Peter Gleick came across this 'Toys "R" Us' commercial and provides some trenchant commentary, such as:
This ad is offensive on so many levels:
- It insults science and environmental education teachers.
- It insults science and environmental education programs and field trips.
- It insults science and nature in general.
- It insults children (though no doubt these kids got free toys, and maybe even money, to be in the ad -- how awesome).
- It promotes blind commercialism and consumerism (OK, I know that's the society we live in, and the purpose of ads, and the only real goal of Toys "R" Us, but to be so blatantly offensive and insensitive?)
- It sends the message, as Colbert so cogently notes that "The great outdoors is nothing compared to the majesty of a strip mall."
Aw, c'mon - lighten up! At 0:53 isn't that boy peering into a microscope?
Hey - perhaps some of these children will run for Congress some day!
Not a pretty sight.
BTW - I'm kidding about the Heartland Institute.
"Carbon dioxide is portrayed as a harmful gas. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows carbon diosxide is a harmful gas." - Michele Bachmann
"The great outdoors is nothing compared to the majesty of a strip mall." - Stephen Colbert (from Gleick's article)
Peter Gleick … and I thank him … merely uncovers the tip of America’s affinity with the power of advertising … the truth be damned …
Posted by: paul f miller | Sunday, 10 November 2013 at 09:31 AM