tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927499066712159439.post3096547661004601539..comments2023-11-05T04:51:37.986-05:00Comments on SoundBite Back: Ad critics lament depictions of men as "idiots," create new stereotype of men as joyless buzzkill artistsAnthony Julianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616129335179635003noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927499066712159439.post-30565049710033985122008-04-17T14:40:00.000-04:002008-04-17T14:40:00.000-04:00I wouldn't say they're over the top. There are a l...I wouldn't say they're over the top. There are a lot of Men's activists -- Robert Bly, Sam Keen, et. al. -- have been decrying the portrayal of men as buffoons since the late 80s and early 90s.<BR/><BR/>Think about the Bill Cosby and Tim Allen types who always looked like idiots. I've been sick of this since way back then myself, and have even refused to buy products if the men were especially made to look stupid because they were men.<BR/><BR/>I got sick of Bill Cosby and Tim Allen a few months after their shows aired, because male-induced buffoonery quits being funny after about six weeks.<BR/><BR/>I can't remember which cleaner it is off the top of my head, but they had a TV ad that showed "a man's idea of bathroom cleaning" was to take a few squares of toilet paper, wave them in the direction of the sink and toilet, and then throw the TP away. I actually wrote to the company and complained about their ad.<BR/><BR/>"You wouldn't portray women as airheaded twits who have to go to the bathroom in groups or can't drive, so why would you portray men as people who are incapable of cleaning?" I asked them.<BR/><BR/>I'm all for laughing at myself, as a person or as a gender. But not over and over. Look, we can't do it to women or other races. We're not "due" for anything, despite what the status quo defenders may say.<BR/><BR/>Fair treatment means fair treatment for all, not turning the tables on some.Erik Deckershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07800011978813218338noreply@blogger.com