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20 Questions: Suicidal robot from GM interviewed
Among those sounding the gong against GM cowing to an anti-suicide group's offense at its Superbowl spot is the star of the commercial himself. The robot, who shall henceforth be referred to as Ricky, reveals a few things about the production, and how the spot plays to the robot population. It was interesting to learn that the bridge jumper was a stunt double who'd had his entrails removed prior to the leap. Certainly makes the spot seem more like a snuff film now, doesn't it? We hope the Anti Snuff Film Congress or some other group of Dudley Do-Rights will keep their traps shut and just deal with being offended for five minutes. Basically, Ricky takes his own offense to the AFSP's offense at the spot, and expresses what we all would like to say. Lighten up for five damn minutes and let us enjoy our football game. He also points out that there's been no crying over the other spots, which could be seen as offensive to some other cabal of crusaders bent on being whiny for their cause. At least Ricky has his SAG card, so he can supplement his income during plant shutdowns. We'll keep an eye on movies that feature robots, hoping to catch a glimpse of the little yellow devil. In the meantime, we couldn't agree more when Ricky says - "this touchy-feely s*** is totally outta control in this country."
Thanks for the tip, Ed!
[Source: autoextremist]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mdeforest 1:19PM (2/14/2007)
"this touchy-feely s*** is totally outta control in this country"
Thank GOD! I couldn't agree more... It is time the majority of Americans speak up and tell these small whining groups to just STFU!
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Bob Zeliff 1:25PM (2/14/2007)
I agree. Far to much submission to "PC" perceptions.
We are becoming a Nation of flat humorless drones
Good go GM. You've shown some character and backbone.
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Richard 1:45PM (2/14/2007)
What?
Is GM paying you guys to keep this thing alive.
Keeping the issue alive is - by definition - touchy feely S***!
Move to Europe already!
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D-Dog 2:55PM (2/14/2007)
As a 30+ year auto company employee that is taking a bullet in the head for good of the home team, this commerical is incredibly insensitive to the suffering many autoworkers and their families are experiencing. A family friend took his life last year after he was involuntarily separated from Ford. A neighbor with 28 years at GM was let go last March and still does not have a job. People are suffering and GM management justs adds insult to injury with this ad. I'm sure many of you would change your tunes if you had to experience the reality of losing your job, your dignity and perhaps a life.
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Big jim 2:15PM (2/14/2007)
this is obsurd
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denigod 2:22PM (2/14/2007)
I'm surprised he didn't tell them to "jump off a bridge" or "Take a long walk off a short pier", then again, that would probably hit a bit too close to home.
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akintz 2:33PM (2/14/2007)
While I agree with pretty much all of it... it's just too bad that no one that needs to will actually read it (annoying "interest" groups?). And even if they do, they wouldn't find it that amusing anyways.
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NoNameDenton 2:33PM (2/14/2007)
Lame PC crappy society and people getting easily offended
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Carlos 2:41PM (2/14/2007)
Yeah, this and the Top Gear episode in the South show just how touchy we are. It's pathetic.
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NoNameDenton 3:22PM (2/14/2007)
Taking your life because you lose a job or anything is stupid, suicide is cowardly, but this commerical was a joke, it was not insensative. If your dignity hangs on a job and not who you are, you do not deserve any. We all have free will to choose who and what we are, you can not define your life by a job and not the success by having a family, and being a good father and husband and a good person to your friends, family and neighbors, then you need a life.
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PhillipT 3:45PM (2/14/2007)
We can make fun of sex, gay people, race, religion, and life styles, but oh no! A robot jumped the bridge and GM is evil! This article should be sent to every single whiney 'interest' group. Its humor, congrats on GM giving some good comercials this year, against the Tundra "I'm a bad are mofo, watch me pull and stop 10,000 lbs".
A bit offensive to some, maybe, but for once can we all relax in this world and take a joke?
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Craig 4:15PM (2/14/2007)
I really don't understand the controversy surrounding this commercial but that may be because I didn't understand the commercial to begin with. The one and only time I saw it, during the Super Bowl, I was just confused. At first I thought the robot was sad because it was going to lose it's job to a human and the ad was going to be about how GM does employ humans, but once I realized that wasn't the case I got tired of thinking about it and gave up. I have a Tivo so maybe I've just lost some of my ability to interpret ads.
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beken 8:10PM (2/15/2007)
Actually, I thought the robot was made in Japan, contracted from Toyota, chips were made in Taiwan or Korea.
There are way too many special interest groups out there.
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SherbornSean 7:12PM (2/14/2007)
D-Dog,
Thanks for adding that perspective. I wish all the domestic haters would take a moment and think about all the autoworkers that have been let go over the past 2 years before they launch another rant. Another 13,000 today at DCX.
Good luck to you.
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Jay 7:30PM (2/14/2007)
To #9.
Thats friggen porpoise hoark! Insensitivity my ass, people get laid off every friggen day. I suppose you'll turn around and tell me the movie Borat was insensitive to immigrants? Same with Tacobell, maybe you'd like to argue that the leprechaun from Lucky Charms is an insensitive portrayal of Irish people?? Shit, get over, they did one commercial about a ROBOT. People get laid off, thats the harsh reality of it, if you weren't willing to risk getting laid off you shoulda started your own business for yourself from the gitgo. I refuse to sit quietly whilst you belly-achers assault everything I find amusing, every other time I turn around!!!
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Ricky 10:08PM (2/14/2007)
I'm the Robot. It felt great to have a stunt double
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Tyre 10:39PM (2/14/2007)
Between us reporting about this, a Snickers ad, and that dead stripper; American media has really gone down the tubes.
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Phred 5:06AM (2/15/2007)
NoNameDenton:
I agree that the response to this ad is over the top, and its connection to real suicide is fairly ridiculous, however, that is no license to ridicule or belittle sufferers of mental illness.
Obviously, neither you, nor someone close to you (if any) has had to deal with depression or suicidal thoughts. If it was as easy as deciding to be better, it would not be a problem.
I understand what you mean from the perspective of a person with healthy ego, but until you understand those about whom you are talking, please keep your uninformed and exceedingly insensitive ideas to yourself.
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Maker 9:13PM (2/15/2007)
No.9
Sorry about your freinds losing there jobs by being laid-off. Is that Fords or Gm's fault? All of us that manufacture have been watching our jobs disappear for 10 years. But the robot was fired..How many of us have been fired? How many of us have thought about taking out lives? The robot did this in a dream. I have dreamed many times of falling in my dreams. I have lost my job and been out of work for a year and a half. The first job I was offered was building this robot for the commercail. Do not blame GM or Ford or Chrysler for the layoffs. I bet they wished they could have hired more folks. I see to much made in China to suit me..
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mike 1:56AM (2/16/2007)
its a comercial- its not real- get over it. people look wayyyy to much into things some times.
and the snickers comercial pulled? are you serious? how does that offend gays? two straight guys accidently kissed, you think theyre gonna be happy about it? sorry, but no. get over it.
whatever happened to free speech? thats right, only minorities can do and say what they want to. think about that for a minute. "PC" is a load of crap.
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