Roxanne Blue

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"Good. Same here." - Beebo Brink.

Asher Bertrand

I have a feeling that's at the bottom of this, yes.

I wonder, Lord, if you are uncomfortable deep down with a black person being the spokesperson for any kind of product that's suited for the general population?

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Beebo Brink

Or with a black man's voice coming out of a white man's mouth. I see that as a positive message that recognizes the universality of people. The Allstate voice is pan-racial.

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Noob: "okay.... im in a house with cages and people in gags and the door just locked and i cant get out :c"

Lord

Does Allstate have a singular 'voice' ? No...see Dean Winters.
Does Progressive have a singular 'voice' ? No...see The Messenger guy.

Beebo Brink

Lord, cough it up. What's your beef with this? Honestly, because we're not seeing what you're seeing.

Lord

None of these actors/actresses are The Voice for the company they work for, they are simply saying lines that the company wants them to say.

Ask yourself...WHY did they feel they needed to make this ad with both characters being white people instead of different races? WHY do they use Dean Winters instead of someone like Damon Wayans or George Lopez for the Mayhem commercials ? WHY isn't their more diversity in their ads ?

Personally, it doesn't matter to me what race someone is when they are pitching ads to me...but it does make me curious when I see little slip-ups like this ad.

Asher Bertrand

Allstate has picked a black man to be their image, and yet they aren't diverse. Are you going for comedy here?

I'm starting to think you are mad because someone took a white man's jerb.

Darik

This is what I am reading. Because they didn't include the black man but only his voice, that's racist. Because Aflac didn't include the Jewish man and made him the voice over for a duck instead, that's anti-Semetic. Because they cast Cheech Marin as the voice of a Chihuahua in a couple of movies, that's not racist at all. Am I getting this right?

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Casey Pelous

Hey, does anyone know if Allstate covers the facepalm injury I just got?

Ow.

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"Casey, I've already established that you have no idea what you are talking about." - Perphides

Lord

I think your just mad that I don't care if he took a white man's jerb...and yes it is possible to hire someone of a particular race and still be racist...which is kind of what I am wondering about Allstate's upper management that made the decision to run this kind of ad.

Roxanne Blue

1 - Actors / actresses "simply saying lines that the company wants them to say." is pretty much the normal definition of commercials. It's not like they're looking for people who can do improv.

2 - If this thread is any evidence, it does seem to matter to you in a way that seems almost incomprehensible to most of us responding.

Baltha

It obviously does matter to you or you wouldn't be starting threads about ads being racist.
Why shouldn't a white man represent mayhem? Or do you think that "someone like (insert black actor) or (insert hispanic actor)" would give a more accurate portrayal?

Imnotgoing Sideways

=^-^=

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Imnotgoing Sideways

I'd guess because they have other acting jobs and don't want to make insurance commercials? (O.o)

Then again... Maybe they're being paid all that money to be kept out of Allstate commercials!!! (O_O)

Lord

Why not all of them or at least a wider group than just one ?

Lord

I did say 'like' them didn't I ?

Asher Bertrand

Was this the talking point on some whackaloon right-wing talk radio show today or did you come up with this gem on your own?

Darik

Be careful, Lord. When you use the phrase people like them you tend to piss people like them off.

Lord

Actually, this example may have been racist too due to some projection of what an animal would sound like if it had a human voice and then assuming it would sound the same as a human with a decendancy from the same region as the animals decendancy. A stretch, but plays on peoples expectations and ignorance and might lead to their continuued ignorance. But, as I explained earlier, in this case it would be for clearly obvious comedic effect...which is not the intent of the Allstate ad.

Casey Pelous

The guy who got the Mayhem part wants to talk with you. He didn't sound happy.

And there's a Mr. Haysbert on line 2 ......

Lord

Now your just trying to start something instead of engaging in meaningful conversation.

Are you saying there are no people like George Lopez or Damon Wayans capable of playing one of these roles ?

Baltha

Like them in which way?

Brenda Connolly

Nah, this is more something you'd hear on Al Gore's network. The righties would be complaining that the liberals were interfering with free enterprise by calling the PC police on Allstate.

I'm surprised someone didn't think of this on MesSNBC

Brenda Connolly

He's looking to get his Good Hands on you.

Asher Bertrand

Sounds more like a flailing attempt from someone who doesn't get racism at all to guess at what might be objectionable.