Gamestation Defends "Sexist" Ad

[TheAmazingHobo]

What is this I don´t even....


On the plus side, the ad gave me a great idea for an ad for extra-strong coffee:
"Even blacker than the inmates in an American prison."

On the down side, I don´t think this nonsense even technically qualifies as an ad.
It´s just.... a sentence.
And not even a good one. It´s just confusing.
Are you insulting me, because you imply that I have to buy a girlfried ? Are you implying that my girlfriend was cheap ? And is that supposed to mean that she sleeps around or that I had to pay only a small amount of money for her ? Or a large amount ? I mean you have only limited my girlfriends cost downwards. That is mathematically seriously imprecise.
Or at least not O-sharp.........
Why would anyone read this ad and feel compelled to buy the game ?

 

[lacktheknack]

you're canadian (I actually looked up you're profile this time), so don't assume your interpretation is better than those of british citizens of a british company. I don't know how the slang works in your country, but here it's a very viable thing to complain about. I've seen a few canadians say it's a cost thing, not a sexist remark, so I think you're missing something, as brit slang is quite different

Actually, this is rather plain english. They're saying that it costs less overall to buy the game then it does to take a girl/woman/whatever on one, or more dates.

The most you could really accuse them of is being overly conservative. The idea of the man paying the whole way, really. Who does that?

Apparently not enough people, considering how many people appear to have misinterpreted the sign.

 

[Rayne870]

It's not sexist, it's an observation. Maybe when girls stop emptying their boyfriends' pockets, they can complain.

Wait, it's because... OH! I get it!

...You stupid idiots. This is political correctness gone horrifically wrong. Just because it CAN be taken as a sexually snide remark doesn't mean it IS.

Shh, don't be smart in here they don't like it when people are smart.

 

[Dr. Crawver]

you're canadian (I actually looked up you're profile this time), so don't assume your interpretation is better than those of british citizens of a british company. I don't know how the slang works in your country, but here it's a very viable thing to complain about. I've seen a few canadians say it's a cost thing, not a sexist remark, so I think you're missing something, as brit slang is quite different

Actually, this is rather plain english. They're saying that it costs less overall to buy the game then it does to take a girl/woman/whatever on one, or more dates.

The most you could really accuse them of is being overly conservative. The idea of the man paying the whole way, really. Who does that?

no, I accuse you of not understanding the slang involved. It must not mean it in canada (I mean seriously, it's the canadians here who aren't seeing it), but I am british, and I can tell you that it is far too easy to be taken as your girlfriend being "easy" or a whore. It's slang, and they chose their words knowing full well what it can mean. It's a british add, so I'm not surprised you missed it, but trust me, this isn't harmless

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Gamers have girlfriends? Surely that's equally missing the stereotype they're playing to.

How about "Cheaper than your last date"? That throws the stereotype a great curve ball that you can take many ways.

 

[camazotz]

Once again young (boy, I hope you're all young) male gamers make me embarassed for my gender.

Wake up, life is not one continuous herp derp adventure in Animal House.

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

I equate this with any other "Take my wife" joke that I have heard over my twenty year period on this earth. This jokey attitude is a norm, however unfortunate it may seem, and I don't condemn people who are just following norms that they and everyone else have lived with their entire lives.

 

[ALPHATT]

n1gaf, it's funny how much people see in a harmless juvenile ad.

 

[Dr. Crawver]

Right, and there's never any ads that show women being smarter/more competent than men, right? Sexism is a one-way street, everybody knows that!

Of course, I don't mean to imply that my sarcasm says that I'm offended by the opposite happening. I don't get offended by man/woman bashing because I'm not a little baby-man.

you are however on the gender that hasn't had to fight, and still fight for equal rights for centuries now, are you?

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

btw Gamestation is pretty much Gamestop in britain. When I go in there 90% of there games are preowned. I don't buy preowned games if I can help it (might if theres something I want and can't locate it) Also they don't seem to sell PC games. They just put the last nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Baneat]

Right on - for once the game industry didn't fold at the hint of controversy

Right, and there's never any ads that show women being smarter/more competent than men, right? Sexism is a one-way street, everybody knows that!

Of course, I don't mean to imply that my sarcasm says that I'm offended by the opposite happening. I don't get offended by man/woman bashing because I'm not a little baby-man.

you are however on the gender that hasn't had to fight, and still fight for equal rights for centuries now, are you?

Two categorical wrongs don't make a right, think of affirmative action programmes

 

[kaizen2468]

Of course it's cheaper than my girlfriend, my girlfriend is frigging expensive lol

 

[camazotz]

I equate this with any other "Take my wife" joke that I have heard over my twenty year period on this earth. This jokey attitude is a norm, however unfortunate it may seem, and I don't condemn people who are just following norms that they and everyone else have lived with their entire lives.

You really should. Change doesn't happen in a vaccuum.

 

[Korne]

I'm all against any kind of discrimination... but seriously, the girl needs to get over. That would like me getting mad if a movie had the slogan, "Edward is better than your boyfriend" and me getting offended by it because I like movies. And it's a joke anyway.

 

[mr.mystery]

I dont see the problem...it IS cheaper then a girlfriend!

 

[Dr. Crawver]

The problem isn't whether women are cheap or expensive, it's that women have a price at all. (or men)

It really hinges on how one views dating relationships. If everything is about having a permanent partnership, then implying a person can be bought is somewhat offensive. But if a relationship is about having a good time, then clearly price is important.

Personally, I'll give the store the benefit of the doubt that they intended the second interpretation.

I personally feel you can't do that. They know what they are saying, they would have thought about their adds, the don't do them off the cuff, and they knew it could mean the former, and as such they should be chastised for it

 

[camazotz]

n1gaf, it's funny how much people see in a harmless juvenile ad.

See, I wasn't overly worked up about the ad...other than recognizing that with external media people need to realize that intent of a message is not actually contected to interpretation of that same message. What got me was all the ridiculously mysoginistic man-child responses to it. Unfortunately this isn't anything new, near as I can tell...I remember plenty of guys when I was young who seemed to hide their terror of growing up and the opposite sex behind a continuous barrage of mysoginistic posturing. Really funny in retrospect, except for the fact that too many of those guys I knew never really grew up...still lead shallow, sad lives riddled with fear and contempt.

 

[Dr. Crawver]

*rolls eyes* the majority of gamers are males.
the advertisement wasn't calling girls cheap it was calling your girlfriend expensive.
the PC monster strikes again *political correctness*

british slang, it's far stronger, and that term is pretty virulent over here. They knew what they were saying, they knew it would offend people, but they still did it. This is not PC gone mad, this is a predominantly male run company thinking they can squeeze out a little extra profit at the cost of women, as well as the dignity of our industry

 

[lacktheknack]

no, I accuse you of not understanding the slang involved. It must not mean it in canada (I mean seriously, it's the canadians here who aren't seeing it), but I am british, and I can tell you that it is far too easy to be taken as your girlfriend being "easy" or a whore. It's slang, and they chose their words knowing full well what it can mean. It's a british add, so I'm not surprised you missed it, but trust me, this isn't harmless

I checked the first page of replies, and you're right. O_O

I guess this means that Canadians have cleaner minds...?

Anyways, I'll take your word for it, although I'm not convinced it wasn't just a failure in communication.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I'm all against any kind of discrimination... but seriously, the girl needs to get over. That would like me getting mad if a movie had the slogan, "Edward is better than your boyfriend" and me getting offended by it because I like movies. And it's a joke anyway.

She has a point though if she was sexually discrimatory towards a man in her job she would be fired so why is the advertisment section allowed. Double standards ftl.