dude, he's got a bone in his nose... You really can't get much more stereo typically 'uncultured' then that. I think those ads in general are awful, because they all tend to focus on very 'cheap' jokes and non-politically correct gags to get people's attention. There are so many better ways to get attention, that honestly, as someone who is majoring in media, I find it to be a poorly executed solution to an advertising problem. Yes, they need to get people's attention. But why is it a 'primitive African man' running away? why not a tourist? or even better... a gazelle or zebra? I highly doubt that an African native is going to get up close to a rhino and provoke it. People who grow up around dangerous animals learn early on what to do and what to not do, ya know?

I wouldn't take it too offensively, I mean what about the rhino?
It's an offensive depiction of a rhino- not all rhinos chase people and have red blood thirsty eyes.

Originally Posted by MNson

I wouldn't take it too offensively, I mean what about the rhino?
It's an offensive depiction of a rhino- not all rhinos chase people and have red blood thirsty eyes.

xD!
Ilu!

POWER TO THE RHINO!

Originally Posted by Jali

xD!
Ilu!

POWER TO THE RHINO!

ROFL - I agree! Poor Rhino T-T

Originally Posted by raine dragon

dude, he's got a bone in his nose... You really can't get much more stereo typically 'uncultured' then that. I think those ads in general are awful, because they all tend to focus on very 'cheap' jokes and non-politically correct gags to get people's attention. There are so many better ways to get attention, that honestly, as someone who is majoring in media, I find it to be a poorly executed solution to an advertising problem. Yes, they need to get people's attention. But why is it a 'primitive African man' running away? why not a tourist? or even better... a gazelle or zebra? I highly doubt that an African native is going to get up close to a rhino and provoke it. People who grow up around dangerous animals learn early on what to do and what to not do, ya know?

Wow, I was about to give up on hearing anything useful in this thread and then you came along! Thanks so much that was my sentiments exactly!

I don't know maybe it's because I wasn't raised in middle class white suberbia that I know how racially insensitive images like this can be so detrimental to society...

Oh and just because I didn't mention the idiotic sexist ads as well doesn't mean that they are any less derogitory... I dunno I kinda feel like most of you have missed the big picture with this...

But of course most of you are probably pampered little white kids that have no idea how much this shit is hurting our society... /bitchy rant>

While I can certainly see the offensiveness of that ad, I've seen other ads by those sorts of companies and I believe this is a case where they aren't so much racist as they are equally offensive to everyone. They make ads of all different sorts that show stereotypical and offensive sort of images. I figure it's easier to just ignore those sorts of things (which is a good idea for crappy ads to scam sites anyways) than to get all upset over it.

Yes, I guess it's offensive..
Or maybe not...
It's just an ad anyway..
There are a lot of ads like that, I guess..

Originally Posted by Jaded Geisha

But of course most of you are probably pampered little white kids that have no idea how much this shit is hurting our society

I found that far more offensive than I found the cartoon. Maybe you didn't mean to insult everyone, but I do feel insulted.

If you feel insulted than that probably means I hit the nail on the head... Well enjoy the sting honey... You will be getting no apologies from me...

Originally Posted by Jaded Geisha

If you feel insulted than that probably means I hit the nail on the head... Well enjoy the sting honey... You will be getting no apologies from me...

Just because I don't share the same opinion as you doesn't mean that I am spoiled or ignorant. Why is the only statement that you find "useful" in your thread, the one that is the exact same as yours? It seems like it's a good thing to hear everyone's opinions. It makes a person think more deeply about how they feel to hear both sides of an issue, don't you think?

Anyway, maybe you could edit your first post with some of the ways that this is detrimental to society to explain your point of view a bit further. And maybe this should be moved to the debate forum.

Originally Posted by Jaded Geisha

If you feel insulted than that probably means I hit the nail on the head... Well enjoy the sting honey... You will be getting no apologies from me...

Or maybe she was offended because your statement was just as stereotypical as the ad you were so upset about? Just because someone doesn't get all up in arms about every little stupid stereotypical thing making fun of a particular culture, race, gender, etc... doesn't mean that they are "pampered little white kids that have no idea how much this shit is hurting our society". Maybe the fact that we see this sort of nonsense every day (and not just about Africans, but about every race, gender, nationality, sexuality and any other identifying group a person can be labeled as) and we still don't think any less of someone for these things, shows that our society is actually getting better. I know that equality has still not been achieved in the society I belong to, not for any social minority; however, I don't see how getting yourself so work up over something as unimportant as a scam site ad is going to change that. I can look at that ad and not think any less of Africans because I know just how many stereotypes I face myself for things I can't control and things that shouldn't matter. People who are racist and do buy into the stereotypes though aren't that way because they saw some stupid ad. In most cases, they're the way they are because it is how they were raised and something as meaningless as an ad isn't going to have any impact on them.
I think you're placing way to much importance on something that really doesn't have an impact at all and not nearly enough on the real causes of stereotypes, racism, sexism and any other sort of bigotry and discrimination. I also think attacking people for not jumping on and supporting you in the idea that this ad is so important is doing more to hurt your case than anything. How do you expect to change anything when you're willing to stereotype the very people you claim have so much against you?

It is quite racist, yes. >.>; Though honestly...I find it more stupid than offensive. I hate those ads. I hate the way they use cheap gags to try and grab your attention, make you play some idiotic little minigame so they can load your computer with spyware...>.<;;; And of course, they go for stereotypical depictions of everything.

So like I said...I find it more blatantly idiotic than anything. Although to be honest...I might find it a bit amusing if it were some random tourist getting chased by a rhino, because...I've seen it happen. XD;; (He was fine, for the record - that's why I can laugh now.) Although I would STILL find it...amazingly stupid.

I don't find that offensive, and I'm usually offended when people say or do bad things about black people if they aren't joking about it. (My boyfriend is black, but I digress.) Like I said, if they are joking about it, I don't find it offensive. That looks like a joke, an amusing little game that they tend to stick on MySpace ads. There's no need to get uppity about it. Just because it's there doesn't mean that they secretly want to turn people into KKK members in the process of getting a free ringtone.

I can understand that you found it offensive, and that's your opinion that I cannot change. But don't get so defensive when people disagree with you. I mean, we're giving our opinions just like you're giving yours.

I'm torn on what to say. I don't find it offensive but I could see how some might find it offensive or stereotypical and so on.

Originally Posted by Jaded Geisha

Wow, I was about to give up on hearing anything useful in this thread and then you came along! Thanks so much that was my sentiments exactly!

I don't know maybe it's because I wasn't raised in middle class white suberbia that I know how racially insensitive images like this can be so detrimental to society...

Oh and just because I didn't mention the idiotic sexist ads as well doesn't mean that they are any less derogitory... I dunno I kinda feel like most of you have missed the big picture with this...

But of course most of you are probably pampered little white kids that have no idea how much this shit is hurting our society... /bitchy rant>

Looking back through this thread, this above quote offends me far more than anything else here.
You ask for peoples opinions, you get them and dismiss them unless they agree with you.
Not only that, but you resort to a completely unnecessary attempt at a put down at the end.
I'm not white. I'm not little. I'm not a kid.
I've had experiences of real racism several times in my life.
I still don't find that picture 'racist' because I've known what real racism is and it's a damn sight worse than a silly cartoon.
The cartoon isn't as offensive as you are.

My opinion:
It's an ad. An annoying ad. It's not meant to be offensive, and honestly, I think they have every right to put it there. There is freedom of speech in this country, and well, considering it's not directed at a specific person, they should have every right to make it and use it.

Originally Posted by Jaded Geisha

Wow, I was about to give up on hearing anything useful in this thread and then you came along! Thanks so much that was my sentiments exactly!

I don't know maybe it's because I wasn't raised in middle class white suberbia that I know how racially insensitive images like this can be so detrimental to society...

Oh and just because I didn't mention the idiotic sexist ads as well doesn't mean that they are any less derogitory... I dunno I kinda feel like most of you have missed the big picture with this...

But of course most of you are probably pampered little white kids that have no idea how much this shit is hurting our society... /bitchy rant>

Wow. so I must say that no african american I have ever met had been insulted by things like this. As a matter of fact, most of the African Americans call themselves Niggers, hell, they don't mind it if I do.
Yes, Racism is a problem, but "racist" jokes, really, are... well, more dependant on who's telling it. I mean, really, I myself make jokes making fun of EVERYONE. Including myself.
America has freedom of speech. Take that away, and well, what would be so great about it? Everyone should be able to say whatever they want without worrying if it's "offensive".

And, honestly, isn't the fact that they have the token black guy in movies offensive? Or that now they have ads where they SPECIFICALLY make sure to add every race, even if you KNOW that's the only reason they picked them?
I find the whole being politically correct fad that's going on is offensive to me, as an american, and as a human being.
Racism is horrible, but here's the truth: You will never get rid of it. Why? Because it's HUMAN NATURE. We reject what is different.

Originally Posted by juniper_silver

I found that far more offensive than I found the cartoon. Maybe you didn't mean to insult everyone, but I do feel insulted.

yeah.. me too :|
that's just really immature.

but I guess people here have already told you everything I had to say about this, so I'll just leave it as that -.-
But NO, I'm not like that, and I'm sure not a lot of other people are like that either. :|
Do you see someone laughing to that ad?

Yes, ofcourse OFFENSIVE ads hurt society in my opinion, but that ad you posted isn't one of the WORST. It may be offensive to some people, like you, but come on, you know there are ads far more worse than that. And that ad is a LITTLE compared to those.

Does NOT help at all that you bring up this one tiny ad that doesn't seem offensive to a lot of people, and then tell them theyre pampered white kids with no sense of things going on around them.
And you're not even sorry. Well guess what, I don't think the people who made THAT ad are sorry at all either. -.- What makes you so different from them now, huh?

Originally Posted by Jaded Geisha

Wow, I was about to give up on hearing anything useful in this thread and then you came along! Thanks so much that was my sentiments exactly!

I agree with the others that you can't put down others opinion as not 'useful'

Funny that you found hers 'useful' because it hit the same note as yours.

Originally Posted by Ebil

Looking back through this thread, this above quote offends me far more than anything else here.
You ask for peoples opinions, you get them and dismiss them unless they agree with you.
Not only that, but you resort to a completely unnecessary attempt at a put down at the end.
I'm not white. I'm not little. I'm not a kid.
I've had experiences of real racism several times in my life.
I still don't find that picture 'racist' because I've known what real racism is and it's a damn sight worse than a silly cartoon.
The cartoon isn't as offensive as you are.

I totally agree with Ebil - I've been harassed before because of my race, quite a number of times, because frankly, some people know how to really be racist, and they're not doing it through a cartoon, but in my face. None of us thought you were crazy, so don't call us names either. We respected your opinion on this. And we gave you ours. *shrugs* Maybe you should keep your '/bitchy rant?' to yourself next time?

I don't really see it as racist.
There are people in Africa that still look like that today.
It would be offensive if it depicted a black man from America (who didn't have any strong tribal heritages, upbringing, or pride) with a bone through his nose. Because that would be relying on stereotypes. But it's not. That's not Barack Obama or Bill Cosby running from a rhino, it's just an African man.
It's also not remotely implying that every single man in Africa has bones through their noses and wears leaves for clothes.
And yes. A man from Africa would know not to agitate a rhino.
But a real hunter would eventually learn to give up on trying to shoot Bugs Bunny too, don't you think?
It's not that big of a deal, it's just a cartoon.

But what do I know. I'm just a "pampered little white kid."

Staring at that... I do not know personally of an aborigine tribe in Africa that wears both grass skirts and a ceremonial nose-bone. It kind of makes me think of African Pygmy's though, but a pygmy would never be taller than the rhino.

Basically I think it is some spammers quick drawn idea of an aboriginal in Africa but I do not find it offensive because whoever designed it is pretty much a moron in realistic design.. though I wouldn't really see WHY they would be trying to be one hundred percent politically correct because it IS an ad. I mean, if it bothers you too much it should be replaced with another if you refresh the page.

Whoever does design these though, they think it will be eye catching, a guy getting run over by a cartoon rhino. And I wonder if it is because I always see new version's of these, someone must be finding it amusing and clicking on it!

Someone must because they haven't moved on to trying something new. I wonder who finds it fun to actually beat the game or fall for the spam. I admit I've clicked on those games before to squish theb ugs, ha ha, I hate bugs. But then I close out the add that immediately pops up if I accidentally beat the game.

I dunno but I don't see it racist. =w=; Maybe it's just me. D:

I don't see it as racist at all. Maybe African Americans have been chased by a rhino. It's not a big deal. Those ads are just cartoons of whatever they can think of to lure people into their scams. It's just a cartoon. It's not screaming or trying to scream "BLACK PEOPLE GET CHASED BY RHINOS". Now I'm not racist, I have no problem with anybody of another race. They're people just like me. But I really don't see how that's racist.

I don't think it's offensive. Just spammy spam. You could put any other person like maybe some kooky-looking explorer/tourist in front of the rhino and it'd probably have about the same effect.

i think they got what they wanted. someone to notice it. XD that's all they wanted i belive.... unforunately it is very offensive...

... Well, I don't think it's racist. I really don't think I should repeat the reasons because they've already been explained in the 1st page.