What a load of old bollocks!!! The Yanks don't have a sense of humour.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10618913
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10618913
Permalink
Permalink
Haha. Shouldn't be taken as racist though.
Permalink
Permalink
The only things racist are the youtube comments.
However to be fair (oh err) 51% of the yanks polled found it wasn't racist.
However to be fair (oh err) 51% of the yanks polled found it wasn't racist.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
Permalink
Permalink
Saw on the news here in Sydney tonight that something like 80% of aussies didn't think it was racist. To be honest I can see both sides.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
Permalink
Permalink
I dont see anything wrong with it???
Permalink
Permalink
I think it isn't particularly funny although that is its intent. It is mildly insulting but in line with that type of humour.
You would have to be extremely sensitive to think that it panders to a stereotype.
You would have to be extremely sensitive to think that it panders to a stereotype.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
Permalink
Permalink
It's fine. Americans do a lot worse.
Permalink
Permalink
I guess the question is why is the one white guy giving fried chicken to a bunch of black guys to shut them up.
Would it be the same joke if they were all black, or all white?
If not, then there's a racial stereotype involved.
Would it be the same joke if they were all black, or all white?
If not, then there's a racial stereotype involved.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
Permalink
Permalink
Hmm - yep I believe you are right Smithy
(wanders off to find some humble pie...)
(wanders off to find some humble pie...)
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
Permalink
Permalink
I guess the question is why is the one white guy giving fried chicken to a bunch of black guys to shut them up.
Would it be the same joke if they were all black, or all white?
If not, then there's a racial stereotype involved.
Would it be the same joke if they were all black, or all white?
If not, then there's a racial stereotype involved.
Whats interesting,is those who think its racist are only looking at skin colour (being slightly racist themselves?). Whereas what i see is a a couple of austrlian cricket supporters stuck with a bunch of west indian cricket supporters making all the noise,so they give them KFC to make it better for themselves. That scenario works and is funny regardless of skin colour. If it were the same aussies in with the barmy army for example.
It is in no way racist 
and its sad people jump to that conclusion so quickly.
and its sad people jump to that conclusion so quickly.Allegedly
Permalink
Permalink
Agree with Tegal. It's a group of West Indian supporters and the add was shown while the West Indians were touring.
Permalink
Permalink
All I can see is an Aussie cricket fan offering KFC to West Indian cricket fans. He's just being polite.
Permalink
Permalink
He was just giving them the chicken before they stole it off him, I can't see anything wrong with the ad.
Permalink
Permalink
That ad is definitely racist.
And it is the worst kind of racism because it is the kind of subtle reinforcement of racial stereotypes that is easily excused or dismissed as "just a joke".
Would those defending this ad feel as confident walking up to Eugene Dadi and offering him a bucket of fried chicken because "everybody knows that's what black people like". Would it be OK to throw a banana at Eugene because he is from Africa and it's "just a joke"? Come on people!
Permalink
Permalink
I had a terrible feeling when reading all the 'it's just a joke' comments..and having seen the ad I can only support Termy Xs take on it 
Permalink
Permalink
There is nothing racist about it. There is a series of advertisements that have had a similar theme (guy giving people KFC to shut them up so he can watch cricket) running all summer. If the whole story had been told here there wouldn't be this sort of bullsh*t!!!
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
Permalink
Permalink
So yes, I have flip-flopped and do agree with Smithy and Terminal-X's observations.
It is subtle racism (regadless of the context of a series of ads).
(but wrong analogies re throwing bananas - that is blatant and designed to offend. This is an ad intended to be humourous but has fallen back on a setting that relies on subtle re-inforcing of a stereotype for the double entendre humour)"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
Permalink
Permalink
Fair enough Junior, it's a poor analogy. The act of throwing a banana at someone is clearly designed to offend.
But imagine if that ad was for bananas and a white guy offers a group of black people a bunch of bananas to shut them up? That, to me, would still be playing on a stereotype and highly offensive.
Racism is institutionalised in our society and too often excused or ignored by those who do not have to suffer its consequences.
Permalink
Permalink
That ad is definitely racist.
And it is the worst kind of racism because it is the kind of subtle reinforcement of racial stereotypes that is easily excused or dismissed as "just a joke".
Would those defending this ad feel as confident walking up to Eugene Dadi and offering him a bucket of fried chicken because "everybody knows that's what black people like". Would it be OK to throw a banana at Eugene because he is from Africa and it's "just a joke"? Come on people!
And it is the worst kind of racism because it is the kind of subtle reinforcement of racial stereotypes that is easily excused or dismissed as "just a joke".
Would those defending this ad feel as confident walking up to Eugene Dadi and offering him a bucket of fried chicken because "everybody knows that's what black people like". Would it be OK to throw a banana at Eugene because he is from Africa and it's "just a joke"? Come on people!
[/QUOTE]
But you're the one attatching that to the ad.
its a KFC ad,of course they were going to be passing around chicken. the group were representing a sports team,not "black people" and i in no way saw any of what you said in the ad. Had it been the english cricket team there at the time,the same ad would have played.
[QUOTE=Junior82]
So yes, I have flip-flopped and do agree with Smithy and Terminal-X's observations.
It is subtle racism (regadless of the context of a series of ads).
How does the context not matter? The context is everything to do with the ad. By ignoring context and plugging any old theory you think of into it,just doesnt make sense.
Allegedly
Permalink
Permalink
Fair enough Junior, it's a poor analogy. The act of throwing a banana at someone is clearly designed to offend.
Imagine it was an ad for bananas and an australian cricket supporter offers a group of west indian cricket supporters a banana,to shut them up.
But imagine if that ad was for bananas and a white guy offers a group of black people a bunch of bananas to shut them up? That, to me, would still be playing on a stereotype and highly offensive.
Racism is institutionalised in our society and too often excused or ignored by those who do not have to suffer its consequences.
Why say black,when thats clearly not the context of the ad? As ive said,the same joke would work perfectly well if it had been the barmy army in town at the time,therefore it is not racist.
Tegal2010-01-08 10:52:24Allegedly
Permalink
Permalink
Edit - this was in response to Term X's post...which I was too lazy to quote.
But it's not bananas, is it. That's like saying: imagine if the white guy said "get that down you darkies". He doesn't, so it's an irrelevance.
Smithy2010-01-08 10:56:31
But it's not bananas, is it. That's like saying: imagine if the white guy said "get that down you darkies". He doesn't, so it's an irrelevance.
Smithy2010-01-08 10:56:31
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
Permalink
Permalink
I wasn't ignoring the series of ads - I was saying that this particular ad relies on the stereotype as part of the humour.
Go back to Smithy's observation and change the ethnicity of the crowd and see if you (honestly) find that situation as humourous.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
Permalink
Permalink
Yes i do does that mean that anybody who only sees it as racist is more racist than me for seeing it that way only?
does that mean that anybody who only sees it as racist is more racist than me for seeing it that way only?
The australians are giving another bunch of cricket supporters KFC (because that what theyre advertising...) to shut the other group up for a moment. No racism at all,and works in that context regardless of race.
Allegedly
Permalink
Permalink
Perhaps this is more about the viewer.
If you watch the ad and see a heart warming sharing of deliciously fried chickeny goodness at a cricket match between fans of the two teams playing then you are type A.
If you see a white guy with food in a crowd of noisy black guys with no food and that white guy using his food to silence the noisy hungry black guys then you are type B.
If you're type B maybe you're bringing your own racist views to the ad, rather than the ad bringing racism to you?
Just putting it out there.
If you watch the ad and see a heart warming sharing of deliciously fried chickeny goodness at a cricket match between fans of the two teams playing then you are type A.
If you see a white guy with food in a crowd of noisy black guys with no food and that white guy using his food to silence the noisy hungry black guys then you are type B.
If you're type B maybe you're bringing your own racist views to the ad, rather than the ad bringing racism to you?
Just putting it out there.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
Permalink
Permalink
Actually we're all racists do varying degrees - it just depends on the maliciousness or offensiveness.
I didn't see the ad as racist on first viewing, but I'll refer to Term-X's comment: "Racism is institutionalised in our society and too often excused or ignored by those who do not have to suffer its consequences."
In essence what I take this to mean is that we can all spot blatant discrimination and by and large disapprove, but the more subtle (or instituionalised - i.e. accepted as the norm) can be overlooked all too easily. As I did.
Humour is good for this - pushing the boundaries of acceptability and making us think why we found some things funny and others rather flat.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
Permalink
Permalink
Yeah except i didnt find it funny because they were black at all. They were west indian cricket supporters in the context of the ad. They couldve been any race and the context wouldve remained the same.
That quote does mean we have to nitpick through everything and create something racist out of nothing,because isnt that just making things worse? By putting more racism out there.
Allegedly
Permalink
Permalink
Well that was partly what my last comment about pushing boundaries was hinting at.
I do like a good laugh - but somethings that have me p!ssing myself, others find quite vulgar or offensive. And other things that i find quite banal others roll around LTAO.
Diversity is what keeps things interesting and as long as there is no maliciousness attached to things I can accept or tolerate different viewpoints.
Anyway - I must have had a brain explosion last night to get on my moral high horse about this and some other things (see Minto, ManU thread) so I'll retire from these thought provoking discussions.
(may come back on Sat night if we lose badly and I'm in a foul mood!)
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
Permalink
Permalink
Actually we're all racists do varying degrees - it just depends on the maliciousness or offensiveness.
I didn't see the ad as racist on first viewing, but I'll refer to Term-X's comment: "Racism is institutionalised in our society and too often excused or ignored by those who do not have to suffer its consequences."
In essence what I take this to mean is that we can all spot blatant discrimination and by and large disapprove, but the more subtle (or instituionalised - i.e. accepted as the norm) can be overlooked all too easily. As I did.
Humour is good for this - pushing the boundaries of acceptability and making us think why we found some things funny and others rather flat.
Well said Junior.
And Tegal - drawing attention to racism is not creating more racism. We don't have to nit-pick over everything but occasionally we do need to stop and point out that something reinforces a stereotype and has the potential to cause offense.
KFC have moved quickly to remove this ad because they recognise that it has the potential to offend a significant enough number of people that it could damage their brand (versus the benefit from the publicity). If they didn't believe that they wouldn't have done anything.
On the one hand it's a shame they couldn't have seen that in the first place. On the other hand it's always good when a story like this gets out because it does create discussion and forces people to examine their own, sometimes very subtle, prejudices.
Permalink
Permalink
What would John Minto have to say about this?
Permalink
Permalink
What would Paul Holmes have to say about this?
Permalink
Permalink
Actually we're all racists do varying degrees - it just depends on the maliciousness or offensiveness.
�
I didn't see the ad as racist on first viewing, but I'll refer to Term-X's comment: "Racism is institutionalised in our society and too often excused or ignored by those who do not have to suffer its consequences."
�
In essence what I take this to mean is that we can all spot blatant discrimination and by and large disapprove, but the more subtle (or instituionalised - i.e. accepted as the norm) can be overlooked all too easily.� As I did.
�
Humour is good for this - pushing the boundaries of acceptability and making us think why we found some things funny and others rather flat.
�
Well said Junior.
�
And Tegal - drawing attention to racism is not creating more racism. We don't have to nit-pick over everything but occasionally we�do need to stop and point out that something�reinforces a stereotype and has the potential to cause offense.
�
KFC have moved quickly to remove this ad because they recognise that it has the potential to offend a significant enough number of people that it could damage their brand (versus the benefit�from the publicity). If they didn't believe that they wouldn't have done anything.
�
On the one hand it's a shame they couldn't have seen that in the first place. On the other hand it's always good when a story like this gets out because it does create discussion and forces people to examine their own, sometimes very subtle, prejudices.
�
�
Well said TX. Was going to write an involved post over this, but your posts pretty much sum up my own thoughts, so I'll leave it at that.
Permalink
Permalink
Given that all the time I lived in Australia, I never, ever experienced anyone stating that they believed blacks ate a lot of fried chicken.
What's happening here is that US commentators are viewing the advert through their own historically, stereotypically biased glasses.
It wasn't until somebody explicitly said 'It's racist because the US stereotype is that African-Americans eat a lot of fired chicken' I would never had made any connection, or taken any racist connotation from it, I would imagine the vast majority of Australian viewers would be the same. I agree with the comment that IMHO skin colour is unimportant to this advert, as it's advertising the chicken, with the point being that KFC is so good it will distract fans engrossed in the cricket game.
I've recently complained to the ASA about a recent KFC ad (the face slapping spicy chicken one - I though it was too much like the Tango ad of a few years ago which lead to kids up and down the UK slapping each other round the ears)
Now - if he had been sitting amongst a crowd of Cook Islanders ........
ginger_eejit2010-01-08 15:18:37
What's happening here is that US commentators are viewing the advert through their own historically, stereotypically biased glasses.
It wasn't until somebody explicitly said 'It's racist because the US stereotype is that African-Americans eat a lot of fired chicken' I would never had made any connection, or taken any racist connotation from it, I would imagine the vast majority of Australian viewers would be the same. I agree with the comment that IMHO skin colour is unimportant to this advert, as it's advertising the chicken, with the point being that KFC is so good it will distract fans engrossed in the cricket game.
I've recently complained to the ASA about a recent KFC ad (the face slapping spicy chicken one - I though it was too much like the Tango ad of a few years ago which lead to kids up and down the UK slapping each other round the ears)
Now - if he had been sitting amongst a crowd of Cook Islanders ........
ginger_eejit2010-01-08 15:18:37
When Hibs, went up, to win the Scottish Cup - I wisnae there - furfuxake!
Permalink
Permalink
Actually we're all racists do varying degrees - it just depends on the maliciousness or offensiveness.
I didn't see the ad as racist on first viewing, but I'll refer to Term-X's comment: "Racism is institutionalised in our society and too often excused or ignored by those who do not have to suffer its consequences."
In essence what I take this to mean is that we can all spot blatant discrimination and by and large disapprove, but the more subtle (or instituionalised - i.e. accepted as the norm) can be overlooked all too easily. As I did.
Humour is good for this - pushing the boundaries of acceptability and making us think why we found some things funny and others rather flat.
Well said Junior.
And Tegal - drawing attention to racism is not creating more racism. We don't have to nit-pick over everything but occasionally we do need to stop and point out that something reinforces a stereotype and has the potential to cause offense.
KFC have moved quickly to remove this ad because they recognise that it has the potential to offend a significant enough number of people that it could damage their brand (versus the benefit from the publicity). If they didn't believe that they wouldn't have done anything.
On the one hand it's a shame they couldn't have seen that in the first place. On the other hand it's always good when a story like this gets out because it does create discussion and forces people to examine their own, sometimes very subtle, prejudices.
Fair enough,well said. Its one thing to say it could offend some people in a racist way,and another to say KFC did it on purpose. So yeah i understand what you're saying there,good call. 
Allegedly
Permalink
Permalink
That ad is definitely racist.
That's taking things a little out of context, throwing a banana at an African is different to offering fried chicken to people from the West Indies (which isn't even part of Africa). If some black guy offered me beer at the cricket to shut me up because I'm a whitey and love beer, I would in no way be offended. It's not racism just because there are black guys involved.And it is the worst kind of racism because it is the kind of subtle reinforcement of racial stereotypes that is easily excused or dismissed as "just a joke".
Would those defending this ad feel as confident walking up to Eugene Dadi and offering him a bucket of fried chicken because "everybody knows that's what black people like". Would it be OK to throw a banana at Eugene because he is from Africa and it's "just a joke"? Come on people!
Permalink
Permalink
People would only know its a stereotype if they Watch comedians like Chris Rock.
Permalink
Permalink
Racist New Article!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pyW6w5B7Aw
Other viewing material.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqSvu4K8WrEStefan2010-01-09 10:02:07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pyW6w5B7Aw
Other viewing material.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqSvu4K8WrEStefan2010-01-09 10:02:07
Permalink
Permalink