Hewlett Packard TV Commercial Perpetuates Image of Hapless Male

Hewlett Packard

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Those watching Wimbledon tennis on NBC were just treated to a commercial for Hewlett Packard digital cameras/computers. It shows a guy doing his grocery shopping, using a set of digital photos his wife had prepared by taking photos of food items in the home and comparing them to items in the store. The tag line is something like: "a shopping list even a guy can't mess up."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Once again, men are portrayed as hapless bumblers and idiots. Imagine the outrage if the sex roles were reversed, or if the male actor wasn't a white bread white guy.

[martin_fierro]

Then there's this bunch of rocket scientists:

[Paradox]

Hah! Actually, it sounds like a cute commercial.. but I wonder what the reaction would be if instead, the woman had taken the camera to the garage, with digital images of various tools that her husband wanted her to get for him (Hammer, Pliers, Phillips "cross thingie" screwdriver...)

[Dead Dog]

True, but it was funny. And it convinced the future Mrs. Deaddog to buy a digital camera...Bonus!

Truth of the matter is, these slights are funny because we are not the weaker sex, and definately not a weaker race.

The ability to laugh at yourself is a sign of strength. Joining the liberals in their wallowing self loathing and misery doesn't help anyone, and getting bent out of shape over these things is the first step to becoming like them. However, it is good to point out the hypocracy.

The truth of the matter is, the engineers who developed the camera couldn't take enough pictures to get Carly Fiona to understand boolean algerbra.

[buccaneer81]

Another example: National City Bank radio commercials in Ohio.

Title: I'm Abbey

Woman: I'm Abbey, and my bank is National City. Home equity rates are the lowest in years...

Cut to the end.

Abbey: So I got the family room I always wanted.

Husband: And I got more room for spending time with my family.

Abbey(dripping sarcasm):Yeah, right honey. You and the big screen TV.

Makes me want to puke. Any wonder the "family/domestic" courts trat us the way they do?

[gdani]

Would commercials portraying white males (of which I am one) as a bunch of whining crybabies be more to your liking?

Sounds like it might be more accurate.......

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I agree that it was a fairly cute commercial. Just pointing out the hypocrisy. Keep an eye out on commercials, and you'll notice that all burglars, idiots and bad guys in general are invariably white guys!

[Atlas Sneezed]

I like the commercial where the wife surprisingly encourages her husband to buy a bigger TV.

[Joe Hadenuf]

You bet. TV routinely slams white males and portrays them as total idiots. We went from watching about ten hours of TV a week some years back, to about one or two hours a week. It's pretty bad when every other commercial is showing some small, helpless, cowering white guy that can't think his way out the most simplistic problems

I make it a point to watch as little TV as possible, as most is mindless crap, brought to us by homosexuals, commies, and Hollywood freaks.

[caa26]

The white male the last sacred cow that can be scorned publically without retribution. (Unless you're gay.)

I don't mind the commercial, I'm just sick of white guys being portrayed as idiots, uncool or racists.

[SarahW]

algerbra

No, we go to Victoria's Secret for that stuff.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Do as we do. Turn the f-ing thing off.

[skeeter]

However, it is good to point out the hypocracy.

Yes, it is. 'Cause whether we wallow in self pity or not, others are accepting these constant images of stupid, helpless white guys as reality. And thats a problem.

[Illbay]

This has been true for some time now. White males are EVERYONE'S favorite slap-stick gag. Why? Because we're the only group who isn't so hyper-sensitive and panty-waist that we immediately go to Washington to DEMAND (through some spokesman that speaks with a lisp) that all such stereotyping cease.

It's a quandry. Just say nothing and take it like a man, or risk becoming immasculated by whining.

[Illbay]

...these slights are funny because we are not the weaker sex, and definately not a weaker race.

You nailed it. They can try to laugh and deride all they want. We'll just keep running the world.

[Illbay]

Any wonder the "family/domestic" courts trat us the way they do?

Because the learned judges watch TV COMMERCIALS and form their opinions thereby?

You wanna rethink that?

[Illbay]

That's HIM, not me! Don't lump me in with the white males that wanna join the 'pity party' indulged in by every other demographic!

Bring on the stupid stereotypes; I can handle it.

I'll just continue to be responsible for the greatest economy in human history, okay?

[1rudeboy]

Imagine the outrage if the sex roles were reversed, or if the male actor wasn't a white bread white guy.

Imagine the reaction if someone admitted to racially-profiling television ads.
Wait a minute.

[Illbay]

And thats a problem.

It's THEIR problem. When you go through life, basing your attitudes and decisions on false data, YOU are the one who invariably loses.

And the white guy next door just keeps running everything while you whine about it.

[da_toolman]

I agree that it was a fairly cute commercial. Just pointing out the hypocrisy. Keep an eye out on commercials, and you'll notice that all burglars, idiots and bad guys in general are invariably white guys!

Watch Cops or other police shows and you'll see different.