Stupid sexist advert

[Lerasai]

To an extent, you're right, but a) women are way more likely to end up in house wife roles than me, b) just featuring a woman doing the house work doesn't suggest that men shouldn't do the same, and c) at least in the UK, we have adverts like Mr Muscle, Daz, and CILLIT BANG which traditionally feature men doing the washing up.

Well, we don't have any in the US that do. It's ridiculous. And, really, housewives are very uncommon these days. Most families can't afford to live on only one income and to expect a woman who already has a job to still do all the cooking and cleaning is insane. It seems like a silly thing to get worked up about, but these ads are perpetuating a terrible stereotype.

 

[Psychedelic Spartan]

OK, the commercial is saying that the man has become a wimp because of THE SCOOTER! Scooters are not manly.

 

[maninahat]

Frankly, the Escapist's warnings against users for using blockers just piss me the hell off. Any company that is so fond of owing its contributors rather than paying them is suffering from bigger systemic financial problems than loss of revenue due to adblockers, and their comments and rules on the matter sound like nothing so much as the RIAA's insistence that piracy is the sole cause of failure to make a quarterly profit.

/clap

and also a /clap for whoever pointed out the freudian implications of becoming more manly by shoving a meat stick in your mouth.

Even though the Escapist has just penalised me over mentioning ad blockers, I can easily see why they feel the way they do over the issue. They make their revenue off of ads, so when people utilise means to prevent the ads from appearing at all, they are potentially jeopardising the Escapist's business (Advertising Exec: "What's this, no one watches our ads? Then why should we pay you anything to host them, mr internet site?"). Thus the Escapist is being reasonable in denying services to the people who do that.

Saying all that, I don't like them penalising me in this instance. I didn't actually admit to using adblockers, so I resent them sending me warnings about it.

 

[Gothproxy]

Well I think that the scooter (whether riding shotgun or driving it) isn't manly. At all. Ever. But I also wanna know, what was so wrong with the OP that they got a warning? Seemed like an OK post to me.

Hmmm....

Ad-blockers.

Hmm.....

Smells like a conspiracy to me. (and again, Greed rears his ugly head)

 

[theultimateend]

I'm borrowing someone's apple laptop, so naturally I'm using the Safari and not able to block ads. This is a big problem, because my Escapist videos are all preceded by stupid, unstoppable adverts.

You know that using adblockers can get you a suspension on this site, right?

I didn't technically admit to using ad blockers, if it is really an issue.

PS, why is it an issue? I've never heard of it before.

Some people like being able to pay for dinner.

Something about eating and not dying, kinda lame.

 

[artanis_neravar]

am I just being neurotic about this shit?

yes, and im assuming also that you arent from america because you referred to them as spicy meat stick things. slim jims are supposed to be synonymous with manliness so they make their commercials over the top. the reason i think youre just being neurotic is because the commercial isnt sexist at all actually. in no way does it demean women. what it does do is strengthen gender roles and social "order," it doesnt talk about the women at all. essentially it is homophobic in nature.

Being sexist doesn't mean it is against women, it can be against men and still be sexist.

Every time I see that I can't help but think that I would rather on the back of the scooter with my arms around a woman than in the ambulance with two scruffy guys trying to offer me their meat sticks.

Agreed, kind of like the other commercial I consider giving up something you love in order to protect your offspring (trading in the sports coupe for a minivan) is pretty damn manly. Ironing your jeans is more likely to make you appear clean and fit, allowing you to attract more people of your preferred sex, manly. The last one (The Exes engagement party) I do agree that that is pathetic, but it is pathetic for anyone regardless of gender.

It's because it's a SCOOTER. It doesn't matter if there was two supermodels on that thing and the guy himself was freakin' Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, or hell, even Sean Connery. It just isn't manly to be on a Scooter.
Ever.

Being on a scooter proves that you are comfortable with your sexuality and are more manly than the people who believe that it is unmanly.

 

[artanis_neravar]

Well I think that the scooter (whether riding shotgun or driving it) isn't manly. At all. Ever. But I also wanna know, what was so wrong with the OP that they got a warning? Seemed like an OK post to me.

Hmmm....

Ad-blockers.

Hmm.....

Smells like a conspiracy to me. (and again, Greed rears his ugly head)

There is a difference between greed and making a living. Is it greed to charge people for food at your restaurant?

 

[Burst6]

A real man can wear a pink tutu and ride "*****" with his little sister on a electric scooter.

Now that takes balls.

 

[Dense_Electric]

I concur. Frankly, Slim Jim, if I'm not "manly" because I don't eat your products - or if I'm not "manly" because I use a practical, economical vehicle instead of driving around on a Harley without a helmet cutting off traffic like a total douche bag fuck-hole, then color me a fucking woman. But fuck you Slim Jim, because your products take like shit and I consider myself damn lucky I don't live my life to please you.

I'm offended by it because it's indicative of a much larger problem within our society. Despite how far we've come over the past hundred years, the fact is most people still make most of their decisions based at least partially on their sex, whether or not they realize it. And to such people - if you're too scared to do something because "it's not manly" or whatever, then fine. Far be it from me to tell you to get over yourself and do what you want. But if you're going to judge me for doing it, then kindly remove yourself from my presence.

yes, and im assuming also that you arent from america because you referred to them as spicy meat stick things. slim jims are supposed to be synonymous with manliness so they make their commercials over the top. the reason i think youre just being neurotic is because the commercial isnt sexist at all actually. in no way does it demean women. what it does do is strengthen gender roles and social "order," it doesnt talk about the women at all. essentially it is homophobic in nature.

Dear God man, are you trolling or is English not your first language or something? Considering you asked if he "wasn't from America," I'm going with the first one. Please, go look up the definition of the word sexism. It is entirely possible to be sexist against men, and insinuating that one can't is sexist against men. Get your facts straight before you argue.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Here's how we advertised sticks of spicy meat in the UK:



As for ads, nothing's free in this world, folks, (not even portal, any more), but when I get as much entertainment as I do from the Escapist, and all I need to do is glance at some banner ads and deal with a 20 second delay before videos, I consider that a bargain.

Same goes for youtube, someone needs paying for putting these sites together and hosting em and paying for all related costs. All the time they can do that without actively charging me a monthly fee, I'm cool with ads.

 

[Joby Baumann]

I'm borrowing someone's apple laptop, so naturally I'm using the Safari and not able to block ads. This is a big problem, because my Escapist videos are all preceded by stupid, unstoppable adverts.

You know that using adblockers can get you a suspension on this site, right?

I didn't technically admit to using ad blockers, if it is really an issue.

PS, why is it an issue? I've never heard of it before.

Some people like being able to pay for dinner.

Something about eating and not dying, kinda lame.

The more you know...

 

[Xan Krieger]

Yes the ad is sexist as f*** and I do not believe riding a scooter is unmanly. However I once defended adblockers before and got penalized for it (the only justified time I ever got in trouble) so I'm not doing that again. All we can hope is that a new ad takes it's place that isn't so dickish.

 

[Fbuh]

I personally hate the ads, but recognize them as a necessity in order to enjoy all of my favourite Escapist programs. Honestly though, the Slim Jim adds put me off the product, because the marketing doesn't really come off as clever or effective.

I see what you are saying about the sexism, though. I really don't see the issue with riding a scooter, since they get great gas mileage and are pretty cheap.

 

[j0frenzy]

I'm not so much shocked people find it completely not sexist. That I sort of come to expect. What I am surprised by is that people actually found the commercial funny at all. I thought it was inane. I also find it relatively harmless. Yes, it and its sister commercial reinforce negative gender stereotypes, but I'm not going to fight over that in a Slim Jim commercial. It is part of a problem much larger than it and I'm not going to fault the Slim Jim company for being part of it. I also refuse to buy their products though, for a lot of reasons, including the whole thing of it being manly.

 

[FaceFaceFace]

Actually, those things annoy the piss out of me to. I realize that they're trying to be funny, but that doesn't make it any less obnoxious.
Also, and I realize that I will likely get hit by a mod-hammer for this, why did the OP get a warning? They were just voicing their opinion. Having a mod attack them seems a little absurd.

He got a warning because he said he usually uses adblockers. Ads are how the Escapist makes money and, thus, exists, so its against the rules to encourage adblockers or admit to using them in the forums.

Knowing is half the battle.

 

[Lunar Templar]

i must first ask how you can take ANYTHING Slim Jim dose seriously


look at that, LOOK, AT, THAT!!!
these people are to .... special .... to be offensive intentionally

 

[spartan231490]

it's about the scooter. It's a SCOOTER, like the least impressive ride in existance. and most guys put a lot of stock in a man's ride.

 

[Danish_4116]

I'd rather watch an advertisement about mystery meat sticks than a couple of girls telling me to wear more jewellery and match it with a shear maxi dress for a fresh spring look.

 

[DanDeFool]

They're called Slim Jims.

I think it's more about the fact that he is riding on a scooter rather than her driving. A scooter is far, FAR, from manly and no man in his right mind would ever get on one. Unless he really had to.

Well, unless you wanted to cut down your carbon emissions and gas expenditures. An average-sized scooter can get anywhere from 80-100+ MPG. A lot better than your average 4x4, which (unless I'm mistaken) get less than 20 MPG on average. Let's be honest, you don't need a 4000 lb vehicle to get your ass to and from work in the morning (Unless of course, your ass weighs 4000 lb. In that case, you might want to get yourself a Mack truck. And a coronary bypass.)

And don't start talking about hybrid cars as a 'best of both worlds' alternative. They aren't. They're a dead-end technology, and will go down in history as one of the biggest technological follies of all time. Mark. My. Words.

As for me, I ride a small motorcycle that gets about 70-80 MPG. Granted, its engine isn't any bigger than the engines on the type of scooter I'm referring to, but it's a motorcycle, so I guess I don't lose man points for riding it.

Frankly, I think riding a scooter is just about the manliest way to get around. Know why? Try riding a scooter through rush hour traffic sometime, and look around you. If any of the drivers around you experience the slightest lapse in attention at a critical moment, your ass is going in the fucking ground. But no; that scooter rider doesn't fear death. He made a smart economic choice, and he's going to stick to it. He's got the Grim Reaper riding with him wherever he goes, and he just tells that fucker to move his decrepit old cloak, cuz it's blocking the rear-view mirrors. That takes REAL balls, my friend.

What's going to happen to the jacked-up monster truck driver if some jackhole swerves into his lane? maybe his insurance rates go up a few hundred bucks a year? Oh, you're soooooo manly, risking slight economic inconvenience so you can squander our planet's valuable resources. People like that can go eat a bag of dicks. Or a bag of Slim Jim Dare Sticks; about the same taste, just with more MSG and saturated fat.

 

[Lilani]

>> Woman has valid complaint about a sexist ad.
>> "DURR YOU NEED TO CALM DOWNNN!"

I'm a woman, and if anything I think it's sexist towards men. They're obviously going for the "young, poor, male college student" demographic, and they're trying to appeal to them by showing how "manly" their phallic meat stick is? Using male "role models" who are guys who all need to shave and who all talk like they're starring in Law & Order wearing pajamas, athletic shorts, and converses? Pathetic. If male culture has truly gotten to the point where riding on a scooter is so unmanly it doesn't matter if you've got your arms around the waste of a HOT woman, I truly pity you men.