[trumad]

67. Well---if the folks at American Blog feels it's offensive

then I'm with them.

[Bark Bark Bark]

275. American Blog? What's That?

I hope you're kidding, and that you're capable of making up your own mind, instead of following the first herd you wander into...

[JackBeck]

276. It's americablog.org

And don't credit the site for discovering who Jeff Gannon is. No one here wandered into that herd...

[Bark Bark Bark]

277. Thanks For The Newsflash

I'm not the one who called it "American Blog;" I was just making fun of some sheeple.

(And yeah, I know Avarosis outed Gannon. He only mentions it every other week or so. When was that, anyway? 2005? And what the **** does that have to do with this?)

[JackBeck]

285. Can you prove he mentions it every other week or so? That's kind of an exaggerated statement.

Unless you can prove it. He has archives. I'd like to see how you came to your conclusion.

And my point is that as far as an online resource I and many others find his site to be a reliable resource. Like Snickers and Gannon, he and the contributors to his blog tend to connect the dots rather well.

[mondo joe]

63. I didn't see it, but my lesbian neighbors told me it was great.

They didn'tthink it was homophobic at all.

[Lex]

65. There is an element of "Straight men are idiotic" to it.

Undeniably.

[mondo joe]

92. That was the understanding I had from being told about it.

[JackRiddler]

163. Um, this is the only element in it

Undeniably: straight (homophobe) men are stupid. Ha ha. Remember kids: Snickers.

In the "Love Boat" variant, the only reasonable guy is the presumed homosexual.

Kids, remember: Snickers. Back to our program...

[Lex]

164. Um. Not in my opinion. Your opinion, once again, is just that.

An opinion.

[ScreamingMeemie]

75. Your lesbian neighbors just happened to amble up, telephone, shout

over the fence that this one particular commercial was great. Hmmmm...

"Hey mondo joe, we saw this great commercial last night..." Somehow...oh well.

[LeftyMom]

80. But you see, now he has the gayest opinion here and nobody gets to disagree

It'd be great strategy if he'd come up with a more believable scenario (watching the game with them would have worked.)

[mondo joe]

94. LOL! You can disagree if you like. My neighbors who are lesbians also happen

to be really good friends, and we are always in and out of each other's houses. They were having a superbowl party, and we were having an Ugly Betty marathon at mine, but I wanted to see Prince so I went over.

[ScreamingMeemie]

96. My neighbors, who are straight, are really good friends.

We haven't discussed the ads yet. :hi:

[LeftyMom]

100. I not only disagree, I don't believe you.

You have a habit of downplaying homophobia. It never seems to get you anywhere, so now you happen to have a panel of convenient lesbians to call on to back up your opinion. Honestly, it's just too convenient.

[mondo joe]

Jesus Christ, I'm gay myself - why would I need to make up lesbians?

Oh forget it.

[JackRiddler]

175. Hey...

You're in the middle of a Stalinist feeding frenzy here. Obviously someone is making their prejudice clear: There couldn't be lesbians! watching the Super Bowl! laughing at this commercial! which Senator Joe has declared to be homophobic! You must be making it up!

Well, guess what: I was watching this with a bunch of male homophobes and I really enjoyed experiencing their discomfort at this silly ad.

[mondo joe]

178. Of all the idiotic charges that could be leveled against me, this is the most crazy.

Of course how could I possibly have friends and neighbors who are lesbians?

[JackRiddler]

183. I sympathize...

On the web, people develop amazing psychic powers.

[Maven]

181. And The Chairman is here to tell us all what isn't offensive, right

And we're arrogant?

Are you saying that HRC is totally off base too? Maybe your homophobic friends have the answer.

[JackRiddler]

186. Resort to authority...

Any group can get anything wrong. We all saw the same commercials. Back your views up with an argument, not a cite.

And actually they weren't friends, they were family. It's a real shame that a large number of men are uncomfortable with their inner queer.

[Bluebear]

188. "inner queer"

:puke:

[Maven]

191. The analysis is right there for you in black and white.

You have a large number of gay people on this thread, a gay rights organization, and quite a few straights telling you the ad was homophobic. It's really not that difficult to see.

Yet you--someone who has never been the target of homophobia--are here to tell us we're "reading" it wrong and we're Stalinists (!) to boot.

Frankly, you're giving the makers of this commercial too much credit.

[JackRiddler]

198. How do you know if I've ever been the target of homophobia?

How dare you? You know nothing about me.

You bully those who disagree by invoking presumed coalitions, majorities and authorities. You twist anything they say. You betray rigidity and a tyrannical mindset. At least you offer the irony of a comedian for a screen name!

It starts with the obvious misinterpretation of a commercial that makes fun not of gays, but of homophobes.

A gay man a few posts up from this one expresses a different opinion, but he's told that he doesn't count. He's also accused of making up his lesbian friends, who presumably wouldn't count if they were real, either.

Now you're busy handing a publicity coup to a company that deserves a boycott for other reasons. A nation obsessed with phantoms will have a new issue to fill talk air time. This is the sort of thing we do, while our country prepares for a nuclear war.

[Maven]

204. Spare me.

You're not gay. You don't turn on the television every day and watch politicians and advertisements and actors and fellow citizens deliver digs and outright slurs directly at the your core. I apologize if you've ever been the target of misplaced homophobia, but if anything it should only alert you to the ridicule that gays and lesbians put up with all the time.

The misinterpretation is not mine, but yours. It's been pointed out to you many times the basis for objection to the content of this ad, which may subtly rib straight male viewers but laughs along with antigay revulsion. Yet you insist upon being willfully oblivious to this message, attempting instead to convince us that a RW corporation created a campaign to ridicule homophobia and mock the ignorance of athletes and planned to air that campaign during the Superbowl and NASCAR.

You say I seem "rigid." In fact, I used to be much more flexible on these issues, preferring to laugh it off instead of making noise. If you can't laugh at yourself, right? But after a while you get sick of your personal life being a running joke. "Letting it go" only reinforces the idea that GLBT's are the last group left that's "OK" to ridicule. Enough is enough, and the message needs to be sent that it's simply not OK. Not all publicity is good publicity when it comes to a pissed-off minority group. Just ask Coors Co.

As for nuclear war, if you have more important things to do then stop posting in this thread.

[Bluebear]

216. You said it. nt

[JackRiddler]

221. agreed

Remember kids: Snickers.

QUOTE: which may subtly rib straight male viewers but laughs along with antigay revulsion.

I guess in Newspeak, "subtly rib" is the new "depict as utter morons" and "laughs along"="obviously mocks for."

Speaking of misinterpretation: Show me where I said a RW corp. created a campaign to ridicule homophobia. You will cease and desist from putting words in my mouth.

The RW corp. hired an ad firm to create a campaign to sell Snickers bars. The ad firm used a device they believe will make their ad stand out from the rest. They succeeded, and this thread is the proof.

But you get your wish: I'll go do more important things now, and leave you to your echo chamber.

Kids, remember: Snickers.

[mondo joe]

124. By the way, when have I downplayed homophobia?

What are you even talking about? I've been completely vocal in advocating for gays and equal civil rights.

[LeftyMom]

130. That's not what I've seen.

:shrug:

[mondo joe]

135. So I'm asking what you've seen that was different.

I've been all over anything on outing, on same sex marriage, on gay families, on recognition of partners.

What else do you think you've seen?

[ruggerson]

286. Hey Lefty Mom

Not only is mondojoe gay, he's one of the most insightful, thoughtful people on DU. Just because he doesn't tow the party line on any particular issue does not mean he makes up lesbian neighbors to make a point.

You've got this one all wrong.

[mondo joe]

91. No - I ran over to their house to see Prince, and I said "Did i miss any funny

commercials?"

So they told me.

[Bluebear]

102. Well they don't get to decide for me. The ad campaign is extremely homophobic

[swimboy]

69. So the Mars family made fun of straight white men in order to sell chocolate?

This makes me so happy now that there is no longer any prejudice, no longer any homophobia, no longer any victims and we can all just laugh and smile and be the chocolate-eatin' family of humankind. Look, Hazel, a Rainbow!

:sarcasm:

[ScreamingMeemie]

77. and don't forget we are all comfortable with each other as long as

some of us don't go around asking for too much. Because asking for too much just isn't liberal, don't you know.

[BuyingThyme]

72. The one point missing from this thread is the fact that

John at Americablog is blatantly lying about the ad advocating violence against homosexuals.

He should be embarrassed for himself.

For those of you who are having trouble with the word embarrassed, please see above. But don't be embarrassed, it seems to be going around.

[Bluebear]

90. "It is embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight"

That kind of embarrassed, right? As you said upthread.

[Name removed]

95. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluebear]

97. Because it wouldn't fit in the subject line. But HERE IT IS FOLKS!

"particularly when you just found yourself kissing a co-worker of the same sex. You might want to do something to convince the co-worker otherwise, just to clarify the status of the relationship."

Makes it better, right??? There, I am honest, honest, honest now!!!!

Meanwhile, YOU chose to let "it's embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight" hang out alone on your subject line.

[BuyingThyme]

105. There we have it, FOLKS! Bluebear's honest position is

based on the new rule that one should only read the subject line.

Any other words covered by Bluebear's word-for-word rule are not words at all.

Thank you for this, Bluebear.

:rofl:

Posted by Bluebear

Because it wouldn't fit in the subject line. But HERE IT IS FOLKS!

"particularly when you just found yourself kissing a co-worker of the same sex. You might want to do something to convince the co-worker otherwise, just to clarify the status of the relationship."

Makes it better, right??? There, I am honest, honest, honest now!!!!

Meanwhile, YOU chose to let "it's embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight" hang out alone on your subject line.

[Bluebear]

107. Trust me, you like an ass in this thread, not me. nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

108. BT, that's a call out...isn't it?

:shrug:

Your comments in this thread are positvely stunning, and I say this as a straight woman who was not amused in the least by this commercial.

[BuyingThyme]

114. What's a call out?

I thought a call out is when you start a thread to get the attention of a member.

And, here we go, what specifically is "stunning" to you?

[ScreamingMeemie]

115. Your replies. Stunning. Read them after you post them.

Really.

[BuyingThyme]

125. Give me an example.

[ScreamingMeemie]

231. Read them.

Please. and then think.

[BuyingThyme]

232. No, no, no. You tell me what you're talking about.

And don't change my words like all of those before you.

Just tell me what you're talking about.

[BuyingThyme]

278. Still waiting....

A few people here have been caught changing my words.

Are you just another among those?

[BuyingThyme]

288. Still waiting for you to back up your accusations.

I don't think you're the kind of person who would accuse people of such things without even having at least one little tiny reason.

That wouldn't be fair would it?

[TankLV]

241. YOU are one of the only ones being an ass in this thread.

Period.

[BuyingThyme]

250. Am I supposed to let people change my words?

I think not.

I wonder why you think that's okay. Period.

[TankLV]

279. THEY'VE QUOTED YOU EXACTLY. YOUR OWN WORDS!

We can all see and read what YOU said!

I am done with bigoted assholes like you...

[BuyingThyme]

284. Interesting how you equate truth telling with bigotry.

It's almost like the truth does not serve you.

Do you have anything intelligent to say, or are you just another dishonest person who attacks without cause?

Please be careful how you respond, because I like to get people like you on record, but they keep having to delete everything you post because you're such a nasty person.

[swimboy]

132. I find it interesting that you would write such nonsense without even quoting [him]

I think you have your own inscrutable rules. Why not answer some of the questions instead of keep going after people?

[BuyingThyme]

136. What questions? Do you have any questions

that don't rely on false premises?

[swimboy]

145. I am quoting your words back to you

but then I probably don't understand the meaning of the words 'quoting' or 'words'.

If I don't know what 'embarrassing' means, I'm pretty sure I would bollocks up the meaning of 'false' as well.

[BuyingThyme]

156. Okay then. Just let me know if you come up with a question.

BTW: It probably would have been easier to come up with at least one question before you decided to post. It kinda looks dishonest.

[swimboy]

172. Ok, it's a question you've heard before

Why is it embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight?

You stated "It is embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight, particularly when you just found yourself kissing a co-worker of the same sex."

You didn't say, ". . . but only if you just found yourself kissing a co-worker of the same sex."

So it seems like the default position is that if you are straight and someone perceives that you are gay, you will be embarrassed. And I don't think that should be true. It isn't true for me. I do understand it could be true for you but I want to help change the world so that you wouldn't feel embarrassed if someone thought you were gay, because there wouldn't be any negative association with being gay. That's what I and all the other dishonest people are trying to get at.

So, why is it embarrassing to be perceived as gay if you're straight? And don't you think it would be better if this were not true?

[BuyingThyme]

187. Well, there are endless circumstances which

can lead to varying degrees of embarrassment.

And. yes and no. There are circumstances where it would be better without embarrassment, and circumstances where it would be better with embarrassment.

[swimboy]

203. You've made it perfectly clear that you are not interested in the larger issue

You've made it perfectly clear that you are not interested in the larger issue of concern to many of the gay and gay-friendly posters in this thread. It is not all about you and any of your earlier posts in the thread.

You seem interested only in poking the people responding to you with a pointed stick to see if you can make us lose patience. You have been disingenuous with your requests and responses. If you really want to know more about the issue, you can re-read any number of the honest posts of my honest brothers and sisters. I'm sorry but I don't think it is profitable to either of us to continue the discussion. I have earnestly tried, probably for longer than I should have.

[Bluebear]

206. She has been toying with all of us, that is now clear to me. nt

[BuyingThyme]

212. You probably believe the things you say,

don't you?

[swimboy]

222. Yeah, and so would Judge Judy.

[BuyingThyme]

227. You wouldn't have deleted the rest of the sentence,

if you were interested in an honest conversation.

Why do you have to do that? Why do people have to catch you making deletions? Do you think the truth will change if you change the words?

[Bluebear]

246. Nothing was deleted in the post you responded to.

What a nut.

[BuyingThyme]

249. Total nonsense. You chopped the sentence in half

to serve your needs. Right? That's simply what you do, right?

It's not going to change, you know.

[Bluebear]

253. No it won't change.

Because it is embarrassing.

And it is dishonest.

And that is the nature of dishonesty and embarrassment.

As you know.

[BuyingThyme]

255. What happened in your life to make you believe

that it's somehow okay to rearrange somebody's words to fit your needs? Really, what did it take for you to abandon any sense of respect for yourself and others?

And you keep doing it again and again and again. Are you incapable of stopping?

[Bluebear]

256. Over and over and over it goes

Where it stops.

Nobody knows.

[Bluebear]

257. My God, what happened to my life?

:cry:

[Pathwalker]

79. First of all - the men were mechanics! It would have been

an insult to MECHANICS, but the sad, sad truth is that the ad portrayed them correctly - as stupid.
I know many, many mechanics, and I can honestly tell you - yes, they are just that stupid. Not all, mind you, but many of them. I laughed, and my husband was howling - because it was so accurate. It didn't make us want to go out and buy a Snickers, though.

[ScreamingMeemie]

84. The several people here who are employed as or have spouses

who are employed as mechanics applaud your input. :sarcasm:

[Pathwalker]

86. Well, you must know the smart ones. The ones I know

are all just like the ones in the ad - Republican, and still proud of it. Hence, the word stupid. The one who best fits the ad is an alcoholic non-veteran who disowned his Iraq veteran son for refusing to continue to support the war, or re-enlist. So yeah, they're stupid.

[ScreamingMeemie]

87. Most of the ones I know are hard working, supporting their familes...

and more than a few are well read. I hate stereotypes. A whole bunch.

[Pathwalker]

93. Oh, for crying out loud. It was an attempt at levity.

Sorry to have bothered you. 95% of the mechanics in the town where I live are proud, proud Repukes who destroy their Democratic customers cars, and call it an act of patriotism. One of those cars was mine.
That's how I found out he was a Republican. We also have the "Lord's Auto Repair" for christians only, and Jesus' Auto Repair, The Good Lord's Auto Repair, and Christian Auto Repair". These places will only work on cars owned by those they consider Christian. If you're Jehovah's Witness, Mormon or Catholic - you must go somewhere else.
Okay - they're ALL brilliant.

[ScreamingMeemie]

98. "In the town where I live..."

In my town people with jobs are of all stripes. I don't find stereotyping to be amusing...for crying out loud.

[Pathwalker]

106. Goodbye. Clearly you disagree. Humor is a subjective thing.

To be told what one can and cannot find funny is too Republican for me, and I'm weary of all the purity police. Sorry I offended you, and I'm glad all the mechanics you know are totally pure liberals, who appreciate liberal totalitarinism.
I'm sorry we lost the elections, and everyone's still mad as hornets over everything.

[ScreamingMeemie]

109. Good bye then. I'm sorry that you live in a stereo typical town.

Ta ta. To be told that mechanics are dumb is a bit too much too be funny for this girl. :hi:

[Pathwalker]

120. Then tell is to MARS, then. They portayed them as stupid.

I take it the ad where all the men did was hit each other didn't bother you - the one with ACTUAL violence in it. Apparently, portaying all men as going around slapping each other in the face is just fine, but one showing mechanics as stupid and homophobic is wrong - because it shows them as...stupid.
And yes, I live in Repukeville. And they fit EVERY horrible right-wing stereotype there is - they disown their sons for being against the war.

[ScreamingMeemie]

139. I thought we had said goodbye.

Goodbye then. :hi:

[LostinVA]

127. I knew it!

I always knew you were a Repub! The YUKON with SEAT WARMERS was the first clue.

[ScreamingMeemie]

140. Oh....that...

:eyes:

:hi:

[Pathwalker]

144. Really? Even though I've never voted republican in

forty years of voting? Even though I've stumped weeks for the woman who is now my Senator? Even though I spent hundreds of dollars of my own money copying papers from DU to give to my union leader to pass around to the auto workers at the now demolished auto plant? Despite the money I've given to local, state and national Democratic candidates, made phone calls on their behalf, got pneumonia from handing out flyers in the rain before election day?
Are you seriously telling me that NONE of that matters because I tried to post what I hoped was a humorous comment? That forty years of working for this party means nothing to anyone - because of where I LIVE???????????? There wasn't even a god-damned town here when I moved here!!!!

Then, why don't you people tell me what exactly DOES make one a Democrat?

And, I've never owned a Yukon - I've never owned a new car in my life, or seat warmers. I can no longer even drive my old min-van because I'm going blind!

Calling me a Repuke is the worst thing I have EVER been called.

[swimboy]

151. She was replying to another poster, not you.

It was a reply to the poster of Post No. 146. It's in the corner of her post. She didn't mean to upset you by saying that because she didn't say it to you. She meant to upset the other poster.

[Bluebear]

112. NFL player being filmed watching the ad: "THAT AIN'T RIGHT!"

he says as the men kiss.

How is all this humorous?

[Pathwalker]

126. How is showing men all slapping each other okay?

That one had ACTUAL repeated violence in it, but no one but me seems bothered by it. Guess I'm the stupid one for thinking the commercial where all the men just kept on hitting each other is worse. That one really bothered me, and I thought DU might feel the same way, but, I guess that one was totally fine. No problem. Men assault each other repeatedly - cool.

[Bluebear]

128. Have you started a thread about that particular ad? nt

[JackBeck]

131. On that note, you must have a serious problem with the football game.

Those guys beat the crap out of each other. Sometimes, resulting in brain damage and even paralysis.

[Pathwalker]

155. Actually, a Detroit player did die, but was brought back

after his heart stopped on the field. My BIL was the EMT on the field that day. The player is now paralyzed. It is indeed a violent game, frighteningly so. Many end up handicapped, too.

[RoseMead]

193. No, that one was stupid, too. n/t

[Zookeeper]

134. The only mechanic I know fairly well is very intelligent...

He is building an alternative fuel car, he's a liberal and an environmentalist, he catches feral cats and pays a vet to spay or neuter them.

And, as someone who is very good at fixing things and working with her hands, I'm a little tired of the stereotype that people with mechanical ability are lacking in intellect.

I don't think you meant to be insulting, but you may want to rethink this subject. :hi:

[Pathwalker]

150. It was a poor attempt at humor, for which I will apologize again.

I've already been called a Repuke for it. Yes, all the mechanics I know love taking cars apart to find what's wrong, and fixing them. They're good at it, and I have always just been amazed, considering how many parts are involved - never understood how they could do that.
I wasn't trying to stereotype anyone but the republican ones I know. Hell - my own husband was a Certifed Master Mechanic for decades - he now manages an Auto Parts store. Which is where you'll hear some of the worst mechanic jokes, ever, from the mechanics who have a sense of humor. But, what the hell, forty years of working for Democrats means - I'm a repuke.

[Bluebear]

99. LET SNICKERS KNOW HOW YOU FEEL:

http://www.snickers.com/contact.asp

[ScreamingMeemie]

101. For the record: I didn't laugh. My husband didn't laugh.

My father didn't laugh. Trying to equate this with being a poke at homophobes, when coupled with the comments from the players is pure ignorance...or worse.

[Bluebear]

103. And choosing what 'ending' gets to play on a NASCAR broadcast...

...seals the deal.

[ScreamingMeemie]

104. bingo.

:thumbsup:

[JackBeck]

111. Coupled with he players' reactions.

Disgusting.

[Bluebear]

116. 'Mars family, owner of anti-gay Snickers franchise, are top billionaire Republican activists'

'Some of you mentioned that the Mars family, which owns Snickers and M&Ms and lots of other candy brands, isn't just the family that produced the series of violent homophobic ads yesterday, they're also one of the Republicans' top billionaire activist families.

Looking up the Mars family on FecInfo, we found over $10,000 in donations from a Jacqueline Badger Mars, of The Plains, Virginia, to Republican causes, including John McCain's exploratory committee for president. Jacqueline Badger Mars is also the name of one of the Mars daughters - she's worth $10 billion or so - and the Mars corportation just happens to be based in Northern Virginian which is where The Plains, Virginia is located as well. Thus, I think it's safe to conclude that this is the same woman.

And lest you think the Mars family keeps their Republican largesse to helping candidates, they were also one of the top billionaire Republican families funding the lobbying effort to repeal the Estate Tax. That means that you Democratic Hill offices out there, if you'd like to weigh in on this controversy, it's a two-fer - you can defend civil rights and bash a leading Republican activist donor family.'

http://americablog.blogspot.com/

[JackBeck]

117. I've been trying to make all of these points and some just aren't getting it.

Quite stunning, IMHO.

[Bluebear]

118. Oh they get it, they could just give a shit if we're offended. nt

[JackBeck]

119. I forgot. Must stay quiet until after the election. n/t

[LostinVA]

129. Bingo

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

122. So are you suggesting...

that the ultra-homophobic Mars family told their executives to tell their advertising agency to make a blatantly homophobic commercial?

[Bluebear]

123. By posting that link? No.

However people may want to know the company's political leanings before they shove another Snicker's bar into their face.

[Goblinmonger]

113. It seems to be pretty clear satire

The ad gets you to laugh at the homophobes. If it were a homophobic ad, it would not be causing you to think that the homophobes are stupid. That is a pretty good indication it is satire. Just like All in the Family. You laugh at Archie, he is made to look like an idiot, and as a result, you do not trust any of his beliefs. Same with this ad.

And just because the football players may not have gotten it doesn't mean it isn't satire. Many people missed the satire in All in the Family and thought Archie was a great guy. Not everyone understands Jonathan Swift.

[terrya]

133. That "homosexual panic" shit is always good for a few laughs.

One doesn't want to seem like a humorless PC type, but when I, as a gay man, is repeatedly confronted with this "the worse thing in the world is to be thought of as gay" shit, it gets more than a little tiresome.

[Zookeeper]

142. The website is what makes the homophobia obvious...

The disgust on the player's faces and having them attempt to "discuss" the commercials (which was embarrassing enough to start a new thread on the intelligence of football players), and watching the commercial several times with different endings....yes, it's playing to homophobes.

I just sent the company an e-mail saying, "As a married mother of three, I don't consider the message of intolerance in your homophobic Super Bowl ads and on your website to be an appropriate message for children. I will not buy Mars products until this ad is withdrawn."

[JackBeck]

146. Thank you, Zookeeper.

I wish more people on a progressive website would follow your lead. I've sent an email to GLAAD and I'm still waiting for a response.

[Zookeeper]

161. You're welcome, Jack...

I'm happy to help. :hug:

[Bluebear]

147. Thank you for your solidarity, zookeeper.

We are certainly getting enough people instructing us how we shouldn't feel ticked off here, and I appreciate your post and actions.

[Zookeeper]

166. You're welcome, Bluebear...

I feel strongly about them trying to create hate and fear in a new generation of kids.

:hug:

[terrya]

159. Thank you, Zookeeper. Thank you. I sent my email to Mars as well.

Those ads were offensive. Disgustingly so.

But you know...I live in Chicago. And....there were members of the NFL team from my city. And they were just as offensive as the people who created these ads. Shows how homophobia is rife in Professional Football. Very, very sad. Seeing Grossman, etal buying into this shit makes me glad that they lost.

[Zookeeper]

168. You're welcome, Terry and thank you for e-mailing, too.

What the heck was the deal with the football players on the website? Were they paid to do that? That was very, very sad. However, football and homophobia seem to go together. Which is ironic considering it's a bunch of guys jumping on each other and slapping butts...:+

:pals:

[RoseMead]

137. I thought it was homophobic as hell

and also not funny. I'm straight, if that matters.

On the other hand, I didn't get much enjoyment out of any of the ads I saw during the game last night. Almost as offensive as the Snickers ad, I thought, was the ad that showed all the happy, smiley people with their big-ass SUVs and muscle cars. Life sure looked fun in America's Automotive Fantasy Land. Alas for reality.

Maybe there were better commercials after halftime. :shrug:

[Zookeeper]

174. My DH had the game on as kind of background noise..

(and so I could see Prince). I didn't see the SUV commercial, but that is a good catch...especially with global warming being in the forefront of the news.

I did see one hilarious commercial: Robert Goulet...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY0PFhHVC94

Edited for bad link.

[RoseMead]

192. LOL

Ok, that's a good one. :D

[BlackVelvet04]

141. I'd like to make a point here.....

last night watching this on t.v. I thought it was an ad making fun of homophobes. I didn't see all the other stuff on that website.

If the ad is taken by itself I still see it as making fun of homophobes but coupled with the other stuff I see it isn't. BUT, I don't do background checks on commercials and I think that's true of most Americans. While the intent may have been to bash gays I don't think the AD in and of itself got that point across. The most homophobic thing I see is the reactions of the players.

And as a side thought, right, wrong or indifferent I think it is going to be a while before most heterosexuals are comfortable with seeing homosexuals kiss. That doesn't necessarily mean that those same heterosexuals are anti-homosexual, some are and some aren't. But seeing homosexuals kiss is still a relatively new thing and it will take time for people to be comfortable with it. I don't think that gives them the right to be discriminatory but I understand the discomfort. When I moved to Key West many years ago homosexuality was outside my realm of experience......(I was from a town of 5,000 people and homosexuals were very much still in the closet.) The first few months in Key West I was in a state of shock and discomfort with it. I got over it, accepted it and started to feel very differently about homosexuals and discrimination.

[JackBeck]

149. HRC has released a statement.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/02/largest-gay-rights-group-slams-mars.html

[Bluebear]

153. Wow, it's not just a few thin-skinned homosexuals here that are ticked off!

;)

[JackBeck]

160. I sure HRC will be discredited as being "too shrill".

When will we learn to sit down and shut up?

;-)

[terrya]

167. I just watched those ads.

They are NOT some parody or some gentle ribbing. They are offensive. Period.

Good for the HRC to take a strong stand.

[Kurovski]

152. "Quick! Do something manly!"

...put on some leather...

[Bluebear]

154. OK that's enough out of you already

:spank:

:)

[Kurovski]

157. OK then.

We can do the fraternity hazing scene, Mr. Paddlebottom.

[Zandor]

158. Making fun of the bigots maybe?

I see the commercial as a well-deserved poke at people ignorant or phobic when it comes to gays, not so much an incitement to violence.

I think the ads give a 'look how ridiculous the homphobes are' impression.

[JackBeck]

162. The country's largest GLBT group disagrees.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/02/largest-gay-rights-group-slams-mars.html

[Maven]

173. Snickers...

It's



More here:

http://www.ameridane.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=9

[GOTV]

176. It seems to be they only object to the "Wrench" ending and the NFL player reactions....

... from the post you linked to:

“Mars and Snickers need to pull the ‘Wrench’ ad and the footage of the NFL players out of their campaign immediately.”

[JackBeck]

177. I'm waiting for GLAAD's statement, personally. n/t

[GOTV]

180. GLAAD might have a different view but HRC seems to be OK with the ad itself ...

... judging by what is posted at AmericaBlog

[GOTV]

182. On second read - maybe it depends on which part you read....

... The first sentence seems to object to the entire campaign.

Towards the end they only call out the wrench ending and the NFL reactions for being removed.

[JackBeck]

184. That was my read.

Denounce the entire campaign, but immediately remove from the website the violent choice for an ending and get rid of the players' reactions.

[Guaranteed]

197. I totally agree. nt

[Beelzebud]

169. Who gives a shit? It's a commercial. All commercials insult intelligence.

I'm sorry but this just screams BFD!

Since when was there a commercial that wasn't an offensive piece of shit?

[Bluebear]

171. Every commercial is offensive so this one is no more so?

:crazy:

[DainBramaged]

189. Fuck 'em, I ain't buying their candy no more, stupid Fundie Reich-wingers

There is nothing more I can do except not buy their candy. I can add my name to petitions and call, but I can stop buying their delicious candy bars and buy someone else's instead.


What did you folks expect from a Reich-wing owned mega-corporation, Queer Eye for the candy guy?

[sakabatou]

190. I knew the Mars Candy Co. was evil!

At least there's still Hershey's, right?

[Norrin Radd]

245. Keep your eye on Hershey:

Slavery Free Chocolate?
http://www.alternet.org/story/12373/

The Chocolate Industry:
Abusive Child Labor and Poverty Behind the Sweetness
http://www.newdream.org/consumer/chocolate.html

[Bluebear]

194. WBZ-TV report: "New rule, men should stand 2 feet apart when eating candy"

Reaction "from the street" in Boston"

"All the girls in the room were giggling and all the guys were groaning when the guys kissed!"
Mechanics, disgusted.

Ha, ha. News report does whole story on gross ad.

[Kurovski]

205. Free promotion. It's why agencies create ads that are controversial.

Millions of dollars of extended advertising for free.

The ad page at the mars site isn't loading anymore. I wanted to see for myself, but it just loads the same page again without the ad.

[Sabriel]

195. Consider a similar situation in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Ace (Jim Carrey) realizes that he has unknowingly kissed another man (disguised as a woman), so he goes to every length to rid himself of the kiss: spitting, throwing up, plungering his face, eating a mouthful of toothpaste, burning his clothes, showering, etc.

Why the over-the-top reaction? To point out the ridiculousness of homophobia? Maybe.

But even if that was the intent, how people perceive Carrey's reaction may serve to reinforce the "gay equals nasty/dirty" idea, regardless of original intent.

So, yes, you could look at the Snickers commercial as showing up bigoted homophobes, but it does so much to reinforce and even endorse homophobia at the same time.

[Guaranteed]

196. I took the opposite from these ads. I thought it was making fun of the guys.

I.E., these two guys were so fucking stupid that they overreacted to an accidental lip-touching by severely injuring themselves.

In other words, people that would react in such a way are fucking morons.

The characters' OWN homophobia was stupid.

[Bluebear]

199. HRC statement:

HRC Urges Ads Be Pulled from Campaign

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, is calling on the makers of Snickers, and its parent company Mars Inc., to pull the ad campaign launched yesterday during the Superbowl. The ad features two presumably straight men who accidentally engage in a kiss and then try to distance themselves from any perception of being gay by “doing something manly.”

Three alternate endings to the commercial spot are posted on the Snickers website, one of which includes the two men violently attacking one another – which sends a dangerous message to the public condoning violence against gay Americans.

HRC President Joe Solmonese issued the following statement:

“The makers of Snickers and its parent company at Mars should know better. If they have any questions about why the ad isn’t funny, we can help put them in touch with any number of GLBT Americans who have suffered hate crimes.”

Two other video clips posted on the Snickers website feature players from the Bears and the Colts watching the ads and responding to the two men kissing.

Solmonese continued:

“This type of jeering from professional sports figures at the sight of two men kissing fuels the kind of anti-gay bullying that haunts countless gay and lesbian school children on playgrounds all across the country. Eighty-four percent of GLBT students report being verbally harassed at school, and this type of ad only reinforces that.”

“Is Snickers suggesting that people who eat their candy bars are cavemen? It’s an odd market to court, particularly after the Isaiah Washington flap a couple weeks ago, which clearly showed that there’s a strong distaste out there for people who portray themselves as anti-gay or holding on to old prejudices and stereotypes.”

“Mars and Snickers need to pull the ‘Wrench’ ad and the footage of the NFL players out of their campaign immediately.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

[Guaranteed]

201. I didn't see the football players reacting, so that might have changed

things.

But I would say that the commercial I did see was the opposite. It was a lesson in how to not be an idiot.

[treestar]

213. Give people some credit for thinking for themselves

It's insulting people to say they can't hear an ad without being "fueled" into action, even buying the product.

Most people would only see the ad, too.

[Bluebear]

220. Are you gay? Do you know what the Human Rights Campaign is?

Are you suggesting they not say not get involved on our behalf?

[Bluebear]

235. .

[JackRiddler]

223. stop, stop...

you're making sense.

[Bluebear]

224. And the offended gays on-thread aren't.

Right?

[JackRiddler]

228. "Sense" has no sexual orientation

And to your loaded question I say: Fourteen!

[Bluebear]

230. Mm hmm.

[Maven]

217. UPDATE: The ad has been removed.

Per Americablog.

[Bluebear]

219. That will disappoint many here. nt

[JackBeck]

225. LOL.

Just got back from the gym. Amazing what can happen over the course of an hour. Off to dinner. Keep up the good fight.

[dysfunctional press]

243. "inexcusable"...? hardly.

some people need to lighten up a WHOLE LOT.

[Bluebear]

248. Yeah, lighten up you gay people.

:eyes:

[Behind the Aegis]

251. It's like deja vu from the Academy Awards.

We are being told how to feel and that we really don't understand the true nature of homophobia. It is nauseating.

[Bluebear]

252. BTA, this has been the worst day here yet.

There's even a poll up to see if the ad was offensive, so *everyone* can vote on it! Of course, the ad is "not" offensive according to the results, so we are out of line being offended.

[Behind the Aegis]

254. I saw that too.

I thought about creating my own poll..similar to it. Should I? personally, the worst time was after the "re-selection" when we, and the pro-choice crowd (which includes me too), were blamed for losing the election. It was at that point that my partner left DU and hasn't posted since. This too will pass, but I have seen a few names that just confirmed my suspicions. So, from the darkness, I can see some light.

[dysfunctional press]

267. backatcha...

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

lighten up, and get a fucking life already...do you hear straight white males having hissy fits every time we get parodied or satirized in commercials???

lighten up, and...get. a. fucking. life. already.

[Name removed]

258. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluebear]

259. Well you said it.

I was dying to say that all day.

[terrya]

260. I'm sick of this shit.

If some people around here don't give a flying fuck about discrimination against GLBT people or homophobia in general, then they should just shut the fuck up. I'm getting fucking sick and tired of this patronizing "you little dears just need to lighten up" crap.

[donco6]

283. I have never been more disappointed in this board.

I just don't get it. If someone says they're offended, why on earth would someone defend the offender? Even in light of endless arguing and proving our points, and demonstrating the solidarity of our particular fellows, and STILL it goes on?

I just need a fucking drink . . .

[HuffleClaw]

262. has anyone bothered to notice that the 'players reacting in horror' was in fact further making fun

of homophobes? i found the whole thing downright hilarious. and what is really funny to me is the knuckledraggers won't have the first clue its THEM being made fun of.

[Bluebear]

263. Oh for heaven's sake, it was not making fun of homophobes.

Do you think the Human Rights Commission would have demanded the ads stop if it was a poke at homophobes?

[swimboy]

264. Remember, the gays are a witless and humorless lot.

They don't even have good colour sense.

[dysfunctional press]

268. it sure seems that way, don't it...?

nt

[swimboy]

269. Actually, not at all.

nt

[dysfunctional press]

271. well, to the rest of us it does...

you don't see too many straight white males having hissy fits every time they feel that they've been parodied in a commercial.

[swimboy]

272. Have you ever read the book about the Star-bellied Sneeches?

It's a good story.

[dysfunctional press]

274. more than likely...i had a lot of dr. seuss books.

and that's what they all were- stories.

[HuffleClaw]

270. perhaps they don't see the subtle humour?

seemed pretty clear to me.

[AnneD]

282. So did I...

doing something to prove their manliness (pulling out chest hairs) was hysterical. Geeze. It was so making fun of knuckledragging greasy red necks (I speak as a Texas good ol gal). Too bad they pulled it, I thought it was great.

[dennisnyc]

273. Tuesday morning ALL the ads are up at youtube

violent and homophobic for sure!

[donco6]

281. You are God to me, Harvey Korman.

Thanks - great post.

[orleans]

287. my initial take (two cents worth)

i was amused as their lips got closer, it was reminding me of the spaghetti scene in lady and the tramp. i was expecting their eyes to widen as they broke away from each other and have them say, rather embarrassed, "oh, sorry." "yeah. sorry."

so it took me a second to "get" what they were doing. and when it hit me i thought: fuck you!

i sent off an email on the snickers website. it was my favorite candy--but i'm a flexible person. i can find another favorite. and i will.

i won't support a company that runs crap like that--with alternative crap endings and then shows these guys reacting to the "kiss" with such disdain. fuck them.