I agree, anyone that is completely outraged by it needs to ask themselves why. Slightly irritating or patronising I get but the sentiment behind it is fine. There are much worse things in the world to worry about for sure.
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
[Misc] The new Gillette ad
- Thread starter Lush
- Start date
I agree, anyone that is completely outraged by it needs to ask themselves why. Slightly irritating or patronising I get but the sentiment behind it is fine. There are much worse things in the world to worry about for sure.
BrickTamland
Well-known member
How very edgy, calling someone 'woke'. If being 'woke' means not being blind to obvious problems, so be it
Mackenzie
Old Brightonian
It’s rubbish. Where are the fast cars, explosions and birds in bikinis?
About as edgy as your white lives matter yawnfest. I am guessing you are a liberal, left of centre thinker as it were and so I am. I fully support the desire for us all to be better people and for that reason I think you have to be careful with singling out a particular group to be better. There are good and bad people in this world, ones that are doing great and ones that could do better, I just think picking on a particular group to tell them to do better does not help the process.
Are there problems amongst masculinity? Sure. There are also issues in some black male culture, there are issues in some muslim cultures, there are issues amongst s.american cultures, I could go on.
BrickTamland
Well-known member
Think we're mostly on the same page, so I apologise as my comments would have been better directed against others on this thread.
I do somewhat disagree though. The ad was warning against the dangerous aspects of masculinity, and that's what it did. Just because other problems exist doesn't mean that one should be immune from being challenged. If an ad against the dangers of smoking came on, you wouldn't say 'oh but drinking kills too, why single out smoking'. No, that would be ridiculous. It was an ad directed against a portion of the population where issues exist and it attempted to spread awareness and possibly effect change. Really don't see the problem.
I think my point is that I cannot imagine an ad campaign targeting another group telling them to sort their sh1t out. You are right though that in the grand scheme of things it is not worth the outrage it seems to have occurred in some and as mentioned at the start, I agree with the sentiment. I think I find it slightly patronising coming from a multi-million pound company trying to generate more sales.
Grombleton
Surrounded by <div>s
- Dec 31, 2011
- 7,356
I think that sums things up in a nutshell for me.
I’ve just watched that ad for the first time, meh.
Albion Dan
Banned
I'm with Joe Rogan
MattBackHome
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 11,878
Load of kerfuffle over nothing.
mejonaNO12 aka riskit
Well-known member
Don't be so hard on yourself.
And I'm with the Daily Mash
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news...heads-asks-razor-blade-company-20190116181425
It's an advert ffs, and the amount of coverage it's got is a win for Gillette.
I have followed your increasingly nuanced chat with [MENTION=16091]BrickTamland[/MENTION] with interest. The bit I highlight is probably the source of your disagreement - one of you thinking this is key and the other not. I think that paradoxically, we (I assume you two too) in the most successful, dominant and therefore untouchable sector of society, the educated while male, are the only group in a position to lead on this sort of thing. And, yes, allow the message to include other types of bloke as well, other ethnicities and social classes. However, targetting other very separate groups, such as muslim men from a rural peasant background (with all their weird shit) would be a bit forced and would be rejected by all of them (they would need to generate their own stuff). What's that old saying? Don't let your reach exceed your grasp?
I'm not being hard on myself.
Just can't see any merit in the ad. What are Gillette trying to achieve?
Yes, it may be talked about by bods like me with too much time on their hands, but I dare say those with more important things on their mind are unaware of this load of bollocks.
Quite a good article by Alice Thompson in yesterday's Times.
Last edited:
Blimey Harry, written at 8.26 am. Give me until midday and I may have had time to research the 'nuanced chat' and then be in a position to fully understand your post. Then again.......
At the moment, I am struggling!
Hey, did Mejona's reply to me really merit a 'Like'? Please reconsider.
Good analysis there.
Albion Dan
Banned
As a piece of marketing we will see how effective it will be. The people it's offended are likely Gillette customers and its highly unlikely anyone who doesn't buy their products will because of this campaign. Just not sensible marketing. Additionally it appears that Gillette continue to reinforce gender stereotyping with their product packaging between male and female shaving products. Any half decent brand team would have at least made sure that the products were updated to support their comm's positioning.
Bob'n'weave
Well-known member
Totally agree. This "Toxic Masculinity' drivel is appalling. They've done a Ratner, basically calling their entire customer base women-hating rapist *****. Just sell your crap, and stay out of pseudo identity politics, it's not helping anyone.
Bob'n'weave
Well-known member
Gillette have had to defend their ad and the thinking seems to be, "so what, it's the women that do the shopping so we are telling them what they want to hear". They are also squirming with glee at all the 'free' advertising from the ensuing media bin-fest. Utter wankers. I'll never buy a Gillette product again.
https://www.smh.com.au/entertainmen...film-the-best-men-can-be-20190116-p50rrl.html
https://www.smh.com.au/entertainmen...film-the-best-men-can-be-20190116-p50rrl.html