PODS Commercial Encourages DV

I haven't been able to find a URL of the commercial on either the PODS or the PGA web site. The commercial in question played several time last week during The PODS Championship. I thought perhaps it was only going to play for that one time a year tour event. However it was repeated this week during the WGC CA. It appears PODS is partnering with the PGA. So of course I emailed PODS concerning my outrage of the female-on-male domestic violence. I promptly received the following reply.

"Thank you for your letter dated March 25th to PODS regarding our recent
commercial and your concern regarding domestic violence.
As you know, many people really hate the prospect of moving and the
scenes you are mentioning are a very over the top description of that
emotion. It was the opinion of the agency that nobody would take it
seriously as it obviously was an extreme exaggeration or 'over the top'.
In fact, although the commercial has aired throughout the world, we have
only received three such complaints. It would seem that almost everyone
recognizes it to be an extreme over exaggeration.
One reason PODS chose to support the PGA TOUR was the fact that so much
of the money goes toward charity. Some of those charities obviously deal
with the issue you have cited. And, in addition, PODS donates thousands
every year to charities and organizations that do good in this world. It
obviously was not anyone's intent to promote aggression."

From The Desk of

Juan Antonio Manrique

Platinum Services OFF-Line Escalation Specialist

Hours 11:00am - 11:00pm EST (OFF Friday & Saturday)

1-888-776-PODS Ext. 5226

5585 Rio Vista Drive

Clearwater, Florida 33760

PODS The Official Moving & Storage Company of the PGA Tour

Lets make it more then three.

I wrote to them; got a subservient reply from a lackey back; replied to that. I was too angry to be polite.

[ snip ]

I recently saw your advertisement featuring a wife
beating her husband repeatedly for inconveniencing her. As a result I
find your advertisement, your company, and the PGA tour which they
befouled, absolutely loathsome. I earnestly hope that whatever Women's
Studies major that wrote it receives exactly the beating they so
lovingly rendered.

You are traitors to half the human race and deserve nothing -- nothing
-- from the American public.

Benjamin A. Studtmann
Outraged White Male

[ snip ]

Now the reply:

[ snip ]

Dear Mr. Studtmann:
Thank you for your letter dated March 26th to PODS regarding our recent commercial and your concern regarding domestic violence.
As you know, many people really hate the prospect of moving and the
scenes you are mentioning are a very over the top description of that
emotion. It was the opinion of the agency that nobody would take it
seriously as it obviously was an extreme exaggeration or 'over the top'.
In fact, although the commercial has aired throughout the world, we have only received three such complaints. It would seem that almost everyone recognizes it to be an extreme over exaggeration. One reason PODS chose to support the PGA TOUR was the fact that so much of the money goes toward charity. Some of those charities obviously deal
with the issue you have cited. And, in addition, PODS donates thousands every year to charities and organizations that do good in this world. It obviously was not anyone's intent to promote aggression.
From The Desk of
Juan Antonio Manrique
Platinum Services OFF-Line Escalation Specialist
Hours 7:00am - 7:00pm EST (OFF Friday & Saturday)
1-888-776-PODS Ext. 5226
5585 Rio Vista Drive
Clearwater, Florida 33760
PODS The Official Moving & Storage Company of the PGA Tour

[ snip ]

That REALLY torqued me off, so I replied thusly:

[ snip ]

On 3/26/07, Juan Manrique wrote:
> As you know, many people really hate the prospect of moving and the
> scenes you are mentioning are a very over the top description of that

That does not make it acceptable. The movie "Silence Of The Lambs"
shows a very over the top serial killer; that does not make serial
killing in general acceptable for advertisements.

> emotion. It was the opinion of the agency that nobody would take it
> seriously as it obviously was an extreme exaggeration or 'over the top'.

You were wrong. I took it seriously, and told you so. So did
others. Your opinion, and your agency's opinion, was wrong. You were
wrong in that we males would not take it seriously; you were wrong
that it was "obvious"; you were wrong that it is an "extreme
exaggeration" -- that is why you are being deluged with angry mail
today. You are being pointedly and directly informed that your
opinion was wrong. Furthermore, you are a traitor to your gender and
to American males everywhere. You should be ashamed of yourself; I
certainly am for you. Are you well paid to stand behind the ox cart
with a shovel, sir? Did you even think to question the highly
empowered person who suggested to you that YOU be the male flunky to
take the heat?

> In fact, although the commercial has aired throughout the world, we have
> only received three such complaints. It would seem that almost everyone
> recognizes it to be an extreme over exaggeration.

That is quite simply a lie -- perhaps you are unaware that your
campaign has attracted some national press attention, and that large
numbers of us are writing in bulk. I look forward to reposting this
fascinating claim and your immediate retrademarking as a misandritic
version of the Iraqi Information Minister.

> One reason PODS chose to support the PGA TOUR was the fact that so much
> of the money goes toward charity. Some of those charities obviously deal

The fact that the PGA donates a tithe to charity does nothing to
excuse YOUR agency's behavior. I earnestly hope you learn this lesson
after your wife / girlfriends engages in a little 'over the top'
violence that others like you refuse to believe. You are hiding
behind another agency's partial good works to hide your own bad ones.
You, sir, are a coward, as is your company.

> obviously was not anyone's intent to promote aggression.

Merely to advertise it, and profit from it. Thank you for your
comments; we look forward to seeing what a wider audience thinks of
them.

Repent, sir. If you cannot repent, be shamed. If you cannot even
manage that, consider doubt.

Benjamin Studtmann
Unsurprised American Male

They claim they've received only three -- in an obvious form letter.

Jesus Christ, how much more rubber-stamped can disinformation get?

I wonder if this is the same guy? If so, why?

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.4295.IH:

HR 4295 IH

105th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 4295

For the relief of Juan Antonio Manrique.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 21, 1998

Mr. JOHNSON of Wisconsin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

For the relief of Juan Antonio Manrique.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR JUAN ANTONIO MANRIQUE.

(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Juan Antonio Manrique shall be eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence upon filing an application for issuance of an immigrant visa under section 204 of such Act or for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident.

(b) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS- If Juan Antonio Manrique enters the United States before the filing deadline specified in subsection (c), he shall be considered to have entered and remained lawfully and shall, if otherwise eligible, be eligible for adjustment of status under section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION AND PAYMENT OF FEES- Subsections (a) and (b) shall apply only if the application for issuance of an immigrant visa or the application for adjustment of status is filed with appropriate fees within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(d) REDUCTION OF IMMIGRANT VISA NUMBER- Upon the granting of an immigrant visa or permanent residence to Juan Antonio Manrique, the Secretary of State shall instruct the proper officer to reduce by 1, during the current or next following fiscal year, the total number of immigrant visas that are made available to natives of the country of the alien's birth under section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or, if applicable, the total number of immigrant visas that are made available to natives of the country of the alien's birth under section 202(e) of such Act.

(e) DENIAL OF PREFERENTIAL IMMIGRATION TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN RELATIVES- The natural parents, brothers, and sisters of Juan Antonio Manrique shall not, by virtue of such relationship, be accorded any right, privilege, or status under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

(f) RESCISSION OF OUTSTANDING ORDER OF REMOVAL OR DEPORTATION- The Attorney General shall rescind any outstanding order of removal or deportation, or any finding of eligibility for removal or deportation, that has been entered with respect to Juan Antonio Manrique.

END