aloofman
macrumors 68020
So people should censor themselves because someone is already offended? If we did that, the only comments in this thread would be people expressing outrage.
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BenQ uses 9/11 for advertising campaign.. caution sensitive image
- Thread starter Bern
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So people should censor themselves because someone is already offended? If we did that, the only comments in this thread would be people expressing outrage.
aloofman
macrumors 68020
Since the Civil War was between U.S. factions, I don't think it qualifies as a foreign power, but the War of 1812 definitely does. The British did burn down the White House and Capitol building, after all.
It's a small fact in this context, but it annoys me when people repeat an inaccuracy because they're outraged. It doesn't make 9/11 less horrible to instead say that it's the first attack on the mainland U.S. in 187 years.
spicyapple
macrumors 68000
aloofman
macrumors 68020
Have you seen United 93? Because if you had, you'd probably see that it actually depicts the kind of un-Hollywood heroism that inspired a lot of Americans in the aftermath of the attacks. It's all in the presentation.
A bigger issue is the idea of pop culture reflecting painful events so soon after they've happened. This is not new and it's not necessarily bad. Casablanca came out while the Resistance was still smuggling people out of Nazi-controlled territory. The Grapes of Wrath was shot and released when the Great Plains were still ravaged by the Dust Bowl. Both were stories that were basically current events when people first saw them and, for many people, they humanized events that were distant and difficult to comprehend.
aloofman
macrumors 68020
Perhaps you could make a list of all the things that offend you so we'll know in advance not to talk about them. 🙄
princealfie
macrumors 68030
bousozoku
Moderator emeritus
I'm really surprised that they have a company in the U.S.A. since I've never seen any of their products.
I wonder if this will send a signal to other companies to be more thoughtful when selecting images and scenarios.
decksnap
macrumors 68040
I think you need to clear up in your mind the difference between Americans and their president. Kind of a blanket prejudice statement to make, no?
9-11 was big all over the world. Unless you live under a rock. It's not bigger than certain other events, of course. We stop and grieve for other tragedies too. It's one world.
Maxx Power
Cancelled
I don't know about that, for an average joe, grieve for other people's tragedies might take all their lives, every Nike product, every gas fill-up, every electronic device... the list is a bit too big to grieve for every tragedy, just selected ones that the mass media selects for us.
solvs
macrumors 603
I have. They make cheapy devices, like cd/dvd-rom drives. Fry's is full of them, as are some catalogs like MacMall (I think). But they've apologized if anyone is offended, and it doesn't hurt those who weren't, so I'm placated.
Just hoping they didn't receive any death threats or anything, because that makes it so much worse, but knowing some people I'm sure they did.
bousozoku
Moderator emeritus
Fry's = cheap, right?
I've seen UK magazines and a few Malaysian and Singaporean websites with monitors and digital cameras from BenQ but as much as I've seen Fry's, I've never entered one. Surprising that I'd not noticed their products in the MacMall catalogue.
It is great that someone from the company is willing to apologise.
The fall of the two towers saw the tragic deaths of so many people who were not only Americans. There were a lot of international business investments there which in turn had a myriad of staff from all over the globe. The destruction of these towers wasn't just an arrow in the heart of Americans, but a direct hit at the international community and the many families around the globe who had brothers, sisters, sons. daughters, mothers, fathers and so on working there.
For any company to blatantly capitalise on this inhumanity for direct profit is disgusting and ignorant. It's that kind of mind set that causes the tragedy we have in this world.... greed and selfishness!
The BenQ brand is pretty well-known in Singapore although not as big as the major brands.
I can assure you that if you show the advert to most people in china, malaysia or singapore, perhaps more than 80% of them would not recognize it's WTC. And furthermore, you must remember that those who are always up to date with international news are the minority. A lot of them would know about WTC, but to narrow it down to this picture, I would say it's pretty tough especially since it's been quite some time. I'm glad that BenQ responded and pull it off their site, I'm sure it's just an oversight and not meant to offend anyone.
I can assure you that if you show the advert to most people in china, malaysia or singapore, perhaps more than 80% of them would not recognize it's WTC. And furthermore, you must remember that those who are always up to date with international news are the minority. A lot of them would know about WTC, but to narrow it down to this picture, I would say it's pretty tough especially since it's been quite some time. I'm glad that BenQ responded and pull it off their site, I'm sure it's just an oversight and not meant to offend anyone.
solvs
macrumors 603
Not that China, Malaysia or Singapore are exactly the majority of international informatives. Most of them still think Australia has a white only policy 🙄 and there's more of them here studying in our "well informed" universities than in their own countries. Perhaps the 80% you speak of are more concerned with consumerism rather than humanitarianism...
Perhaps, you should let bousozoku comes back with his findings before you start offending people.
TheAnswer
macrumors 68030
Hmm...anyone have figures on how many died as a result of being overworked in sweatshops in Southeast Asia just so we can have our fancy tennis shoes, consumer electronics and the like?? I'm willing to guess it's more that died that day on 9/11.
And how many Americans have heard about the situation in Darfur or still remember the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. I'd guess it's a lower percentage than 80%. This is where Americans get labeled with the insensitive tag, dwelling on our own tragedies while ignoring or quickly forgetting those of others.
spicyapple
macrumors 68000
But American companies didn't advertise MP3 players using the Darfur tragedy as the backdrop. (which is a fair comparison given BenQ advertised using the WTC tragedy as their backdrop).
This whole "America is insensitive" line parroted throughout this thread is a bunch of generalized nonsense.
princealfie
macrumors 68030
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7662.htm
Once again, the proof is in the pudding.
Insensitive = political correctness?
Stingy most likely.
spicyapple
macrumors 68000
TheAnswer
macrumors 68030
I think there have been ads using tsunamis and now we are getting our very own HBO miniseries on it. The fact is, this or another like it could have used the background of the Darfur tragedy or many other similar events worldwide and most Americans wouldn't have noticed or cared.
Then of course is how we treat current worldwide events, a google news search on the coup in Fiji reveals our true concerns, our TV schedule.
Generalized at the level of the majority of Americans and based in facts, thus generally true. For the amount of information readably accessible to us, we (in general) are ignorant of world geography, world disasters and world politics (that don't directly include us). A large part of this is because we consider ourselves top dog and another part of this is because we are geographically isolated from these events.
bousozoku
Moderator emeritus
As Malaysia and Singapore are commonwealth countries, the education is similar to Australia's but Malaysia in particular, has a lack of funds but I'd say that both countries' systems are quite full.
Would you say that even though the governments (national and local) don't have a white-only policy, that a number of people still retain that as a personal policy, just as they do here in the U.S.A.?
Things don't always make sense but for the majority of people who are open and friendly, there are usually a handful who make someone's experience harsh and bitter.
TheAnswer
macrumors 68030
freeny
macrumors 68020
I live walking distance from the WTC site today. I worked just 9 blocks from that building every day for 6 years. I would enter that building at least 4 times a month to do transactions at the American Express office on the 4th floor and I can tell you that that is 100% the World Trade Center.
Its not the fact that that they used the WTC in the ad, its the fact that they are selling mp3 players. WTF do mp3 players have to do with the WTC? They arent selling safety gear or collecting donations. They might as well have been selling diapers, printer ink or even loofa. Im not all that offended by this, its just that the ad is stupid.
The "we are doing it because you guys are so much worse" additude is pathetic. The anti U.S. banter has become such a cliche. Stop pointing fingers and make suggestions as to how to change it. It makes you no better then us evil dirty Americans.
