[DaveyJones]

http://www.usatoday.com/money/advert...ide-usat_x.htm

Suicide-prevention group criticizes GM ad

Yet another Super Bowl marketer is swimming in hot water.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has sent a letter to General Motors (GM) criticizing an ad that shows a perfectionist assembly line robot dreaming about jumping off a bridge after dropping a bolt. The group said the spot may encourage people to consider suicide as a solution to their problems. The group demanded that GM apologize, not air the spot again and remove it from its website.

"We wouldn't see this ad around cancer or heart disease," says Robert Gebbia, executive director. "Why's it OK to make fun of mental illness or depression?"

[lexmarks567]

basicly the robot was dreaming about what would happen if he was fired.

[NonSense]

Originally Posted by DaveyJones

http://www.usatoday.com/money/advert...ide-usat_x.htm

Suicide-prevention group criticizes GM ad

Yet another Super Bowl marketer is swimming in hot water.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has sent a letter to General Motors (GM) criticizing an ad that shows a perfectionist assembly line robot dreaming about jumping off a bridge after dropping a bolt. The group said the spot may encourage people to consider suicide as a solution to their problems. The group demanded that GM apologize, not air the spot again and remove it from its website.

"We wouldn't see this ad around cancer or heart disease," says Robert Gebbia, executive director. "Why's it OK to make fun of mental illness or depression?"

That's just ridiculous

[Gibble]

Oh brother...

"`Reverse primary thrust, Marvin,' that's what they say to me, `open airlock number three, Marvin. Marvin, can you pick up that piece of paper?' Can I pick up that piece of paper! Here I am, brain the size of a planet and they ask me to ..."

"Yeah, yeah," sympathized Zaphod hardly at all.

"But I'm quite used to being humiliated," droned Marvin, "I can even go and stick my head in a bucket of water if you like. Would you like me to go and stick my head in a bucket of water? I've got one ready. Wait a minute."

[Littlefield]

Yep ,political correctness is killing our sense of humor. By the way the ad sucked .

[ChrisJones]

Originally Posted by Gibble

Oh brother...

"Did anyone bother to ask me? No, too busy casting other androids. No one wants to talk to a depressed machine...can't blame them. Here I am with a brain the size of planet...still over staged by a menial robot. Excuse me, while I go and stick my head in a bucket of water".

Marvin??? Is that you???

[valley]

Originally Posted by DaveyJones

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has sent a letter to General Motors (GM) criticizing an ad that shows a perfectionist assembly line robot dreaming about jumping off a bridge after dropping a bolt. The group said the spot may encourage people to consider suicide as a solution to their problems.

I would hope that any severely depressed person watching that commercial would get a laugh out of it.

Imagine a banana with a brown spot throwing itself under a bus or a wilting houseplant holding up a leaf to refuse being watered because its depressed. How can anyone take such scenarios as a real encouragement to commit suicide?

Also....there are plenty of primetime and daytime dramas on the air depicting people who kill themselves in all sorts of gruesome ways....I should think the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention would be more concerned about those kinds of shows than a commercial that is obviously meant to tickle your funny bone.

[BanditFlyer]

Originally Posted by lexmarks567

basicly the robot was dreaming about what would happen if he was fired.

HA!!

Now THAT's hilarious!!!

A robot getting laid off from his job, then feeling dejected, suicidal, depressed. Then going to the UAW to file a complaint ...




I love Irony. I bet GM completely missed that angle when putting that commercial together.

[ChrisJones]

Originally Posted by Gibble

Oh brother...

"`Reverse primary thrust, Marvin,' that's what they say to me, `open airlock number three, Marvin. Marvin, can you pick up that piece of paper?' Can I pick up that piece of paper! Here I am, brain the size of a planet and they ask me to ..."

"Yeah, yeah," sympathized Zaphod hardly at all.

"But I'm quite used to being humiliated," droned Marvin, "I can even go and stick my head in a bucket of water if you like. Would you like me to go and stick my head in a bucket of water? I've got one ready. Wait a minute."

It IS you!!

It's good to see that Hitch-hikers' has fans across the globe!

[ChrisJones]

Originally Posted by BanditFlyer

HA!!

Now THAT's hilarious!!!

A robot getting laid off from his job, then feeling dejected, suicidal, depressed. Then going to the UAW to file a complaint ...




I love Irony. I bet GM completely missed that angle when putting that commercial together.

I bet they thought they were just making a funny commercial and weren't expecting all this crapola!

FWIW, I think it is a sad state of affairs when people decide to have a sense of humor transplant like this. Personally I thought the ad was funny and got GM's point across well. It seems that nowadays there is always some dumb special interest group willing to kick up a fuss and complain about the simplest things.

Perhaps there's another angle they might consider, perhaps a person that is feeling suicidal might watch the video and have a laugh, they might even look at their own situation and get the inspiration to make the changes they need to move on... Who knows? It could happen. If just one person's life is saved by watching this commercial it's had a positive effect.

[DiSaidSo]

I saw a robot jump off a bridge on the telivisions.

Hey what a great idea! I think I will too!



Stupid. NOBODY saw it that way until this "group" came out and started making a ruckus. But frankly, GM owes this group a letter of thanks. More people are talking about GM after this group started whining as compared to before. I didn't think it was that great of an ad, but after this.... it's one of the most talked-about ads from the Super Bowl. Way to go, whiners!