Speaking of Racism

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

maybe i'm slow. i missed the racial overtones. are you sure your not looking for something that isn't there?

Its very easy to see somethin that isnt there. Especially if your lookin for compensation.

Edited September 4, 2007 by CarolsMarc

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It doesn't bother you that in the WAMU ads, a number of the old white bankers appear to talk with British accents, wear suits more likely found in London, albeit the London of Churchill, etc?

These ads are racist, sexist, and disrespectful toward the elderly, and disabled--as some of the bankers use canes, have sleeping disorders, breathe with the help of oxygen, or are in wheelchairs.

I agree that its not a great commercial, but its a far cry to go from a bad ad campaign to saying that WAMU as an institution is racist. To be fair - I don't think that determination can be arrived at on the basis of a few TV commercials.

[Artegal 1]

maybe i'm slow. i missed the racial overtones. are you sure your not looking for something that isn't there?

Its very easy to see somethin that isnt there. Especially if your lookin for comensation.

Its equally easy to ignore something in plain site. Especially if you like to bury your head in the sand.

It doesn't bother you that in the WAMU ads, a number of the old white bankers appear to talk with British accents, wear suits more likely found in London, albeit the London of Churchill, etc?

These ads are racist, sexist, and disrespectful toward the elderly, and disabled--as some of the bankers use canes, have sleeping disorders, breathe with the help of oxygen, or are in wheelchairs.

I agree that its not a great commercial, but its a far cry to go from a bad ad campaign to saying that WAMU as an institution is racist. To be fair - I don't think that determination can be arrived at on the basis of a few TV commercials.

We are not talking a few tv commercials--we are talking all of the their commercials--every single one.

[Jaseball 0]

Racism and discrimination will always exist, even if it is not overt. The most harmful racism is not a stupid television commercial, but the hidden racism - keeping ghettos and limited opportunities in certain areas, admitting certain races to school with a large emphasis on diversity, not hiring someone because of the way they speak or look, not opening doors to people based off the same sorts of things.

What about American media showing the attractive Asian woman, yet she is almost always with a Caucasian male on TV?

What about the glorification of African Athletes, some of which are less than ideal people like Michael Vic?

How about our stream of endless White male US presidents?

The examples of discrimination are endless. Just keep in mind when you scream racism on stupid, meaningless ####### it lowers the value on serious damaging situations.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

These ads are racist, sexist, "prejudiced against foreigners," [using your words] and disrespectful toward the elderly, and disabled--as some of the bankers use canes, have sleeping disorders, breathe with the help of oxygen, or are in wheelchairs.

Well if you're going to use my words - it would only be fair to use them in context. My interpretation of a poster for a Swiss political party (known for its xenophobic attitudes) is different from my interpretation of a TV commercial for a bank which features some stereotypical presentations.

We are not talking a few tv commercials--we are talking all of the their commercials--every single one.

Since the year dot? Or just the current campaign?

[Artegal 1]

Racism and discrimination will always exist, even if it is not overt. The most harmful racism is not a stupid television commercial, but the hidden racism - keeping ghettos and limited opportunities in certain areas, admitting certain races to school with a large emphasis on diversity, not hiring someone because of the way they speak or look, not opening doors to people based off the same sorts of things.

What about American media showing the attractive Asian woman, yet she is almost always with a Caucasian male on TV?

What about the glorification of African Athletes, some of which are less than ideal people like Michael Vic?

How about our stream of endless White male US presidents?

The examples of discrimination are endless. Just keep in mind when you scream racism on stupid, meaningless ####### it lowers the value on serious damaging situations.

It might seem trivial--but reinforcement of stereotypes--especially on television is the main way in which racist ideas get engrained.

And these engrained attitudes lead to more overt attitudes and harmful examples of racism.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

It must be a biotch bein purple.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If they were being really stereotypical - the bankers would have all been Jewish. Because as everyone knows, the Jews run the banking system

Seriously, if WAMU loses business over this ad campaign it will change. Having had some limited marketing experience I know that marketers monitor the progress of ad campaigns and take note of things like audience reactions. These things are very carefully crafted. That's not to say they always get it right - they don't. But I'm not sure you can reasonably claim that WAMU is racist simply on the basis of TV marketing.

[Artegal 1]

These ads are racist, sexist, "prejudiced against foreigners," [using your words] and disrespectful toward the elderly, and disabled--as some of the bankers use canes, have sleeping disorders, breathe with the help of oxygen, or are in wheelchairs.

Well if you're going to use my words - it would only be fair to use them in context. My interpretation of a poster for a Swiss political party (known for its xenophobic attitudes) is different from my interpretation of a TV commercial for a bank which features some stereotypical presentations.

We are not talking a few tv commercials--we are talking all of the their commercials--every single one.

Since the year dot? Or just the current campaign?

Since I have seen WAMU ads on television, which is a few years now. They have not been in my area for very long--so they may have had different campaigns elsewhere. But nonetheless I find the ads offensive--I have sent an email to WAMU corporate headquarters stating that I find the ads offensive. WAMU had called me a number of months ago--and I told them why would I bank with you--you obviously have little respect someone like myself--being white, male, and educated.

[Jaseball 0]

The fat, white, uncaring, glutton, racist, discriminatory banker is in itself a harmful stereotype.

Millions of illegal Mexican immigrants and the Mexican government calling for special treatment because crossing the border is easier than crossing the ocean is discrimination.

Highly qualified students being denied entry into the schools of their choice to allow entry of certain races based off diversification is racist.

The problem with calling racism and seeking reform is you are in turn discriminating against other groups.

The only fair way to proceed is to have equal opportunity with no special treatment for any particular group. The problem with that is coming from wealth automatically grants many legs up on poorer people, regardless of race. How do you correct this inequality or is it really an inequality if someone is born wealthy?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Want some free cake? Get in line.

[SqdnGuns 21]

These ads are racist, sexist, "prejudiced against foreigners," [using your words] and disrespectful toward the elderly, and disabled--as some of the bankers use canes, have sleeping disorders, breathe with the help of oxygen, or are in wheelchairs.

Well if you're going to use my words - it would only be fair to use them in context. My interpretation of a poster for a Swiss political party (known for its xenophobic attitudes) is different from my interpretation of a TV commercial for a bank which features some stereotypical presentations.

We are not talking a few tv commercials--we are talking all of the their commercials--every single one.

Since the year dot? Or just the current campaign?

Since I have seen WAMU ads on television, which is a few years now. They have not been in my area for very long--so they may have had different campaigns elsewhere. But nonetheless I find the ads offensive--I have sent an email to WAMU corporate headquarters stating that I find the ads offensive. WAMU had called me a number of months ago--and I told them why would I bank with you--you obviously have little respect someone like myself--being white, male, and educated.

Get Tivo and blast right past the commercials...............if it bothers you that much, contact the ACLU.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Make a commercial with 20 black men in a pen and a white man mocking them. See what happens.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Make a commercial with 20 black men in a pen and a white man mocking them. See what happens.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

These ads are racist, sexist, "prejudiced against foreigners," [using your words] and disrespectful toward the elderly, and disabled--as some of the bankers use canes, have sleeping disorders, breathe with the help of oxygen, or are in wheelchairs.

Well if you're going to use my words - it would only be fair to use them in context. My interpretation of a poster for a Swiss political party (known for its xenophobic attitudes) is different from my interpretation of a TV commercial for a bank which features some stereotypical presentations.

We are not talking a few tv commercials--we are talking all of the their commercials--every single one.

Since the year dot? Or just the current campaign?

Since I have seen WAMU ads on television, which is a few years now. They have not been in my area for very long--so they may have had different campaigns elsewhere. But nonetheless I find the ads offensive--I have sent an email to WAMU corporate headquarters stating that I find the ads offensive. WAMU had called me a number of months ago--and I told them why would I bank with you--you obviously have little respect someone like myself--being white, male, and educated.

Now that I think of it - I've seen WAMU commercials back when we lived in CA, which is a couple of years ago now. In that particular campaign they focused on other banks frivolous charges. They had a whole series showing different people going into a bank and the server charging them for ridiculous things (like a conversation fee).

Seems to me that your objections are specific to the current ad campaign. As I say - its a far cry to go from that to claiming that WAMU is racist as an institution. I'm not sure that claim is justifiable based solely on questionable marketing.