People still watch TV?

Oh hey, I get it, because you don't. That's funny.

Well, first of all, the speed commercials are terrible as far as I am concerned. I do giggle whenever I see the Unpimp the Auto spots.

Still, the relationship drawn between an automobile ad campaign and the decision of the South Dakota legislature cheapens any argument made for either issue. The Volkwagon ad campaign has not single-handedly created an atmosphere where legislators in the state of South Dakota felt they could deny a woman rights over her body. One needs to consider the entire political climate which has led to law being passed. This includes such things as the growing prominence and concentration of conservative religious groups in various areas of the United States. It includes the actions of the current administration and certain Senators concerned more with reelection than trying to protect one of the most hotly contested rights in the United States (see the confirmations of Alito and Roberts). I think that ignoring all of this and drawing a direct linkage between bad laws and the Volkswagon ad campaign has generated an atmosphere encouraging people to make very negative comments.

Yes, the Speed commercials aren't the friendliest towards woman. Prime time family sitcoms aren't friendly towards males. I seem to recall having read a statement of concern for younger people viewing such things. I hope there is an adult influence in their life to explain that such behavior is not acceptable. As for the mention of the 18-35 demographic -- if anyone included in that demo doesn't realize that he should approach the women in his life with respect and love, he's not likely to learn unless someone gives him an ultimatum.

He's from everything. He's generic eastern European guy. Specifically, off the top of my head, he's been in Armageddon, Bad Boys 2, Fargo, and Constantine (really cool satan).

Edit: oh yea, and he was the only character in Brothers Brimm that didn't suck.

[Edited on Mar 11, 2006 4:36AM]

i adore you.

the guy is being a dick to his passenger due to the relationship he has with his vehicle. not due to the gender of the passenger.

Wow, you just read my mind. I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who thought these ads are more anti-male than anti-female.

firstly, it is typical european male image stuff, now being transferred to American males' weaker greycrlls.

secondly, the Dakota thing is total crap because it simply is NONE of the State's damn biz. Not only does the State NOT own the citizens in this country (unlike some others, see previous problem), but any legitimate interest the State has is only in it's living citizens. RvW is weak and weaselly law in that it relies on State ownership of citizens as well. The State doesn't own you, noone else but you owns you.

Naomi was way too kind on both counts. And, Crystal, if they weren't such europigs to begin with, they'd have the business acumen to have MORE ADS TO WOMEN THAN MEN. But they haven't. So won't sell as many Peoples' Cars.

i see i need to emphasize the universality of this attitude. NOT JUST AN AMERICAN PROBLEM.

apologies for shouting, mmj

couldn't have said it better myself.

i swear, some people just want so badly for something that they believe to be true, that they throw any logic that contradicts their way of thinking into the wind and only see the facts that they want to see.

am i trying to say sexism and racism don't exist? no. absolutely not. i would be foolish to think something like that.

but to equate the VW commercials with South Dakota? come the freakin hell on, here.....someone's digging just a little far to come to that conclusion.

when i see those commercials, i'm more worried about the fact that VW is trying to convince people that those little 4-banger, front-wheel-drive crapboxes are actually fast....

Thos ads are not sexist or misogynistic. They're stupid but they're clearly tongue-in-cheek. It's just an idiot (gender is irrelevant) being inconsiderate to their S.O. And frankly it's good to be reminded men are motivated by things other than pussy.

Haha.

THANK YOU! The entire point is that the guy's an idiot. In fact, if you watch advertising at all, the point is almost always that the guy's an idiot. I read a study once where they concluded that in like 95 percent of cases in commercials and TV shows where one gender is made to look stupid or ineffectual, it is the male. Seriously, do some of you even watch television? The message is that men are simpletons and morons. (And yes, of course I know there's a good reason -- women make the vast majority of household purchasing decisions.)

And to try to draw some connection to the South Dakota thing ... with all due respect to the submitter, that's just beyond ridiculous.

and for no reason at all.....

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