Are the Droid commercials offensive?

[windstrings]

They also claimed 'more bars in more areas', but also put in a small text disclaimer that may vary in the US.

Thats pretty funny..... Isn't that like saying "We can go to the Moon" and then putting a disclaimer, its just not "your" moon!

Lets talk plain English.... More bars in more areas... means "more areas".
Are they deceiving or not?..... Maybe their marketing CEO doesn't have a good command of the English language!
Or maybe thats the problem... "they do!"

They need to quit playing games with words and just talk about their strengths and promote what they have instead of claiming stuff they don't have.

 

[LordKastle]

I think you are missing the point. You are saying the Storm didn't have the same support as the Droid from Verizon. That is my point..are you sure you are reading my response properly?

They were hyping the Storm before its release as if it was an "iPhone killer." Unfortunately upon its release, its weaknesses were too much to actually continue to promote and before you know it they let the phone die, as BB knew it was already coming out with a Storm 2.

This is the point. Apple/AT&T was never threatened by the Storm. If you remember prior to Storm's release it was being hyped as Verizon's answer. Stores were selling out on the day of and you had to go store to store. I bought the phone as a gift for someone and they almost did not sell it to me because I was not extending my contract, I just wanted to buy it full retail price. (They then sold it to me for the discounted 2 year price $299 and added two-prepaid lines to my account - because I was not eligible for an upgrade- , which I then returned at another store. When I called VZW to tell them what happened they were baffled and said there is no reason why I should not have been able to walk in there and buy it full retail. If I didn't cause a stink at the store I would have been refused.)

Companies like HTC and Samsung have never had the courage to go head to head. And most of the companies are forced to promote on their own terms, not from the support of the carrier. As I have been saying about the Passion, HTC releases more phones than flavors of candy and ice-cream so they have no incentive in promoting one phone over another to the extent that Verizon just hyped the Droid. (HTC consistently releases great, B+ phones but the masses can't name their flagship model. Why? Poor marketing and they are forced to do it on their own. No carrier has taken HTC under their wing to promote like Verizon just did with "the" Droid.

AT&T and Apple never had to strike back from the ads from Blackerry/Verizon because it was irrelevant. People thought the "push/touch" screen was too flawed and after the initial rush, the phone was dead.

Now for the first time Apple and AT&T have had no choice but to respond. You think they like responding to another carrier and phone? It gives that phone credence and credit and brings more attention to the war. They knew that for the first time Verizon had the opportunity to seize on the Droid's strengths without any true glaring weaknesses. They didn't want to be a punching bag so they responded.

You think it took a genius to come up with the idea to attack the iPhone in ads to grab attention? Give me a break. It's just the first time a phone actually had the potential to back it up (in the minds of the consumers).

Personally, I could care less about marketing strategies. If you fall prey to propaganda then you are like a sheep grazing in a pasture.

 

[Backnblack]

The commercials are great IMHO....They are getting the Droid Noticed!

 

[boatman2220]

I was going to mention you'd be offended IF you were a Apple fan. Wish instead of a banana, they were pulping apples.

 

[LordKastle]

Boatman I own a Macbook Pro. I am not offended.

 

[boatman2220]

I bought my Droid before I ever saw a commercial. Went in to check out the Storm2, went home did a little research and went and got the Droid. I think the commercials are making a lot of people aware that there's a new Sheriff in town. As far as rumors of the Iphone coming to Verizon, what's the point now? Apple has marketing down like Harley Davidson does. Now with some real competition, they'll start shouting foul. Ever seen the Mac vs Windows commercials? Guy looks just like a younger Bill Gates. Apple and HD both push a lifestyle and trend. I see the Droid commercials as poking a little fun at those trends.

 

[J-Buck]

No. its just saying the droid is a tough workhouse and doesn't need to be pretty and have curves an all that

 

[MK-9]

Good gods I don't believe in. That woman needs a better way to spend her free effing time.

 

[takeshi]

Well... To be honest, Apple and AT&T are targeting Droid/Verizon because it was also Droid/Verizon that targeted them first.

Verizon started it with the Map Comparisons.

For what it matters IMO I disagree on this point.

"There's a map for that" was the first targeted ad campaign that I can think of.

I see the Droid commercials as poking a little fun at those trends.

Yeah but they're not without their own trends. In any case, the fretting over the latest ad is silly. I don't care for the ad but it's only offensive if you're looking for offensive material IMO. I know it's hard to market something like the Droid but I wish they'd use some more substance in their TV ads and less flash.

We don't drive wrecklessly

That's the opposite of what you're trying to say. Wreckless = without a crash. Reckless = without care.

You want to drive wrecklessly. You don't want to drive recklessly.

 

[atomicwedgie]

My wife just watched it again... her remarks are that people need to get the hell over it. If you're comfortable and secure in who you are, this should have NOTHING to do with being offensive.

 

[ezeddiekun]

I have seen these manikins in stores all the time, do people complain about the ones there? No. If these little things in our society count as sexism or racism we would be the worst country in the world. Instead of focusing on these small stuff why don't you go out into the real world and try to get rid of racism? These people who complain about these things seriously are bored and needs a hobby!

 

[thelion]

Ok, so. I know this a forum full of dudes and all that good stuff. And nothing I, or blog lady, says is gonna change that. But this is a forum and I'm gonna add my two cents since all you dudes are too.

Honestly, when I watched the commercial for the first time, I found myself getting offended. I'm not easily offended on the subject of feminism, because, well...shut the **** up and do something about it.

Here is why I am offended. The ad clearly says. iPhone = woman, Droid = man. Droid = better, therefore (obviously), Man = better. Obviously, I think the Droid is better or I wouldn't be here. I'm an Android junkie through and through, I like the way the phone looks, I like the keyboard, I like the metal. I don't like rounded iPhone corners or shiny plastic. But something that says, in not very thinly veiled english, women suck and are dumb, and men are smart and do things, IS OFFENSIVE.

Think of your wives and your kids and your women friends, are they retarded and would never like a Droid? Think of those dudes you know that are obsessed with their iPhones. This phone war isn't about women vs. men, it's about the best operating system and the best hardware, and making it into that only perpetuates the stereotype that women are stupid.

It clearly says that? Where? I didn't hear that once. Maybe you HEARD that but it is not what the commercials SAYS.

I am a woman and I am not a princess. I am not some pretty little delicate thing that sacrifices function for sparkles and chiffon. I am a Droid girl. Like many women are.

And nice assumption that all women are like those shown in the commercial. Who is sexist now?

^^so all women are princesses or tiara wearing beauty queens? That's basically what you're saying.

Obviously, that's not what I'm saying, just like all dudes aren't saws that mutilate ripe bananas.

The commercial makes gender roles binary, when they are not. It doesn't leave all this wiggle room that we seem to be imagining. Brains make connections when we watch commercials like this, and like it or not, the obvious conclusion that one can make is that all women are princesses and all dudes are tanks.

This was the only Droid ad the offended me in the slightest, but we need to realize that commercials do things to our subconscious that we don't even know about.

Actually you did say that. You said the commercial was about men and women and the only women I saw in that commercial were pretty little princess things. So clearly if you think they are portraying all women as bad you think all women are princesses. Follow the logic.

And again, it is only obvious to you because you are projecting your own issues. Stop projecting and things stop being so black and white.

 

[NoKz]

I found the commercial heterosexually offensive. Meaning, there was a lack of emphasis on the importance of beer and prenuptial agreements.

On a serious note; people who complain about this need a life. They need to stop focusing on crap like this. And focus on how to bring our friends and family back from Iraq.

 

[Roxy]

Hi Folks,

It is quite sad that the first time that I came across this forum is in the context of this issue.

I am a Treo Palm user. AT&T has been annoying the crap out of me so my husband and I have started searching for phones. We were both very impressed by the Droid and basically decided to switch to Verizon and get these phones.

So when I was finishing up our research on the web I saw the ad and thought, "What a sexist ad, and homophobic to boot." It was disappointing because I don't like to give money to organizations that are trying to prove themselves counter to people.

Now, it may upset people that I hold this opinion. And it is interesting that folks feel so very strongly against those of us that hold this opinion. Many many people independently came to this opinion.

First of all, some folks are trying to say this is not sexist since they know a woman who said it was ok or that they are a woman who thinks that it is cool. I am reminded of G Bush who kept telling us that he thinks with his gut and doesn't need to be a 'reader' to know about things. Maybe, just maybe- those who have read or studied a bit on bigotry and popular culture might have some additional information. Advertising is very clever in the way they get folks to think in certain ways and EVERYBODY (even myself) claim that we are not as influenced. But still is that multi-billion dollar budget being wasted? Every dollar is spent for a reason. Maybe for certain people they just want to see an ad as cool/uncool but the ad agencies do not see these images as neutral. They know that sexism sells, homophobia sells, violence sells. They need to use these images but not enough that the general public will raise flags.

When I see ads that are violently destructive and view 'girly' as the enemy- I think of my 8 year old daughter and how amazing she is. I wonder about you folks with young daughters and how they would see it. Could you discuss this with them and explain how princesses are ....what? What if that ad showed a little girl dressed up as a princess and attacked with a knife? Too far maybe? What about Rihanna all dolled up and being punched in the face?

Also I see an effeminate manniquin being destroyed and I think about gay friends that have been beaten up. I think about Mathew Sheppard and that young boy murdered in California not so long ago. What if that manniquin was a real person being attacked with a baseball bat?

Sorry out of time.

Just my 2 cents. Cheers.

p.s. I really don't like the iphone at all.
p.p.s. I am a member of ieee and I am a tech geek
p.p.p.s Dressing up is fun.
p.p.p.p.s Yes, I am a feminist. Isn't everyone? (look up definition in dictionary if you don't agree)

 

[New2u]

I just wanted to say welcome to the forum. And I can assure you no opinion of yours would upset me. People hold different opinions, just as they don't like the same political parties. Everyone is welcomed to their opinion. But it seems to me that your posting is attacking those who think the the ad is ok, they differ from your opinion and your more then welcomed to have the opinions you do. But aren't you doing the same thing that your attacking the others for doing? Your posting your opinion and seem to want people to think the way you do. To me it's ok to have your opinions, your even welcome to state your opinions, it's only when you try to impose your opinions on others that it becomes bad. You seem to be wanting us all to see it as you do. I'm sorry if that's not what your doing, but it appears to be.

People come from all walks of life, and each has been through their own endeavors. They are free to think the way they do, as you are to do the same. It's ok to me that your a feminist, and it's ok to me that you think the commercial is bad. I would never hold either of those against you as a person. I'm quite sure there are commercials out there that you like, and i feel differently about. It's all advertising. There are commercials out there that i think bash men, and some that bash women. Just remember it's only a commercial and it will be gone before you know it.