R-word - I felt like such a ###### - Ad Discussion

[KTrain]

I've seen the debates here on the use of the word "######" and I know we have a good/bad ads threads but I thought this warranted its own thread.

Here's an advertisement from the Special Olympics about the use of the word ######. What are your thoughts? Over the top? Just shock advertising? Impactful?

I think the message is powerful but the ad itself could use a lot of work. The image is a little distracting and almost haunting. Distracts from the overall message.

Credit: Image from http://www.scaryideas.com

[kermitology]

Image looks like a ghost of a person with Downs Syndrome.

The words would be enough I think..

[ricoFlame]

well, I agree with the message, but I don't realy care for this kind of ad, the image is freaky. I suppose if it gets people talking, then that is mission accomplished, but sometimes it's a bit much.

[flip]

Wow. They just reduced themselves to PETA like status in my books. ###### by definition means slow. If they would stop promoting it as an offensive word, it wouldn't be a problem. Makes me want to be less tolerant out of spite.

Are they offended when French people say they are late and use the phrase En ######?

[Gozer]

Note to society:

Quit making words sacred! It only gives more power to those that use them!

[flip]

I wonder if the Special Olympics would have the balls to change f***** or chink to spic and n*****. I doubt it.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by flip

I wonder if the Special Olympics would have the balls to change f***** or chink to spic and n*****. I doubt it.

I bet CP won't!

edit: drat, edited

[Bertuzzied]

They might as well throw the C and the N word in there too. Cover all the bases.

That pic is freaky as hell though.

[Dion]

I agree with the message but think the words alone would been enough.

[Raekwon]

Why would you edit the words F****** and N****** but not the other two? Are the unedited words any less offensive?

Just curious in general as none of the words offend me

[Dion]

"The use of the R-word perpetuates the dehumanizing and negative stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities,"

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

Why would you edit the words F****** and N****** but not the other two? Are the unedited words any less offensive?

Just curious in general as none of the words offend me

I think CP censors those automatically.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by flip

I wonder if the Special Olympics would have the balls to change f***** or chink to spic and n*****. I doubt it.

Those are racial slurs. And never had any meaning besides a derogatory one. ###### is medical term that is used by people in an insulting manner.

[Locke]

I hate this debate, its the easily offended vs. the overly protective.

Its a word. Its literal English translation means "Late." Get insulted over it, or not, whichever.

[Igottago]

I can see their point, but, where do you draw the line. People could say "I felt like such a dummy" and then some group would claim the word "dummy" offends the intellectually challenged.

[CrusaderPi]

Lots of racial words do have other meaning. The meaning of n-word would make it one of my favorite words, if I was allowed to say it.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Lots of racial words do have other meaning. The meaning of n-word would make it one of my favorite words, if I was allowed to say it.

What meaning is that? just curious because I couldn't find another meaning

[flip]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Those are racial slurs. And never had any meaning besides a derogatory one. ###### is medical term that is used by people in an insulting manner.

I agree. Part of the reason I don't like the ad. I do understand people don't like it but I rarely let it censor me. That is not to say I use ###### as a derogarory term towards ######ed people intentionally, but I do say it to my friends and stuff. I also use the term gay to describe things that are, well, gay. I know a few gay people and am totally fine with their lifestyle choice, in fact, I'm a huge proponent of gay marriage. Yet I don't find using the word gay as being particularly offensive, in context.

[DESS]

Well I think the debate on this one is already over. Society has deemed "######" to be offensive and I doubt it'll ever go back to being inoffensive.

Personally, I don't like the ad. IMO the Special Olympics should be trying to change peoples' perceptions of the disabled by continuing to run their athletic competition and look to sponsors to help legitimize it. Kind of like a Cosby Show approach to things. You know how the Cosby Show just operated as though racism didn't exist? It worked well for the show and maybe even society as a result. I would like to see the Special Olympics shy away from this debate and just focus on putting on their competition.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by flip

I wonder if the Special Olympics would have the balls to change f***** or chink to spic and n*****. I doubt it.

I had the same thought.