Comments on: Ad-Tastic: Snickers Hates the Gays

By: Calgary Yank

Calgary Yank — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:06:11 +0000

okay heres the thing. Though i myself am not gay, i have an aunt who is(who i love very much), i have many friends who are, my church minister is, and i even participated in the day of silence last year at my school, and i am for gay rights and gay marriage. now hears the thing. i do not think this ad is homophobic for one simple reason. the only evidence you have that the speedwalker is supposed to be a gay man is that his hips swish, hes wearing short shorts and that mister t says your a disgrace to the man race. well none of the people who i personally know are gay wear shorts shorts, none of them swish their hips like that, and would most likely agree with me that the speedwalker is being an idiot. you do know that gay men can be into tough sports like football or basketball(some have even played in the nba and nfl), and that straight men can be into stupid sports such as speedwalking right?

By: Klute

Klute — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:06:27 +0000

Its a satire in the same vein as Home Improvement and ‘Tool Time’, but because its a 30 second bit the characters are more extreme.

lame, overly defensive (mr T is Christian so he must hate gays right?) rant. Try harder next time please.

By: Firefighter Jack

Firefighter Jack — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:53:48 +0000

Snicker bars must really hurt the thin skinned. It must especially hurt if you are effeminate. You cry to be tolerant, but you muzzle anyone who doesn’t share your point of views. I have seen more and more pro gay entertainment for the last 3 decades. But now Snickers has to pull an ad because it suggests something. Boy your ego must bruise very easy? Or is it that the gay are the most homophobic? I think the ad is hillarious. Can’t wait to share it with the gang at the firehouse. They will fall out of their chairs. They love humor!!!

By: Yum, Candy Bars

Yum, Candy Bars — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:26:59 +0000

I think the ad is hilarious. People are too damn whiney nowadays. It seems like everyone is up in arms whenever any group gets made fun of, except for of course Christians. Christians are constantly picked on by every just about everyone and it’s considered the norm.

By: abayareabum

abayareabum — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:11:03 +0000

I’m not gay but live close to San Francisco and I still for the life of me see why this is attacking gays? If anything it’s attacking health and fitness nuts speed walking around the block like twits. Its to bad, these promo ads looked liked they would have been funny and there would have been more. The people at Mars made a mistake to give in to a few uneducated whiners. But according to Bill Graham we’re a Nation of whiners.

By: zoe

zoe — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:46:19 +0000

seriously? people are claiming it is not a depiction of a gay man?? how much more f-ing po-faced PC do you want to be?! “I don’t see that, if YOU see that, it is a reflection of YOUR obvious homophobia and stereotyping”. WTF!?

acknowledging an advertising company’s use of a stereotyped imagery does NOT mean you think every power-walker is gay, or that you are homophobic for being able to recognise that imagery.

you can’t ignore the message of the ad: acting or appearing ‘unmanly’ is a “disgrace to the man race” (yep – a direct quote!) and deserving of scorn. yes, it’s tongue-in-cheek, and as they have only aired the soccer version in Australia (which points more to ‘unsporting’ behaviour than ‘unmanlyness’) I didn’t think it was too offensive, but seeing the set of ads, it is CLEARLY promoting the idea that not acting within a narrow parameter of ‘manly’ behaviour and appearance is unacceptable, and to be attacked.

that is… a homophobic message.

If you can’t even recognise that….. I don’t know what to suggest to be honest. Stereotyping exists and is used constantly (and sometimes very well), even if you choose to deny it! If you can’t even discuss it….. well. Good one, Mark , for making a statement.

By: RS

RS — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:18:30 +0000

I completely agree with AG, you said it perfectly. This was even on CNN, if you want to associate the way the man is walking as homosexual, then that’s reflective of your own personal views of Homosexuals. I certainly did not associate the walk by thinking the guy was gay, it is only making fun of speed walking…which does look pretty funny.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:48:50 +0000

Note: Using Billy Bob from Oklahoma does not mean that I’m personally attacking all Oklahomans. I’m referring to Averege Joe Blue Collar that this ad targets. They could be from any state and any country, and Oklahoma just had a nice ring to it. I don’t really think my throwaway example merits personal attack. Thank you.

By: mr T

mr T — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:20:30 +0000

I think the fast walker is being hounded by mr T because it’s the same guy whom very unmanly faked an injury in a soccer game in an earlier snickers ad.

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:06:12 +0000

Hmmm – so it’s OK to refer to SOME stereotypes (re. “Billy Bob from Oklahoma”) but not others?
Hypocrites. Plain and Simple.
Yes, I’m from Oklahoma. No – I don’t see the ad as homophobic. Pointless – yes, a poor attempt to tie into some ideal of machismo to sell candy? – yes, but homophobic – no.