I don't know if any of you have caught the K-Mart back-to-school ad, but I found it a bit disturbing. I wrote to K-Mart via their website. Here is what I said...

 

Is your advertising agency, and those in your corporate offices that approve the ads, living under a rock? With every major urban area and many suburban areas in the throes of gang violence, your back-to-school TV ad portrays a boy wearing a blue bandana under his hat. While your ad agency may think that looks hip and very "gangsta", in reality it is the color worn to designate membership in the Crips - one of the major, nationwide, gangs. Most schools have banned the wearing of gang colors (blue = Crips / red = Bloods), but here we have a national retailer doing what appears to be promoting membership in the Crips. If you could wave a wand and rid our country of all gang related activity, the crime rate would decline exponentially. Wake up folks - try doing a little research before you just put something like this out there.

 

Maybe I'm being overly sensitive, but if an old fart like me picked up on it, I would bet that those of gang age are laughing up their sleeves (that's an old fart expression).

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

link?

Is your advertising agency, and those in your corporate offices that approve the ads, living under a rock? With every major urban area and many suburban areas in the throes of gang violence, your back-to-school TV ad portrays a boy wearing a blue bandana under his hat. While your ad agency may think that looks hip and very "gangsta", in reality it is the color worn to designate membership in the Crips - one of the major, nationwide, gangs. Most schools have banned the wearing of gang colors (blue = Crips / red = Bloods), but here we have a national retailer doing what appears to be promoting membership in the Crips. If you could wave a wand and rid our country of all gang related activity, the crime rate would decline exponentially. Wake up folks - try doing a little research before you just put something like this out there.

 

 

Is your advertising agency, and those in your corporate offices that approve the ads, living under a rock? With every major urban area and many suburban areas in the throes of gang violence, your back-to-school TV ad portrays a boy wearing a blue bandana under his hat. While your ad agency may think that looks hip and very "gangsta", in reality it is the color worn to designate membership in the Crips - one of the major, nationwide, gangs. Most schools have banned the wearing of gang colors (blue = Crips / red = Bloods), but here we have a national retailer doing what appears to be promoting membership in the Crips. If you could wave a wand and rid our country of all gang related activity, the crime rate would decline exponentially. Wake up folks - try doing a little research before you just put something like this out there.

 

 

Fixed for you.

But, .. Havent seen the ad at all. But I doubt their intention was to promote gang violence in anyway. Regardless, in my opinion - they shouldn't be glorifying the whole " thug life " and pants down to your ass scene in lifestyle. It's ridiculous.

Fixed for you.

 

I see what you did there...

link?

 

No link it was on TV. I checked KMarts You Tube channel and a version of the ad is on there, minus the kid in the bandana and hat. Interesting. I've seen it twice in the last hour.

I see what you did there...

 

I read the whole thing comparing word for word, before it dawned on me. DOH

I read the whole thing comparing word for word, before it dawned on me. DOH

 

:laugh: :laugh:

I am NOT observant enough then. Lol

As a bloods gang member, I'm glad the add was pulled. bloods fo life son

I'm pretty sure they didn't intend for that. They'll likely think you're just a paranoid white guy or something. (Not saying you are Pizzabob, you're the man, just looking at it from their perspective. C

 

oincidentally, Serena Williams did do the Crip-walk on TV after winning gold in the Olympics.

 

http://blog.sfgate.com/olympics/2012/08/05/serena-williams-did-the-gang-created-crip-walk-after-winning-gold-photos/

This is totally ridiculous, and you are so wrong, We all know K-mart represents The White Aryan Brotherhood. Walmart are the Crips. Walmart is not just slashing prices all over the place. They are slashing K-Mart members in bathroom stalls.

Coincidentally, Serena Williams did do the Crip-walk on TV after winning gold in the Olympics.

 

 

I thought I was the only one to notice that, she represented our country well.

I missed this.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NdwN8r9-WA

I don't know if any of you have caught the K-Mart back-to-school ad, but I found it a bit disturbing. I wrote to K-Mart via their website. Here is what I said...

 

Is your advertising agency, and those in your corporate offices that approve the ads, living under a rock? With every major urban area and many suburban areas in the throes of gang violence, your back-to-school TV ad portrays a boy wearing a blue bandana under his hat. While your ad agency may think that looks hip and very "gangsta", in reality it is the color worn to designate membership in the Crips - one of the major, nationwide, gangs. Most schools have banned the wearing of gang colors (blue = Crips / red = Bloods), but here we have a national retailer doing what appears to be promoting membership in the Crips. If you could wave a wand and rid our country of all gang related activity, the crime rate would decline exponentially. Wake up folks - try doing a little research before you just put something like this out there.

 

Maybe I'm being overly sensitive, but if an old fart like me picked up on it, I would bet that those of gang age are laughing up their sleeves (that's an old fart expression).

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

Grow up! Really?

 

 

Grow up! Really?

 

Your general unpleasantness really shines through, time after time.

The Kmart commercial is just a reflection that gang fashion has moved into the mainstream.

Yo yo yo, mofo, fo sho, fo sho.

 

I mean, uh...

 

Indubitably, my good man. Yes, quite. Care for a spot of tea?

I'd have to see the ad.

 

I have friends who are black who refuse to let their kids wear anything that represents that lifestyle even though their kids have zero chance of joining a gang . Kids can dress however they want and I think it won't make them go over to the dark side unless they are in a bad area or their parents are for crap . My friends who don't allow "gang banger clothes" obviously let them wear blue or red , even bandanas , but not with all the other garb. The bandana alone would not bother me , but if it is under a cocked barely on hat with pants hanging down , then yeah it is glorifying gangs.

 

And , as much as our own kids here in my town don't go off and join gangs , we have plenty of gang members cruising through and I would hate to see a kid get popped because he was dressed like something he was not. That in itself is the first issue that pops into my head. Dress your kid like the kid in the Kmart ad , and have a real gang banger cap your kid on his way home from school.

 

As for Kmarts ad...I would really have to see it to form an opinion. The online one is different? Funny , I've been laid up watching TV for 2 weeks in bed and have not caught that ad.

 

As for Serena Williams crip walking..I don't know what to make of it , and I don't know why she would want to do that.

 

Here to me was severe irony in personal context though. A few people jumped my you know what because I posted pics on FB of me at the range "so close to the Colorado shooting " ..these same people are defending Serena's crip walk. How hypocritical. My " Day At The Range " represents bloodshed , but Serena's CRIP DANCE is culture?!?!?! I feel fairly confident that far more people have been killed by gun gang violence than by 2 married couples enjoying a day at the Range . Ridiculous stupid short sighted sheeple that would blast me for that photo album then defend a tennis star crip walking on national tv.

I wouldn't know a Crip Walk from a moonwalk.

 

*shrug*

 

But, the idea that Sandy would receive criticism for posting photos of her at the range is nonsensical.

Watch the Serena Williams clip..you will get an idea of "crip walkin' " ...unbelievably classless.

I wouldn't know a Crip Walk from a moonwalk.

 

*shrug*

 

But, the idea that Sandy would receive criticism for posting photos of her at the range is nonsensical.

 

yes , a handful of my liberal friends and family members, who I normally peacefully coexist with , claimed it was insensitive of me to post up "gun pictures" due to the incident in Colorado . It got ugly because I was really REALLY insulted. I went to CJRP with another member here and his wife , we had a great day , met a few other members..people with class and integrity . I posted the album of us at the range and got 98% good response , except for 2 or 3 liberal anti gun friends who felt they had the place to use my photo album ( which had no request for gun control opinions attached to it) as a platform to call me insensitive for posting what I consider to be family pics and comparing it to a recent bloodshed...then they DEFEND Crip walking on national TV by someone who should be a role model to at risk black youths in hard at risk areas???? Serena is from one of those areas and it is a shame that is how she chose to give homage to her home town.

 

Shake me head shake my head shake my head...

 

Anyway , it is a free country and if Kmart wants gansta models I guess it is their prerogative. I don't like to see kids dressed like that and emulating a criminal murdering group of people . No more than I liked seeing 8 year olds in Abercrombie's push up bras for young female children . That was disgusting.

 

BUT . they sell! Shame on any parent that buys into and puts their small child in that kind of stuff. If it sells , they will carry and advertise it.

 

Another twist of irony is that most real gang members would not be caught dead ( and they often are caught dead) in Kmart clothing . No sir. It is all about certain brands. So perhaps Kmart is going for that missing customer base that goes to the outlets in Elizabeth for the real deal labels at bargain prices. Jersey Gardens? I think it is called? And funnily enough they rarely have issues there.

My question: where did you stand during the Chic Fil A debate?

Individuals and companies have a right to express themselves and voice their opinions. Maybe it wasn't an accident, maybe Kmart supports the crypts, or maybe it was a simple oversight in an attempt to appeal to a specific demographic.

I think we as a society need to stop whining about every little thing.

My question: where did you stand during the Chic Fil A debate?

Individuals and companies have a right to express themselves and voice their opinions. Maybe it wasn't an accident, maybe Kmart supports the crypts, or maybe it was a simple oversight in an attempt to appeal to a specific demographic.

I think we as a society need to stop whining about every little thing.

 

Apples / Oranges

 

I am staunchly in support of Same Sex Marriage.

 

Not whining, just think it's pretty foolish of a major retailer to not have enough insight to research things before presenting what appears to be a pro-gang message in their advertising. Are their heads that far in the sand. I brought it to their attention because, I assume that it was done unknowingly. If it was on purpose and that is the image they wish to promote, that is their right just as it's mine to choose where to spend my money.

 

Since when is social consciousness "whining"???

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

I'm with Bob on this one,

 

Sure companies and people are free to say whatever they want - freedom of speech absolutely protects that, but we has people also have the right to respond and react to it how ever we feel.

 

It's the (exaggerated) equivalent of a company putting out a commercial glorifying Hitler, or Bin Laden. Sure - you can do it. But how will people respond?

Apples / Oranges

 

I am staunchly in support of Same Sex Marriage.

 

Not whining, just think it's pretty foolish of a major retailer to not have enough insight to research things before presenting what appears to be a pro-gang message in their advertising. Are their heads that far in the sand. I brought it to their attention because, I assume that it was done unknowingly. If it was on purpose and that is the image they wish to promote, that is their right just as it's mine to choose where to spend my money.

 

Since when is social consciousness "whining"???

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

If their target demographic is already imitating gang styles then their ads are merely reflections of current culture.

 

As I've written before, the whiners get things changed. Laws change because people complain and protest.

Apples and Oranges is right.Neither the people for or against same sex marriage are putting bullet holes in 2 year olds that get in the way. Not a good analogy.

 

It is what I meant in my original post , social conscience is a good thing. It is not whining when you are appalled at a lack of decency .

 

In order to succeed things like the push up bras for 8 year olds needed a customer base and also needed for people to lay back and do nothing. If anyone here has an 8 year old daughter and thinks a padded Victoria Secret style push up bra for their child is ok , raise your hand. People got into an uproar , they were boycotted by enough parents, now the ads are for the most part down and the malted milk ball sized push bras are not in the front rack of the store. They are still there though. And I'm sure people still buy them for 7 to 8 year old girls. Shame.

 

Still wish I could see the ad. Can't seem to find it anywhere. Gone already maybe?

that is their right just as it's mine to choose where to spend my money.

 

 

As is your right to voice your opinion to K-mart, and voice your opinion in an open forum.

I get a message that the Serena video is blocked:

"This video contains content from International Olympic Comittee, who has blocked it on copyright grounds"

 

I imagine IOC purses a DMCA notice and takedown to get these blocked, and Youtube just has to block them rather than risk possible consequencs. But is this applied on all Olympic video? What about fair use? I thought fair use would cover transmission of short clips for news, discussion, etc. but may be a gray area?

I wouldn't know a Crip Walk from a moonwalk.

 

And I thought I was the only one...