Report, edit, etc...Posted by Desperado on 2006-07-25 at 12:37:10
QUOTE
Sony has a recent history of some really off the wall and offensive advertisements going, but I don't know if some of you have seen this one. I read about it on Joystiq thanks to a reader pointing it out:
Now at first glance, this stands to be a pretty offensive advertisement. That was my first reaction, definitely. However it's important to keep in mind that this advertisement isn't running in the US. It's a campaign over in Europe (Holland, if I recall correctly?) only. Why is that? Maybe because here in America we have such a history of racial tension, a history of slavery, an issue that divided our country in two in the face of war. So maybe it seems like a pretty harsh image to us, because we're extra sensitive to that sort of thing, perhaps out of shame, due to that part of our nation's history. (I'm not saying racism doesn't exist elsewhere around the world, but I'm not from elsewhere around the world, so I can't vouch for the feelings of different cultures.)
But the advertisement wasn't meant for us (America). It's probably not a mistake that Sony isn't running that particular campaign in the US. They may have felt it was more likely to be misinterpreted here. So I'm not sure I can condemn them as insensitive just because we Americans are so particularly prone to get our hackles up over things like this. It would sort of be like getting offended that a billboard in Japan is in Japanese, and I can't understand it.
It's just skin. Different colors, sure. And Sony has stated that their goal behind the advertisement was to focus on the contrasting colors (two other images from the campaign). So in that regard, using colors, what's the big deal about using a person with black skin and a person with white skin? It's just color.
It would be nice if we lived in a world where anyone looked at that billboard and all they saw was two people.
But, in America especially, you look at that billboard, and you see a white person in an assumed position of dominance over a black person, and immediately alarms go off in your head. Everything we learned in history class about the 1800's comes flooding into our minds, along with a healthy dose of guilt, and we apply our own demons to the image. We attach 150 years of racial tension to the image, and condemn it for our history, not because of any message it's actually delivering.
Which really is just two people representing two handheld video game consoles.
Now at first glance, this stands to be a pretty offensive advertisement. That was my first reaction, definitely. However it's important to keep in mind that this advertisement isn't running in the US. It's a campaign over in Europe (Holland, if I recall correctly?) only. Why is that? Maybe because here in America we have such a history of racial tension, a history of slavery, an issue that divided our country in two in the face of war. So maybe it seems like a pretty harsh image to us, because we're extra sensitive to that sort of thing, perhaps out of shame, due to that part of our nation's history. (I'm not saying racism doesn't exist elsewhere around the world, but I'm not from elsewhere around the world, so I can't vouch for the feelings of different cultures.)
But the advertisement wasn't meant for us (America). It's probably not a mistake that Sony isn't running that particular campaign in the US. They may have felt it was more likely to be misinterpreted here. So I'm not sure I can condemn them as insensitive just because we Americans are so particularly prone to get our hackles up over things like this. It would sort of be like getting offended that a billboard in Japan is in Japanese, and I can't understand it.
It's just skin. Different colors, sure. And Sony has stated that their goal behind the advertisement was to focus on the contrasting colors (two other images from the campaign). So in that regard, using colors, what's the big deal about using a person with black skin and a person with white skin? It's just color.
It would be nice if we lived in a world where anyone looked at that billboard and all they saw was two people.
But, in America especially, you look at that billboard, and you see a white person in an assumed position of dominance over a black person, and immediately alarms go off in your head. Everything we learned in history class about the 1800's comes flooding into our minds, along with a healthy dose of guilt, and we apply our own demons to the image. We attach 150 years of racial tension to the image, and condemn it for our history, not because of any message it's actually delivering.
Which really is just two people representing two handheld video game consoles.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by n2o-SiMpSoNs on 2006-07-25 at 20:10:56
QUOTE(Loser_Musician @ Jul 23 2006, 12:20 AM)
this 2006 not 2106, the message it sends to people is racism. Thus, the meaning of it is racism. Wether the true meaning was racist or not, who cares. What it says to people is racism.
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I didn't think of racism when i first saw the ad. People are to sensitive. Get over it it's an ad. boo hoo. I hope sony makes a green psp and has it standing over the black and white psp and see if people think "0MG ITs 0FEending ThE gReeeEn Pe0pl3zZ"...
People are way to sensitive in this world. I wouldn't cry if someone called me a "cracker." If that person thinks that way then he can shove it up his ass it's not bothering me. Same goes for anyother race. People should take race with humor like Dave Chappelle or Carlos Mencia or a lot of other comedians.
Sometimes I think when someone says the n word white people get more offended than black people.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by dumbducky on 2006-07-25 at 21:29:55
The N word is used by black people, but when a white person says it, he's a racist.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Lyon on 2006-07-26 at 10:13:16
I Don't get why people get so mad about this
who cares if sony IS racist, if they are does that mean you or anyone else is going to stop buying their products??? no...it probally DOESNT.
it's not a big deal, let sony be racist if they want, and i say stop crying about it.
who cares if sony IS racist, if they are does that mean you or anyone else is going to stop buying their products??? no...it probally DOESNT.
it's not a big deal, let sony be racist if they want, and i say stop crying about it.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Mp)EnderDouble on 2006-07-26 at 11:14:33
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If it was a black person doing it to a white person no one would care because white people were not enslaved by the oppisite race for hundreds of years.
Hundreds of years? it was more like 20 years.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Lord_Agamemnon(MM) on 2006-07-26 at 11:40:48
Actually, it was more like hundreds. Slavery in the United States was outlawed in the 1850s. America had been settled since the early 1600s, and there were slaves around then.
I do think that people are a bit too sensitive these days. By "politically correct" logic, the only way to have a picture of a person that isn't racist is to have a person from every race in it. And then someone'll complain because so-and-so is in the back or on the side while so-and-so is in the middle. It's only racism when the majority does it; otherwise, it's equality. Does that make sense? I think not.
Also, people in Europe are a lot more lax about racism--and, for that matter, other things we in the US consider unacceptable--than people in America.
I do think that people are a bit too sensitive these days. By "politically correct" logic, the only way to have a picture of a person that isn't racist is to have a person from every race in it. And then someone'll complain because so-and-so is in the back or on the side while so-and-so is in the middle. It's only racism when the majority does it; otherwise, it's equality. Does that make sense? I think not.
Also, people in Europe are a lot more lax about racism--and, for that matter, other things we in the US consider unacceptable--than people in America.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by -bilal92- on 2006-07-26 at 12:35:03
QUOTE(Mp)Ender @ Jul 26 2006, 12:55 AM)
I think its exactly like sony said, clever marketing. The black people shouldnt look at that and think 'OMG THEY THINK WHITE PEOPLE ARE BETTER'. And neither should white people. What your supposed to see is, "Now that the new white psp is coming out, the black one is going to fade away." Because white people = better? no. Because black psp just happened to be the first one. It could have just as easily been the other way around. And if it WAS a white person being held by a black person, i wouldnt be offended. Plus you have to think about this, the ad was a dutch ad, and racism probably isnt a problem over there about whites and blacks.
ADDITION:
Im white, and im not proud, nor ashamed of it. The only thing that gets me is how black people are still offended by the word N.igger. If a black person called me cracker, i would think its funny. And when a white person calls a black person, n.igger, it seems that after 40 years, they would be over it and think its funny. Its not even offensive. Hell, whats even funnier is when a black person calls a white person n.igger, or a white person calls a black person cracker, its just funny.
The only reason people are still racist today is because of the way everything works. When the slaves were free'd. They were ppor, and moved into places they could afford. Their kids grew up in this era when alot of hate was going on, so alot of them just didnt end up very nice.(Thats NOT saying that ALL OF THEM ARE THAT WAY.) Nowadays, a much larger portion of blacks are into crime. Im not sure how this happened, but they grow up around it, so they end up doing it when they are old enough. Its not their fault, alot of them are trying to stop it, and get out of it. The same goes for alot of the illegal immigrants, they move into places they can afford, and end up doing bad work for money. They arent bad BECAUSE they are black, or any other race. Its just how they grew up. You guys should watch more chappelles show. He has alot of racist comments about every race. Including his own. And its supposed to be funny, not offensive. More people like him are popping up all the time, and its helping racism alot. If everyone would relax and stop LOOKING for racism comments to B.tch about. And instead laugh when one comes around, everything would be fine. The word n.igger, pretty much just simply means 'black person', not 'dirty black trash' nowadays, so when a white person calls a black person n.igger, it should be ok, as long as the black person isnt ashamed of being black... and same for blacks calling white people cracker. unfortunately it doesnt work that way...
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ADDITION:
Im white, and im not proud, nor ashamed of it. The only thing that gets me is how black people are still offended by the word N.igger. If a black person called me cracker, i would think its funny. And when a white person calls a black person, n.igger, it seems that after 40 years, they would be over it and think its funny. Its not even offensive. Hell, whats even funnier is when a black person calls a white person n.igger, or a white person calls a black person cracker, its just funny.
The only reason people are still racist today is because of the way everything works. When the slaves were free'd. They were ppor, and moved into places they could afford. Their kids grew up in this era when alot of hate was going on, so alot of them just didnt end up very nice.(Thats NOT saying that ALL OF THEM ARE THAT WAY.) Nowadays, a much larger portion of blacks are into crime. Im not sure how this happened, but they grow up around it, so they end up doing it when they are old enough. Its not their fault, alot of them are trying to stop it, and get out of it. The same goes for alot of the illegal immigrants, they move into places they can afford, and end up doing bad work for money. They arent bad BECAUSE they are black, or any other race. Its just how they grew up. You guys should watch more chappelles show. He has alot of racist comments about every race. Including his own. And its supposed to be funny, not offensive. More people like him are popping up all the time, and its helping racism alot. If everyone would relax and stop LOOKING for racism comments to B.tch about. And instead laugh when one comes around, everything would be fine. The word n.igger, pretty much just simply means 'black person', not 'dirty black trash' nowadays, so when a white person calls a black person n.igger, it should be ok, as long as the black person isnt ashamed of being black... and same for blacks calling white people cracker. unfortunately it doesnt work that way...
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Lol, you actually took the time in writing that?
Report, edit, etc...Posted by dumbducky on 2006-07-26 at 17:54:06
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Also, people in Europe are a lot more lax about racism--and, for that matter, other things we in the US consider unacceptable--than people in America.
Very true. People should have watched the World Cup, now that was racism. They threw bannanas and made monkey noises whenever a black person got the ball. Of course, you didn't hear Al Sharpton ranting on about.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by n2o-SiMpSoNs on 2006-07-28 at 22:40:16
QUOTE(Mp)EnderDouble @ Jul 26 2006, 10:14 AM)
Hundreds of years? it was more like 20 years.
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Please dont evade the censors (in your other post)
Slavery has been going on forever and I'm pretty sure it still is in countries in Africa. Countries like South Africa just recently got rid of it.
QUOTE(dumbducky @ Jul 26 2006, 04:53 PM)
Very true. People should have watched the World Cup, now that was racism. They threw bannanas and made monkey noises whenever a black person got the ball. Of course, you didn't hear Al Sharpton ranting on about.
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The world cup is trying to crack down on that. Also, people throw bananas onto the field. =/
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Wilhelm on 2006-07-28 at 23:11:19
Slavery has been going on for a VERY long time, mind you that it's not only explicitly stated in the Bible that many of the central figures had slaves, it also explicitly justifies it.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Inspektah-Deck on 2006-07-29 at 03:39:48
Racism is only fun/funny to ones who has never experienced it first hand. It makes me angry when people say calling somebody a cracker is just the same as calling someone the "N" word, which is a terrible and demeaning word that pisses me off when people I dont know call me that, a cracka' is not the same were white people lynched just because they were crackas, No. Also, the N word today has 2 meanings; first being a racial slur, second being synonomous with homie/friend when used between friends and aqaitences.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by dumbducky on 2006-07-30 at 23:33:01
Cracka please! Are you kidding?
Hearing people say cracker is hillarious. Cracker Please! Listen to Cracker Please, I love that one.
Hearing people say cracker is hillarious. Cracker Please! Listen to Cracker Please, I love that one.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Eskimo Bob on 2006-07-30 at 23:50:02
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Vampire on 2006-08-11 at 18:10:14
It pisses me off that when most American citizens hear the word "black" they think of an African-American person. They just wanna make a god damn white PSP. Thats like saying black people should boycott milk because it's white and they won't buy it till they come up with black milk or white people not drinking coke until they come out with white coke. This discussion is so imature, its stupid.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by VizuaL on 2006-08-11 at 23:21:06
can tell its photoshopped..
fake.
fake.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Sopris on 2006-08-13 at 09:48:21
I am deeply offended. Deeply. Offended.
Deeply.
Deeply.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Killer_Kow(MM) on 2006-08-13 at 13:53:54
Alright... Opinion time!
I don't think that that advertisement was racist. The ad was conveying that the new white psp is better than the old one. SIMPLE.
As for racism itself, I find that although we have created a lot of stereotypes for black people, too many black people actually fit those stereotypes, and think they're cool because of it. Even white people try to fit these negative stereotypes. So if they get discriminated for trying to be like this, its only their own fault.
I don't think that that advertisement was racist. The ad was conveying that the new white psp is better than the old one. SIMPLE.
As for racism itself, I find that although we have created a lot of stereotypes for black people, too many black people actually fit those stereotypes, and think they're cool because of it. Even white people try to fit these negative stereotypes. So if they get discriminated for trying to be like this, its only their own fault.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by HolySin on 2006-08-13 at 15:26:51
Looks like the ad is incredibly racist, God, look at those emotions and contrast. So what? Oh no, looks like Sony is on some racist regime to bring back slavery. People get offended way too easily by anything that somewhat racist because they want to be offended because of the way they interpret things. If you're offended by the ad, you might need some Johnson's Baby Wash and some Tampax.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by StarKraft on 2006-08-13 at 16:24:11
Actually I'm not in the position to judge if it's racist or not. But I'd say there are people who could take this serious. And I would understand them. So all I can say is that this ad is at the very edge between being racist and being just a very harsh ad.
They could've found better ways to introduce PSP white.
Maybe like "Out of the dark, into the light!" And instead of the black and white woman a room where it's dark and an open door where shiny brightness falls in.
They could've found better ways to introduce PSP white.
Maybe like "Out of the dark, into the light!" And instead of the black and white woman a room where it's dark and an open door where shiny brightness falls in.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Kupo on 2006-08-13 at 16:25:05
who cares, sony is run by people who have slant eyes.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by FatalException on 2006-08-13 at 21:46:27
QUOTE(Inspektah-Deck @ Jul 29 2006, 12:39 AM)
Also, the N word today has 2 meanings; first being a racial slur, second being synonomous with homie/friend when used between friends and aqaitences.
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Actually, no it doesn't. It's always a racial slur. But when used by African Americans, it turns into a form of cultural racism, simply called same-race racism(my social studies teacher told me a fancier name for it but that was during the school year, so I forgot
).QUOTE(Sopris @ Aug 13 2006, 06:47 AM)
I am deeply offended. Deeply. Offended.
Deeply.
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Deeply.
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I like your sarcasm.
