It's Always Something

Seriously, what’s wrong with us? There use to be a time when we weren’t offended by every little piece of media out there. When entertainment was entertainment – nothing else. Sure there’s always been someone horrified by Elvis’ hip gyrations or what K.I.S.S. lyrics say when you play them backwards. I know you can’t please everyone all the time. But still… when did we get so sensitive about everything? And it appears that a few of this year’s Super Bowl ads have gotten some groups fired up again.

It started on Monday when the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Human Rights Campaign (among others) complained about Snickers “Mechanic” ad that had two men accidentally kiss while Lady and the Tramping a Snickers bar. In response the ad was immediately pulled along with its accompanying website. OK, I can see that one as having a somewhat reasonable drive behind it, but still it’s just an ad folks.

However yesterday, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention lashed out at GM for their “Robot” ad that also ran during the Super Bowl. The spot features an assembly line robot that dreams -DREAMS- about losing its job and eventually jumping off a bridge. The foundation is seeking that GM pull all relevant media, are seeking an apology and wants the automaker to "take steps to inform the public about mental illness and suicide.”

It’s a robot, people. It can’t die. Putting this commercial in the same league as Kurt Cobain lyrics seems a bit silly to me. There is no deep meaning. No hidden agenda. Trust me, the extent of ads like these is that someone thought it was an amusing idea that would keep the audience entertained and the product in the forefront of their minds. Then someone at said product company bought off on the idea and it went to production. Even though there is a lot of mindless advertising out there, is it really worth it to get up in arms over it? I'm not completely unsympathetic. I can see where some of these claims come from and I feel for those people. But just don't read the ad, change the channel, something. Is there really a need to take everything to extremes? Get all pouty and make a big fuss? Kind of makes some people look like cavemen if you ask me.