I hate to weigh in so late on the idiotic snickers controversy

[Warren Stupidity]

But I guess I have to join the ranks of the homophobic bigots for thinking that ad made homophobic bigots look completely ridiculous, and in doing so was mildly humorous and very anti-homophobic. How that makes me a homophobic bigot escapes me, but it seems that it does.

[Bluebear]

1. I hope you are familiar with the whole campaign, neighbor

The alternate endings, the "most satisyfing result" contest including violent scenarios, etc. My friend ThomCat said it well: "No commercial is going to use satire that people aren't going to get and that wouldn't appeal to most people if they got it." i was very upset by the ad, and by WBZ-TV's follow up of it today.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. No I only saw the one ad.

That ad made fun of homophobic idiocy. Some other ad may have been different. I can only relate to what I have seen, which was one ad that was clearly and obviously making homophobic idiots look like idiots.

[Bluebear]

5. Okey dokey.

:banghead:

FWIW:

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.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. Yes I understand the official position is BAD AD

I just happen to think the official position is wrong.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[Neshanic]

4. Two conversations. Darien and Butte

"Bitsy did you just see that Snickers commercial? It was riotous! I mean really, those Mars people making fun of homophobes, without the homophobes knowing."

"Joe Bob, look at that! Them thinking they are queers! Haaa! He done pulled off his chest hair. Now that's sumthin I would do if I had a guy do that! Ya know there's queer stuff all over...then trying to shove it down our throats. Damn queers!"

You guess.

Oh my...I just stereotyped! How did that happen? Was that offensive?

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Seems to me that anytime you get Joe Bob and Bubba

discussing their reaction to two guys who look like them kissing each other is a good thing. But that's just me.

So was brokeback mountain homophobic too?

Was Borat homophobic?

[Neshanic]

8. Which Starbucks does your Bubba and Joe Bob frequent after dropping an engine?

[Warren Stupidity]

13. Did you have a point?

Oh and the starbucks I go to has all types of folks there in the morning, from cops to old hippies like me. Good coffee draws a pretty mixed crowd, which is why starbucks is making a fortune.

[Change has come]

15. Did you see Brokeback Mountain?

[Warren Stupidity]

20. Uh yes.

And homophobia featured front and center. Of course that work was serious rather than comedic like borat or snickers, so it automatically gets off the hook.

[BlueStorm]

6. I didn't watch the SuperBowl so what Snickers ads are you talking about? n/t

[originalpckelly]

9. These two male mechanics are working on a car...

and one of them opens up and starts eating a Snickers. The man eating the Snickers has it in his mouth in such a way that the other man can bite onto it and start eating it. They both munch up the Snickers bar until their two mouths meet and they sort of kiss. Both of them are straight (or at least their behavior suggests that) and they pull out a patch of chest hair to prove their manliness after kissing each other.

There are other commercials on the internets as I understand it, and those are the most offensive. However, many people who only watched the ads during the Superbowl, like myself, believe it was making fun of the "tough guys" who have to act manly after "kissing" each other.

[originalpckelly]

12. Here is the ad video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JHkoZ7ngAM0

[BlueStorm]

18. That ad was dumb...

made me think of Burger King's "I Am Man" commercials.

Here is a link to all of the commericals on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/superbowl

[Katherine Brengle]

11. I agree - I just watched it and it was funny - they looked like total dorks.

[HughMoran]

14. I thought it was silly and mildly funny

It was not nearly as offensive as Mind of Mencia or the Red-Neck comedians on Comedy Central.

It actually made me think of that silly chest-hair scene in the '40 Year Old Virgin'.

[Shakespeare]

16. Good, now maybe we can get back to arguing about when Elizabeth Edwards should change her lightbulbs

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

'Cause, ya know, we're so good at obsessing over the small, insignificant shit here.

(not directed at you, Warren....I'm just irritated with DU in general tonight)

[Katherine Brengle]

17. lmao

I am sooooo with you on that.

[Warren Stupidity]

22. Oh I agree totally

This is a ridiculous issue. No offense taken.

[Zookeeper]

19. I didn't see the ad during the Super Bowl, but I did watch it...

this morning. As broadcast, it wasn't a *huge* deal, but seeing the Mars website changed my mind. Not only were the alternate endings more disturbing, they actually had clips of football players watching the commercial and wincing/grimacing/gagging over men having their mouths close together. (A certain irony for men who make their livelihood jumping on each other.)

The website was encouraging people to vote on their favorite ending, with the winner to be shown at NASCAR events.

I could start a whole new thread on the intelligence of NFL football players based on their attempted "analysis" of the commercials. :rofl: But, that's another issue.

The Mars website is now down. But, trust me.....

[donheld]

21. Warren, you have to look into the whole ad campaign

before you jump to conclusions. I made that same mistake.