“Buy my stuff” are words advertisers can’t use this time of year. They have to go for a broader message.
I have to be very careful in telling this story because it involves people we really do care about, we just happen to think they are very wrong about some things. Please forgive me if I fudge on some of the details.
About a month ago, I bought Kat a very large and colorful scarf. The scarf was to offset the solid gray suit that she needed to wear for a special occasion. At first, I wasn’t sure how much Kat actually liked the scarf. It was one of those times when, after staring at a wall of scarves, she turned to me and said, “You’re the fashion person here. You choose.” I never know quite what to do with statements like that.
Nonetheless, as it’s gotten colder Kat has taken to wearing the scarf in place of a hat. The scarf is large enough that she can drape it over her head then wrap it around to keep as much of her face and neck warm as she needs. As an added bonus, it doesn’t smash her hair down as a hat would.
This past weekend, she wore the scarf to an event we were attending. As we were preparing to leave that evening, Kat started to put on her scarf and was wrapping it around her neck when someone for whom we care very much said, “You look like you’re about to set off a bomb in that thing.”
We were stunned and left without saying anything further. We know this person to be kind, caring, and very giving. For such an incredibly racist statement to come from her mouth was not only surprising, it hurt.
People all over the country have been saying a lot of hurtful and insensitive things the past few weeks. We’re heading into that time of year when we’re supposed to be unified and joyous. Yet, it seems like every day there’s a new video of someone berating another because of their presumed religion, or race, or ancestry, or gender.
Advertisers have picked up on the tenuous emotion of this particular holiday season and many have backed off the aggressiveness of trying to sell their product. Instead, they’ve opted to attempt to send a message that perhaps gets us a little closer to the actual holiday spirit. Sure, they still want you to buy their stuff, but they don’t want you to yell at a cashier because she’s Hindu or screaming at a woman in the aisle just because she’s wearing a hijab.
Below are three ads that have very important messages going beyond purchasing their product. If you get the message, that’s wonderful. May you have a joyous holiday season. If you don’t, you might need to back up and rethink why you’re bothering to celebrate any holiday at all.
Come Together
https://youtu.be/VDinoNRC49c
Good Times
Open Your Heart To Everyone
https://youtu.be/aFPcsYGriEs
Morning Update: 10/23/24
Our chat this morning is going to be disappointingly short, not because there’s nothing to talk about, but because my head has been spinning from the moment I sat in my chair and it’s not getting any better. I’ll go as long as possible, but please understand if I need to leave abruptly.
The kids are fine. Kat had a much-needed day off. I made a chicken and eggplant dinner that both kids actually ate. For the second day in a row, a complete stranger stopped their car to chat with me at some length. Apparently, I look friendly. Hamilton doesn’t like this trend, though. He wants all the people to stay away from his fence.
This is not going well at all.
Am I the only one who finds it interesting that McDonald’s has an E.Coli problem the day after the Orange Felon pretended to work at one? And the problem exists only in Quarter Pounders, the felon’s favorite burger. McDonald’s, for their part, swears they’re not making a presidential endorsement.
Has anyone offered you pink cocaine? Don’t risk it. The stuff doesn’t contain any coke, but a random mix of drugs, mostly ketamine, dyed pink. The stuff has a fun rating of 0.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries was charged with sex trafficking. The 16-count indictment is probably just the beginning. Teen boys were the targets, which probably explains some of those questionable ads.
Deep dive: Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen’s Suicide? The mother of a 14-year-old Florida boy says he became obsessed with a chatbot on Character.AI before his death. Yes, you have all the reason in the world to be concerned.
Genetic tests showed that certain patients were predisposed to brain injuries if they took the drugs. That information remained secret. Admittedly, many Alzheimer’s patients and their families are desperate enough to have dismissed the risk had they known, but they still should have been told.
If you’re into NYTimes opinions, there are some decent ones this morning:
Okay, I’m tapping out for today. Be nice to each other. Drink plenty of coffee. We’ll try again tomorrow.
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