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Although I sent this email to Expedia.com a week ago, I haven't received a reply yet. At least Kleenex sent a reply regarding their misandric commercial (though I'm not sure what action they will take).
Steve
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by Anonymous User on 02:00 AM August 10th, 2004 EST (#2)
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The campaign they are running appears to have users contemplate destinations and compare that against what the on-line literature advertises. It is not all that onerous a commercial considering the times we live in.
They could in reality have done the same thing with a female imagining going to New York and the guy looking at Gallegher and his "sledge-amatic" Most of us know you are going to come home from that wet or messy depending on where you get your seats. In this case the two parties reached a consensus and no one gets harmed.
While you are entitled to your opinion and perhaps you did find this commercial particularily degauling, I frequently mention to two young boys what would you think if they had reversed the roles when I watch commercials. This commercial came no where near that line.
In my opinion we can't win all the wars and in this case this is a battle we shouldn't even bring to light or the table.
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Magique is only the latest in a series of misandric ads from Expedia. I sent the attached letter by snail mail (that seems to have more impact):
Barry Diller
Chief Executive Officer
Expedia, Inc.
13810 SE Eastgate Way
Suite 400
Bellevue, Washington 98005
Dear Mr. Diller:
I am writing in regard to a series of Expedia.com commercials that I perceive as insulting to men.
In the first, a businesswoman is booking a flight for a business conference. A colleague (female) snickers about the individual with whom she will be traveling. After which the woman booking the trip imagines the traveling co-worker (male, if that should be any surprise) acting in a grossly obnoxious manner. The customer then searches by shortest flight time.
In the second a couple is booking a trip to Hawaii. The gentleman finds a list of activities and suggests surfing lessons. When his significant other (female) agrees, he imagines the instructors coming on to her, in less-than-subtle manner, while ignoring him entirely. He then suggests an alternative activity to which she grudgingly agrees.
The third commercial shows a couple discussing plans for a trip to New York City. The lady asks if they would be able to see a play called Magique. The man imagines himself at the play, where the actors strip off his shirt and paint a goofy face on his chest. The man then suggests a baseball game instead and the wife less-than enthusiastically agrees.
Would you run commercials similar to the aforementioned, if the gender roles were reversed? As an example, would you run a commercial where the lady finds out why it is a very bad idea to wear an expensive evening gown to the front row of Gallagher's show? I have little, if any; reason to believe that you would.
You would never run any commercials that show Jewish customers searching by lowest price or African-Americans booking a trip to a watermelon festival, so why are men always the butt of jokes in your commercials?
Make no mistake; I agree that it's important to have a sense of humor. However, when men are consistently the butt of the joke, it ceases to be funny and becomes tiresome and insulting. When, by the way, did the demand to laugh at one’s self become unique to white males?
Please discontinue these and similar commercials and start portraying men in as respectfully as you portray women. Otherwise, I will take my travel business to one of your competing online services.
Thank you for your time and cooperation
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