Suicide prevention group tells GM to pull robot ad
What with the pulling of the Snickers Superbowl spot and now this uproar, it's getting to the point where you can't say anything. Seriously, do these people look for ways to be offended? The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has called for General Motors to pull the spot where a depressed, laid-off robot ultimately jumps off a bridge. The group also wants the spot scrubbed from the GM website and restrictions on video sharing sites like YouTube from posting the ad. Finally, the AFSP has requested an apology from GM and would like the automaker make efforts to inform the public about mental illness and suicide (translation: they want a donation from GM). WHAT!? Newsflash: General Motors is in the car business. It seems to us that the AFSP is the proper body to be working toward informing and educating the public about their cause. This is like watching relatives come out of the woodwork when someone wins the lottery. We sincerely hope that GM's got the intestinal fortitude to stand firm against this type of brazen, outstretched-hand whining. Attempting to go digging into the pocket of General Motors does little to help further the cause of the suicide-prevention group. In fact, looking for money makes the group appear less credible. We'd rather see some robots jumping to their end than any actual humans laid off by the automakers. Of course, suicide is not funny, but there is a certain amount of dark humor that infuses the American Psyche, and the commercial's presentation was done in the most tongue-in-cheek manner. How can you take anything narrated by Don LaFontaine's "theater trailer voice" and with "all by myself" as a soundtrack seriously? We understand where the group is coming from, but it's totally out of line to be asking GM for some kind of underwriting because of a humorous tv ad. We haven't heard the AFSP making any noise about the rampant portryal of hara-kiri and other violence on other shows (heck, there was a bloody suicide on ER just last week!). Nor have we heard an uproar over other commercials aired during the Super Bowl that contained suicide themes. Both Washington Mutual and Career Builder aired such spots. In the end, it's a robot! We weren't aware that Antropomorphs are people, too.
[Source: AdAge]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
paul34 2:36PM (2/08/2007)
This is ridiculous. We've really lost all that is American. One part of being American is that I can say whatever the hell I want, hold whatever views I want. And guess what? You can do the same too.
But *DO NOT* restrict *MY* freedom to communicate my ideas! They do NOT infringe on your rights, so what is the problem? Do you honestly believe censorship does anyone any good?
Organizations like these insult the American people by treating us all as if we're children and can't make decisions for ourselves. And guess what? Sadly, its almost true. People don't think for themselves anymore. People don't ask questions, or say "is what this guy, this American, is doing, really advantageous to my country?" or "is my government staying the course of Americanism, or winding down a dark path of destruction?"
It's people like this that have sealed the fate of our country, its eventual self-destruction. Congratulations!
Reply
gino 2:40PM (2/08/2007)
I thought Jessie Jackson was the only one that shook down car companies, i.e., Toyota. Why don't these people get a life? No pun intended.
Reply
ruggels 2:44PM (2/08/2007)
i dunno, I almost jumped after seeing this commercial, I mean, it is a robot... and most people who work with possible instances of suicide or have been trained in any modicum of suicide prevention will tell you, robots in commercials are the main cause of suicide.
Hell, let’s get the Royal Tennebaums banned, because that’s also a dark comedy, and millions saw it, and there’s a scene of a person trying to kill themselves.
I’m going to side with you guys here, this is ridiculous.
Reply
Chosen1 2:47PM (2/08/2007)
I'd like to see a commercial where 2 robots share a can of oil, accidentally kiss, rip off some panels to display their heterosexuality, then decide they can't take the thought of kissing another machine and jump off a bridge together.
GM, stand your ground. Give away some Snickers bars with your vehicles or something. These kinds of groups infuriate me when they think things like these are to selectively be taken seriously.
-Chosen1
Reply
ryan 2:52PM (2/08/2007)
"What with the pulling of the Snickers Superbowl spot and now this uproar, it's getting to the point where you can't say anything."
-Autoblog: Ya really want to say that? Look no further than Alex Nunez and Frank Filipponio's posts, they ALWAYS pull comments. So you guys are ***just*** as guilty don't act victimized. If you really feel as strong as your post suggests these comment sections would never be edited, and half-assed at that.
Reply
RayRay 2:55PM (2/08/2007)
damn, i like this commercial too, haha.
Reply
Jared 2:56PM (2/08/2007)
What more can I say that hasn't been said. The more organizations and people in general bend to these ridiculous lawsuits and accusations the more we as a people reward this behavior. Stand firm and give them a middle finger or insert any other non-politically correct behavior you want the message is the same. f*** off.
Reply
ruggels 2:56PM (2/08/2007)
"I'd like to see a commercial where 2 robots share a can of oil, accidentally kiss, rip off some panels to display their heterosexuality, then decide they can't take the thought of kissing another machine and jump off a bridge together."
how about two chick robots making love :)... even if they are...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjAoBKagWQA
Reply
Drewboy 2:59PM (2/08/2007)
I thought that it was one of the best commercials of the Superbowl, and made the point that GM was dedicated to quality while being an amusing commercial. Kinda reminded me of the movie Short Circuit...
This group is looking for a handout, nothing more.
Reply
Steve 3:00PM (2/08/2007)
This is what is wrong with America. I hate all this PC shit.
Reply
ryan 3:01PM (2/08/2007)
Could those two guys in the snickers ad be anymore disgusting looking, why could it not have been two hot ass guys that accidentally kiss, might have looked to hot? ;-)
Reply
ryan 3:02PM (2/08/2007)
"This group is looking for a handout, nothing more."
-Is that becuase this article tells you that? :-)
Reply
Non-Bizarro Adam 3:03PM (2/08/2007)
A rabbi, an Arab, a robot, and a Catholic priest walk into a bar. Only the robot exits.
A robot walks into a pharmacy. The pharmacist asks him if he'd like anything. The robot replies, "A soul."
How do you stop a robot from destroying you and the rest of civilization?
You don't.
"Waiter! Waiter! What's this robot doing in my soup?"
"It looks like he's performing human tasks twice as well, because he knows no fear or pain."
Knock knock.
Who's there?
A robot.
Oh, shit.
What's the difference between a regular robot and a killer robot?
The gnawing jeers of men.
What's a robot's favorite cereal?
Rob-os.
(Note: Rob-os are made of the tears of human children.)
Little Susie tosses a clock out the window. A robot inquires, "Why did you do that?" She replies, "I wanted to see time fly!" The robot says, "Ah ... A perfect subject for elimination," and shoots her with a laser beam through the face.
Why did the robot order a milkshake?
To blend in with the general human population, making it easier to infiltrate society and—in time—conquer it.
Why was six afraid of seven?
Because seven was a robot.
http://mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/8J.AlexBoyd.html
Reply
Tool 3:05PM (2/08/2007)
F*ck the The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
It makes me sick that we have to be so damn political correct so as not to offend any group.
If anything, someone contemplating suicide might laugh at the clip and it might actually save lives.
You go GM.
Reply
DJ 3:11PM (2/08/2007)
Personally, I am afraid of going to our family picnic this summer.
How do I know that someone won't throw a rock at me over a bottle of beer?
Gee, is that fear a form of mental illness?
Can I sue Budweiser for my pain and anguish?
COME ON! If you take every ad run during the SUper Bowl, you'll find something that could or would offend someone or SOMETHING. Afterall, rabbits were portrayed as being cruel to mice in the Blockbuster spot. Have we heard from either side of the rodent lobby? Are crabs closet alcoholics? Are redheads so stupid that they run out into traffic for a bag of Dorito's?
And worst of all, what about the astronaut on the moon that tries to kill another astronaut in the FedEx commercial? OK, we won't go there right now....
Reply
ryan 3:07PM (2/08/2007)
Their is an IKEA commerical NOT aired in the USA.
Its of a little kid playing on the floor and he discovers his mom's dildo and turns it on, it starts viberating and he starts laughing, the kid is only 2 or 3.
Then in the end it just states: "tidy up" IKEA.
Why is this cencored in the USA as well? Would you same people be cool with this ad?
Reply
ryan 3:11PM (2/08/2007)
"15. F*ck the The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention."
THOSE HORRIBLE BASTARDS!
Damn those people who try to save lives, those mother F**ker co*k suc*in sons of bi*ches. DIE!
Reply
Bob R. 3:18PM (2/08/2007)
Absoulutely rediculous. This to me was the best car commercial shown on the Super Bowl. Hopefully GM will be smart and not give in to the donation they want. On edmunds.com, it shows him jumping off the bridge in a dream, then waking up. I don't seee anything wrong with that.
Reply
Thomas 3:24PM (2/08/2007)
# 18
100 Percent Agree
Reply
Tim UF 3:20PM (2/08/2007)
why hasnt NHTSA called for the doritos ad to be pulled, you know, the one where the goofy guy was checking out a hot girl, and he rearended another car, spraying doritos everywhere?
and how about Duck Tape calling for the ban of the other doritos one where the guy duck taped his roomate to the door to keep the doritos safe
and wheres the christian coalition callying for the banning of all those TAG body spray ads that farcicly claim that you will be mobbed by feminine hotness by spraying the stuff all over yourself.
i could go on and on. people need to get over it, and put their efforts into actually helping their cause.
This commercial was good, becuase the robot turned out to be dreaming, and returned to work building cars (i'm assuming a robot would like that sort of work?). So, its saying, theres always something to look forward to.
Reply