is this offensive Options

[ghjgfkgfk]

It doesn't come as much of a surprise after the virulent reaction we saw last week, Sony's pulled the plug on their "PSP White is coming" ad campaign in the Netherlands, which depicted, well, you know. We're not gonna call it an admission of guilt or anything (and neither did they, read on), but Sony did apologize to those offended by the campaign, also stating, "We recognize that the subject matter of one specific image may have caused concern in some countries not directly affected by the advertising. As a result, we have now withdrawn the campaign." We're quite well aware of the cultural context in which advertising must be taken, but it's apparent the world holds a company like Sony to a higher standard, and Sony can apparently recognize this as well. So, case closed, let's all move on with our lives now, yeah? We've got some toys to obsess over, no time for this foolish business.

i guess i see why people say it's offended them but it's not that bad

[technicolour]

There is a new phone called Chocolate and it has a whole bunch of African American people dancing. Would that be offensive?

[marzipan]

Hmm, well I can see how that image can be offensive, but it doesn't look that serious.

[*I Shot JFK*]

lol. i didnt notice the black person in the ad, and was REALLY confused as to what was supposed to be offensive. and yea, i can see why people would be offended, so best to pull it i suppose

[*Kathleen*]

Eeep I didn't get it until James pointed that out. Eep. Just a.. tad.

[marzipan]

lol. i didnt notice the black person in the ad, and was REALLY confused as to what was supposed to be offensive. and yea, i can see why people would be offended, so best to pull it i suppose

haha. Yeah, at first I didn't see the person. >_<

[Jeng]

well i saw it -.-. and i find it a bit offencing

[SarahxJoy]

To some people it won't seem offensive, to others it will. But I guess it's a good thing that they pulled the ad. I can see how it'd be offensive.

[*digital.fragrance*]

The phrase itself - no. The picture - yes. The way she's holding his face... that's offensive, especially put into the black/white context.

[aubbob]

yea i think it will be for a lot of people.
the holding of the face.. hmm idk

[smoke]

No. The everybody knows the black PSP looks way better than the white one. Give the white one a chance, lol.

Nah, in all seriousness, I do see how it could be offensive. Although I doubt that was their intent.

[*T0rmented_Soul*]

Hmmm maybe the picture..a little overdoing it..but I own a white PSP and I think it's better than the black one.

[crazeegirl411]

I can totally see how it is offensive. But I don't think they mean it to be TOTALLY offensive because they pulled it off. And wow, a lot of users are viewing this.

[goodcharlotte]

I guess it is because of the way she is holding his face like that which was previously mentioned. It is as if she is better than him or more superior i guess can be seen in some minds.

[breakingdawn]

The white one lights up the screen more than the black.

But that's just my opinion.

And yeah, that ad is a little offensive.

but but but but but

my mom was telling me this story yesterday about how at her work some person filed an ethnic harrassment suit because this hispanic lady said she only dated black guys and then this white lady said she only dated white guys, and the hispanic lady was offended. and it passed.

is that fair?

[jue]

Its offensive to some, but not alot to me. I guess its cause it doesnt potray me in it since im neither black nor white. But I can see why people would say its offensive. The facial expression of the girl and the way shes holding the dudes face up is like yeah. >_>

[KissMe2408]

Yah they could advertise the new portable white a little bit better then that.
I can def see why someone would take offense to that.

Imagine if the next add was like, "Playstation Portable Yellow is coming!"
And it showed some asian chick, ha. Yah, so i'm glad they changed that.

[jue]

Yah they could advertise the new portable white a little bit better then that.
I can def see why someone would take offense to that.

Imagine if the next add was like, "Playstation Portable Yellow is coming!"
And it showed some asian chick, ha. Yah, so i'm glad they changed that.

If an offensive add like that came out, i go up to the manufactors or whoever comes up with the idea of the ad's and smack them.

[misoshiru]

The phrase itself - no. The picture - yes. The way she's holding his face... that's offensive, especially put into the black/white context.

Well, and the fact that the PSP now, is black.

[smoke]

Well, and the fact that the PSP now, is black.

The PSP was black first.

[RCcola]

i see how its offensive, but i mean, if the white one came out first and then they did this campaign in reverse with the black person being "superior" would they pull the ad?

i doubt it. but it was a good move to pull the campaign though, this is a little too controversial for sony to handle.

[ghjgfkgfk]

i see how its offensive, but i mean, if the white one came out first and then they did this campaign in reverse with the black person being "superior" would they pull the ad?

[EddieV]

I wouldn't really care, it only depends on the person that looks at it..

[smoke]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/hea...k-white-ad1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/hea...k-white-ad3.jpg

Oh, wow. Maybe you should've posted those before. That changes the whole perspective of this thread. They're simply competing, not one being better than the other. We need to focus on the fact that the people in the pictures represent the PSP systems, not their own race. There's nothing racist about that.

[Blank-OuT]

I can see why people would see it as offensive, but Sony didn't intend it to be like that.. just should've though of a different way to advertise it lol.

[klumzy]

people get offended too easily these days -.-

[*T0rmented_Soul*]

Oh, wow. Maybe you should've posted those before. That changes the whole perspective of this thread. They're simply competing, not one being better than the other. We need to focus on the fact that the people in the pictures represent the PSP systems, not their own race. There's nothing racist about that.

wow......now everyone is like misconceptuated(SP is that a word?) but I still rock the White one! bought mines from an import place online.

[smoke]

wow......now everyone is like misconceptuated(SP is that a word?) but I still rock the White one! bought mines from an import place online.

Ha, I'm rockin the Black. I think it looks a lot better. It's sleek, shiny, and sexy.

[*T0rmented_Soul*]

^...my White PSP will OWN YOUR BLACK !!! its Whiter and Pearly!!!! Black can't be PEARLY and I GOT 4 GB MEM STICK

[Mr. Slowjamz]

i wouldnt care honestly ....it shouldnt be offensiv anymore ...cmon guys .

[smoke]

^...my White PSP will OWN YOUR BLACK !!! its Whiter and Pearly!!!! Black can't be PEARLY and I GOT 4 GB MEM STICK

I do too. I bought it instead of a iPod Video, haha.

[xXYouMeBedNowXx]

Right, but I hardly think that Sony would have just seen right through it.

[*Kathleen*]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/hea...k-white-ad1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/hea...k-white-ad3.jpg

What are those from? More from the campaign?

Ha, I'm rockin the Black. I think it looks a lot better. It's sleek, shiny, and sexy.

Yeah. I usually like black anything.. they tend to not get as dirty or whatnot faster.


Don't forget to take off img tags when quoting. ;)

This post has been edited by Arjuna Capulong: Aug 6 2006, 02:14 AM

[danginja]

I barely saw the black person in that picture but yeah it just depends on your mind set on this. If your a raciest person then you'll see it as raciest

[xcorphz]

If an offensive add like that came out, i go up to the manufactors or whoever comes up with the idea of the ad's and smack them.

u will? lol me too.. but i don't have the guts..

[1angel3]

It's borderline. That would offend me. The ad sends the wrong message.

[*Michelle*]

Is there something I'm not seeing on my tiny Blackberry screen? I don't find it offensive at all. *shrug* I suppose it's up to intepretation and personal feelings, though.

[HakunaMatata]

WTH. I didn't even see the Black person until I saw James's post. Um. Yeahhh, if it wasn't for the face-holding, it's not bad at all.

And um, I clicked on the image links from airim's post, but I got nada. ):

OH, and the ad doesn't even seem very effective, anyway.

[RAWRstephishere]

Lolz.
Crackas.

[arghrawr]

It's not really offensive to me, but I see how people could be offended...not that I think they should.
It's not that great an advertisement anyways.

[*Moderator*]

I didn't see the person at first. Wow. I can see how it could be. The image I could do without.

[Crash2]

Wellllll...

The ad definitely could've been done differently. I can see where the controversy would come from, but don't the people symbolize an object and not a race?

Oh, wow. Maybe you should've posted those before. That changes the whole perspective of this thread. They're simply competing, not one being better than the other. We need to focus on the fact that the people in the pictures represent the PSP systems, not their own race. There's nothing racist about that.

Yeah, he pretty much summed it up. lol

[*chaneun*]

I SAW A GUY ON THE SUBWAY A FEW DAYS AGO WITH A WHITE PSP.
I WANT IT.

damn korea :(

[heyyfrankie]

I barely saw the black person in that picture but yeah it just depends on your mind set on this. If your a raciest person then you'll see it as raciest

...if you were a white, racist against a black, then you'd love the advertisement.

* * * * *

well, quite honestly, i find the ad interesting. and I like it alot. And no i'm not hating on black people. i would like it even if a black girl was holding a white guy's face.

either way, i love it.

and i'm sorry some of you are offended by it.

[*tripvertigo*]

u will? lol me too.. but i don't have the guts..

stop pulling up old ass threads that arent friggin relevant to anything in the present. jesus.

[*Programmer*]

interesting.

[Rachel]

stop pulling up old ass threads that arent friggin relevant to anything in the present. jesus.

Seriously, it's f**king annoying.

[*Villainess*]

I like the ad..Never once did i think it was racist.

[*superstitious*]

Wow, old topic. =O

I don't see this as racist at all. I think that they were just trying to use contrast for marketing purposes.

Sometimes I think people are far too quick pass judgment.

[jesusisthebestth...]

i dont find it offensive but as an african american women, i wont go rushing into the store 2 buy the new playstation either...the billboard has nothing 2 do with the gaming capabilities of the console...the ad was made 2 get controversial attention from citizens...

[RAWRstephishere]

Hm.

I stared at the add for a few minutes trying to figure out how it could be offensive.
Then I saw the black guy.

[*Insurmountable*]

The phrase itself - no. The picture - yes. The way she's holding his face... that's offensive, especially put into the black/white context.

Yea exactly that..

I can see why it would be offensive that way..so yea i guess it was better for them to pull it..

[xKatt]

I agree with digital fragrance.

They should've left race out of it.

There should've been two people of the same race, one wearing black and one wearing white.

And that advertisement is just stupid. What kind of marketing is that?

[clarity]

lol. i didnt notice the black person in the ad, and was REALLY confused as to what was supposed to be offensive. and yea, i can see why people would be offended, so best to pull it i suppose

definitely agree with that.

wait so sony isn't going to do anything about it? or gah confused. >.<

[weed]

it would have been nice if the black lady wore the white and the white lady the black.