Snickers Ad Sneers at Speedwalkers
What do you have to do to get respect for a sport? In the 1800's, endurance walking races brought prize money that today would rival NBA salaries. Running was the oddball sport back then. Gentleman sportsmen walked in track and road endurance contests. But the world turns, and today a male speedwalker is portrayed as a "disgrace to the man race" in Mr. T's scripted words.
I've met a few Olympic-quality racewalking men, such as coach Dave McGovern, and they are superb athletes. In a world where more men need to put down the remote control and get some exercise, ads don't need to put down anybody who is putting in the mileage. That hip rolling action burns more calories per mile than running, you fool!
Worst of all, I love the taste of Snickers. I've even touted them as a cheap alternative to spendy energy bars - and of about the same nutritional value. Snickers' ad agency is a disgrace to the human race. I'm back to the spendy (but natural and non-insulting) Larabars.
Comments
I do not see the humor at all. It’s a terrible ad, and I hope they pull it.
I see where you’re coming from, but nevertheless, it’s still an effective ad. It’s obviously NOT aimed at the racewalking demographic, but more at the Mountain Dew youth set.
The ad is totally rude and distasteful. I’d love to see Mr. T speedwalk — I’m sure he couldn’t make it a block!
I’ve seen some sick commercials, but that might just top the list. And I have long preferred to tote Snickers bars when I’m hunting, for a quick snack that gives me some oomph when I get the “weakies” (as Dad used to say).
It also upsets me to see firearms - even fake ones - portrayed in such a reckless manner.
They need to pull that commercial.
I just found the Email address dmca.agent@mars.com posted on that “getsomenuts” Web site. I’m going to send them an Email in protest.
Thanks, Russ! I stopped by the Racewalking discussion group and invited them to come make some comments. Interestingly, two had already basically said “any publicity is good publicity” for their sport, and wondered whether they could shake down Snickers for some sponsor product!
Meanwhile, Advertisting Age has an open letter from Bob Garfield to the ad company that produced this spot and other ads that played on homophobia and were stupid and insulting.
Do we really want to perpetuate the behavior of 12-year olds bullying kids on the playground who they consider to be different? I’d take it better if Mr. T got his comeuppance at the end.
I’m reminded of when 2 of my friends and I convinced our husbands to walk the Portland to Coast Relay. They are all quite the macho guys. They insisted they were just going to casually stroll on their 6-mile legs of the relay. In each case, when the first gal passed them, they were off like a shot to keep up, but forced to walk rather than run due to the rules of the Relay. They were whining the rest of the weekend of shin splints, blisters and strained muscles…
I’m so disappointed. Snickers is my favorite candy bar, but I’ll never have nuts (and don’t want any!) They really missed the boat here. Why didn’t they have that guy racewalk even faster, miss those bullets, and walk right into a store to buy a Snickers?
Great ad!
This hetereosexual manly man loves to “powerwalk”. I used to get pissed when people insult me, like some stupid little girl at the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, SC a few months ago. Or a cop at the Birmmingham 1/2 marathon. Hey, see if you can hang with me and walk for hours and hours. I like walking and being thin! Screw Mr. T. I pity the fat and out of shape man.
I never really cared for Mr. T but hey, it’s been a long time since the A-Team and I assume he needs the money from this commercial. I have not seen it on TV so they may have pulled it. It did not bother me but I can see where it could bother some politically correct people.
My comment: the walker that they show leans forward from the waist and has his butt pushed backwards; I’ve been trying to break myself of this habit for years.
To be honest, I am not that sensitive of being made fun of. It happens once in a while; I just do the old “brush that dirt off of your shoulders” thing.
I’m a long distance walker (15-20 miles per outing), and appreciate the dexterity required for racewalking, but I love that commercial! Come people, lighten up. I’m also a lawyer who loves lawyer jokes.
Keep up the great work Wendy!
I am a racewalker and I thought the ad was funny. Sure, I’d like to see some good press, but this is better than nothing at all. I’m looking forward to my next racewalk event to see if Snickers donates some candy bars!
Oh, come on. It’s funny. People who speedwalk do look like dorks. It may burn more calories than running and be wonderfully healthy, but the gait is comical. Kind of like the Pythons’ Ministry of Silly Walks.
It takes a real person to let things like this run off like rain. Advetisements come and go all the time. Send the company who owns the snickers candy and let them know how you feel. If you eat thier product, let them know you are going to switch to another for your sugar intake. If you don’t eat thier product, quit your bitchen.
As a lifelong runner, when I saw this commercial, I simply thought, “oh, this guy is a just one of those jogger types, and not a serious runner”. Somehow someone in the gay community was “looking” hard for something to complain about, and put a big SPIN on this advertisement, making it seem like it was poking fun at gays. Football is about the most “macho type” sport on earth; why don’t they make some claim that “football makes fun of gays.” This commercial was nothing short of just funny.
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I sent a note on the internet to tell Mars that I’m going to boycott their products, because like so many companies these days, they are lying down and playing door-mat to any group that whimpers about somehow being offended.
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Here is the link where you can tell Mars what you think about playing “door-mat” to these groups.
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http://www.snickers.com/contact.asp
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I should add, that I have the utmost respect for race walkers and most athletes.
I have no respect for some of the overpaid professional athletes that have nothing to do but whine about how tough it is for them.
It’s all meant in fun. I think it is silly but just meant to be fun.
Would you vote for a speedwalker? Me neither.
Too arrogant to walk normally, too weak to get both feet off the ground.
estevens people that make bad comments about different sports are to arrogant. i am a racewalker and i never take shots at sycrohnized swimming because i know that first of all i have no clue wat it is like and i know that it takes the same amount of dedication and persistance to become world class. and most racewalkers are fairly good runners too just so you know