Motorola TV ad: Funny? Homophobic?

Is the Motorola TV ad funny? Homophobic?

  • Funny - no. Homophobic - yes.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    20

B_VinylBoy

Sexy Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2007
Posts
10,363
Media
0
Likes
68
Points
123
Location
Boston, MA / New York, NY
Sexuality
90% Gay, 10% Straight
Gender
Male
I got a little chuckle out of that. I've seen many people make the mistake of responding to answers that weren't directed at them because the person was speaking to another through a small device that was barely visible to anyone else.

Homophobic? Probably not... I've seen a lot worse. But it's very apparent what the commercial was about so I wouldn't get all bent out of shape over it.
 

jjsjr

Legendary Member
Joined
May 27, 2008
Posts
5,934
Media
37
Likes
2,255
Points
333
Location
Wilmington (Delaware, United States)
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
I got a slight chuckle out of it...
but more importantly, I didn't feel offended when I first saw it.

I think it's just nice to have the LGBT exposure, in any sense.

That commercial is FAR BETTER than that horrible homophobic Snickers ad.
 

MisterMark

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2002
Posts
2,021
Media
10
Likes
126
Points
383
Location
Palm Springs, CA
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
Hmm. That's interesting, because I didn't see the Snickers ad as absolutely homophobic. The behavior of the guys in that ad was so over-the-top that it was clearly meant to be comedy, and the joke was really on both of the guys for acting like neanderthals.

I think the Motorola ad is very homophobic. It's funny, but in a mean-spirited way. The joke is on the gay guy, and the manner in which the other guy scoots away from him at the end conveys a message that says gay guys are gross. To make things worse, at the end, the gay guy is shown again sitting there alone. The message is that he not only looks ridiculous, but given the look on his face, he feels ridiculous too. The straight guy gets to go out on a date, while the gay guy gets treated like a leper, and is then left sitting there alone to think about how he was just humiliated. Showing him again says: "Look at the silly homo. Doesn't he look stupid?"

What a different feel the ad would have had if either of the guys had just laughed about the misunderstanding and then made a joke about it, including the other in on the funny nature of the misunderstanding.

Or another ending that would have shown being gay as something positive: The assumed straight guy suddenly looks interested in the other guy and tells the person on the other end of the phone, "Uh...I've got to go now. Could I call you back?", and then smiles at the gay guy and says something like, "I'd love to go out. I have NO plans for tonight!"

I think this ad absolutely communicates a feeling of homophobia. Feel free to counter my arguments.
 
Last edited:

Gl3nn

Experimental Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Posts
1,411
Media
0
Likes
12
Points
123
Location
Somewhere in the universe
Sexuality
90% Gay, 10% Straight
Gender
Male
I see what you mean Mark, but still... I don't see this as homophobic.

That's kinda the problem with, dare I say: minorities, they start seeing discrimination everywhere.


This was clearly meant to be funny, not discriminatory. At least, that's my opinion.
Everyone has the right to his own opinion, but I really don't see it in this commercial.
 

MisterMark

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2002
Posts
2,021
Media
10
Likes
126
Points
383
Location
Palm Springs, CA
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
That's kinda the problem with, dare I say: minorities, they start seeing discrimination everywhere.

Well, I don't see it as a "problem with minorities". You're saying that if someone in the majority observes or feels discrimination, his opinion should be taken more seriously than someone who is part of a minority because, well, minorities tend to "see discrimination everywhere"?
 

Gl3nn

Experimental Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Posts
1,411
Media
0
Likes
12
Points
123
Location
Somewhere in the universe
Sexuality
90% Gay, 10% Straight
Gender
Male
No, not at all. I'm just saying that sometimes people overreact.

Like here: this is just a commercial that's meant to be funny. And people are starting to look for a deeper meaning and all. A sort of hidden message. Yeh, there is one... buy motorola products
 

MisterMark

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2002
Posts
2,021
Media
10
Likes
126
Points
383
Location
Palm Springs, CA
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
Like here: this is just a commercial that's meant to be funny. And people are starting to look for a deeper meaning and all. A sort of hidden message.

Well, everybody sees things like this differently, and I believe that all opinions are worth considering. That's why advertising and marketing agencies conduct focus groups.

I didn't have to look for a "hidden message" at all. The first time I saw it, I thought it was sort of funny until I saw the straight guy scoot away from the gay guy as if he's going to catch cooties if he sits too close to the gay guy.

Sure, it's meant to be funny, but at the gay guy's expense. I'm not even saying that that's wrong, but I'm sure that most gay people would not enjoy being treated like that.

Yes, I'm analyzing this to bits, but I enjoy doing that sometimes. :biggrin1: