I don't think the Superbowl advert is homophobic. I think it's more about straight men than it is about gay guys.

I had to throw it in there somehow. That was my favorite of the ones I've seen.

The Snicker's ad is homophobic in the way that, it shows that if two men were to kiss, it's bad, and they have to do something to "fix" the situation, lest they become homosexuals. I'm not saying it's the same as hanging a gay guy from a tree homophobic, but it puts homosexuality in a bad light nonetheless. Still, I think a boycott of the product would have been a much better avenue, as thats what really takes the power out of the commercial.

The robot ad is silly, and I think the suicide prevention group is really just using it for publicity. Kinda like, "If someone hurts you in some way, we'll fight your battles for you... now, on the octopus, show me where the bad commercial hurt you." I hate to admit this (as it's completely insensitive, but at least it lives up to my screen name), but my first thought of this piece of news was, "What... did they threaten GM with mass suicides if they didn't pull the ad?"

Damn. I guess I'm outnumbered.

Odd. I had a lot of gay 'nannies' when I was a kid and my family became known as a 'safe house' for gay guys visiting the UK.

Well, guess I'm a bigot. Oh well.

I didn't take the Snickers ad as homophobic either; rather, I thought it ridiculed the level of homophobia that these guys had. Put the straight guy in a bad light.

I was watching with friends that are pretty conservative, and their reactions were along the lines of 'what a bunch of idiots' rather than any display of anti-gay or homophobic feelings. I'm more annoyed at the backlash than anything.

I honestly think america has set the bar for politically correct so high, it is now virtually impossible to do or show anything without someone getting offended. Having seen it from a neutral set of eyes when I was living in Seattle, I can say that it is extremely easy to offend someone. Me being atheist offended most people right of the bat. Was actually kinda freaky...

I also feel that taking the ads down is the wrong thing to do. If anything, show them more so that people can see it for themselves and make up their own mind about it, and not what the reporter on MSNBC is telling them about it. It's that sort of cencorship that puts America at 53rd place on RSFs Worldwide Press Freedom Index

http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=639

No, they just use digital scales and virtual ducks now.

I just didn't think the snickers commercial was funny. It's probably for the best it's off the air, because it makes me NOT want a snickers. Not that I really eat them anyway... Maybe the Snickers people realized that too late, and just played up the protest from GLAAD in order to get some free publicity for pulling it.

The GM ad was just a bad marketing decision. The whole spot featured an incredibly depressing story about a robot committing suicide (well, dream-suicide), and then you don't get a happy ending (maybe robot heaven, making GM's and actually getting to drive them?). All it did was make me associate depressing, suicidal emotions with GM. Probably not what they were going for.

With the GM ad, two thoughts came to my head.

1) With all of the problems that GM is having financially, why did they drop that much money on an ad that didn't showcase their cars at all. So what if 'the robot' worries about screwing up (probably concerned since they can't afford maintenance on said robot)

2) I wonder how all the laid off employees felt. I assume it was along the lines of 'why should i give a f*#k about the robot', or worse. i mean, that's how i felt about the ad, and have a desk job in finance.

You know, my girlfriend and I both laughed very hard at the Snickers ad. We both thought it was poking fun at the homophobia of the characters and the lengths to which people will try to prove they're not gay.

And, on the second one,

The first, and only thing I thought is that it IS demeaning and unpleasant. Why is it such a problem to say that working in fast food is a bucket of crap dumped on you every day?
Who really has a problem with the lack of sensitivity? Somehow, I doubt it's fast food workers (who would cheer the attitude). Yuppies with nothing better to do but champion worthless causes in an effort to feel better about the lack of meaning in their life?

That's another good point. Is the reason that GM is in dire financial straits really that people believe their quality assurance is bad? No - it's because their cars aren't as attractive to buyers as those of other motor companies. Personally, I think they would do a lot more good by coming up with a new logo or otherwise rebranding themselves. But ultimately, what they need is cooler cars. A Nissan Altima is a lot cooler than a Ford 500 (sorry, 500 owners of the world).

Wait. There was no backlash against the godaddy commercials this year? If the groups that argue against these "offensive ads" would figure out that by taking it to the main stream news media, the marketing people do high-fives because they get better exposure than they *ever* could've gotten with the actual ad. In better locations too. For free.

It's an amusing (at least to me) symbiotic relationship that the advertisers and anti-defamation organizations have. It's such a simple formula and it works because of the inherent whininess of people.

• Create slightly edgy ad that plays on a stereotype or touches on a controversial subject
• Wait for the inevitable complaints from a vocal minority, who pump money to their favorite anti-defamation organization
• Anti-defamation organization has to pressure advertiser in order to placate members
• Advertiser apologizes or discontinues ad to placate anti-defamation organization, members claim success
• Increased exposure results in successful ad campaign

I also love how the Prince guitar solo silhouette "controversy" has everyone talking about Prince again. Genius.

Nothing beats this little gem from 2003: Feminist Super Bowl Adwatch.

As a formerly suicidal robot, I am severely offended by this entire thread.

Speaking as one, Americans have gotten kind of annoying.

We need to be careful or we're going to be the next France.