Nike's homophobic ad

In basketball circles, we call it "c0ck in grille" ... and, yes, it's an emasculating maneuver because of the homophobic association of another man's junk on your forehead. See: Bryant, Kobe. http://alltalksports.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/kobe.jpg

Kobe, tell me how my a** taste!

This isn't a bad post, most of it anyway. Thanks for taking the time to write it out.

I never watched the Bob Sagat special, so (whether I can or not), I'll just have to take your word for it But the point is that even if you were to say that the label applies more often to those situations, it is still being applied to a situation that the vast majority of people find morally repugnant. NOT "humiliating", which is what the ad's apologists are claiming.

The fact is that "That ain't right" isn't usually applied in humiliating situations. It's stated as a moral judgment. And in my experience, specifically to situations with two men. Furthermore, with a man and a woman in the same situation, (and I'd venture, even two women) the sexual context would be absolutely unmistakable.

In any case, it is completely, utterly distinct from the "black hole" mistake because "Black hole" had a specific definition that was particularly applicable to that situation.

Homophobia is real, and it's not funny. It's bad enough in everyday life, but since we're talking about sports...ever notice how few openly gay athletes (especially active athletes) seem to be on sports teams? It's not because gays aren't playing...

Hate that I can't edit these posts. But I did want to add that I'm not personally offended...you don't get very far in life - and especially in athletics - as a gay male without developing a thick skin. Rather, I write about this from an intellectual standpoint and it's pretty clear that while the joke itself has one meaning, the "joke" draws its power from homophobia (or more accurately, disapproval of two guys getting too close).

Please explain why it is so obvious that "that ain't right" would not occur in these situations? I think if it was a female getting a male crotch to the face MOST women would say "oh, that ain't right!". Does that mean most women fear heterosexuals?

Lazy L wrote:

Think of it this way:

Would "That ain't right" even occur to anyone upon seeing any of the following combinations:

Male face in female crotch?

Female face in male crotch?

Female face in female crotch?

Obviously, the answer is no to any of those combinations.

Truly, "That ain't right" is a slur used almost exclusively by caveman types upon seeing two other men get a little too close for their liking.

Here's one of the images...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2630928091_2664e45f96.jpg?v=0

I agree; that ain't right.

Ticktock wrote:

this is one of those retarded things that ..........."blah-blah-blah"

Someone please explain to me the rampant use of the word "retarded"? I find your use of the word offensive.

Retardophobia, the next "PC whipping post"?

maybe moreso that ain't the right way to go about it, talking to the overeager guy

but did anyone consider that maybe it just ain't right to be gay? Maybe something is wrong with it? Not majorly wrong but wrong like being a mummies boy is wrong or a totally addicted smoker or a habitual criminal. Just a minor psychological situation going on.

good point you swayed me

I think people in general are too sensitive. "That ain't right" is a reference to the humiliation of getting dunked on and is not pushing an anti-gay agenda. If anything, it's pushing a "don't get dunked on with a smelly crotch in your face" agenda. Which is not homophobic. I think even gay guys wouldn't want to be dunk on with a smelly crotch in their face.

It's funny how people can get up in arms about something perceived to be anti-gay or pushing a "hetero" agenda when in actuality the opposite is happening. One of the most popular songs out this summer makes reference to same sex experimentation among girls and i don't see hetero's up in arms about it.

Lazy L wrote:

Hate that I can't edit these posts. But I did want to add that I'm not personally offended...you don't get very far in life - and especially in athletics - as a gay male without developing a thick skin. Rather, I write about this from an intellectual standpoint and it's pretty clear that while the joke itself has one meaning, the "joke" draws its power from homophobia (or more accurately, disapproval of two guys getting too close).

I sincerely apologize for this slight of tact, but your thick skin is actually a thick skull, dude. You're A) not "listening" to every other argument and B) refusing to see how homosexuality has nothing to do with this ad because SEXUALITY has nothing to do with it. You said the "joke" draws power from disapproval of two guys getting too close, again I disagree. These are two PEOPLE, be they gay, straight, men, women, or midgets; and there is a crotch shoved in someone else's face. It has NOTHING to do with whether or not we or the ad makers want to see it, that's not the point.

If the ad was of two men lying in a bed topless with nothing more than satin sheets covering their lower regions and the words "THAT AIN'T RIGHT" came up, you would have a valid case. These two are playing basketball, why would it ever be "right" for someone's crotch to be in someone else's face in a basketball game? As real as homophobia and ignorance are, so too is the overly sensitive reaction that strips the world of all humor because it could be interpretted as offensive.

Sweaty crotch in the face is not cool in the context of a basketball game. Where did sexual orientation arise in this whole thing?

That's because people are looking at it too literally. The guys in question don't have to be gay. All that matters is that the joke only works in the context of disapproval of men being too close.

Remember, too, that the audience that is most likely to want these shoes is probably that which is least accepting on homosexuality.

Think about this - "No one likes..." could be finished with any number of things other than having another guy's crotch in your face, including flossing, spilling coffee on oneself, stepping in dog poo, etc. But no one would ever say "that ain't right" about any of those things.

This is the type of shit that pisses me off. Everything offends people in America today and people have to always complain and make a big deal about it. There is nothing at all wrong with the commercial, as it could have strict relevance to the game itself. How many times on the basketball court has someone crossed another person up and you here OOHHH That aint right!! The answer is dozens. I'm sick and tired of all this I'm offended crap, people need to grow up and quit trying to bring attention to situations and themselves over insignificant shit just to bring about confrontation.

Sorry Dude but you're really reaching on this one which, not only ain't right but borderline disingenuous.This joke works extremely well without the context of male disapproval of closeness. Basketball, football, synchronized swimming (that was a trick example), wrestling all have components of male closeness. Oh, and they're all played overwhelmingly by males which happen to be Nike’s target market.In a competitive context, males do not disapprove of competing in close proximity. We actually thrive on it. I remember fondly of the days where I was surrounded by other males, partially nude, breathing heavily, wearing spikes and strains of exertion. Was this some kind of gay pride parade? No it was a 5k on the track.So to take Nike’s ad or my remembrances of days gone by out of its competitive context and lather it with sexual innuendo by over-reachers such as yourself is a vain attempt to politicize it. I will agree that others will take this photo and project their own insecurities on it as you have done but that is not a reason to censure an unlikely outcome of male on male competitions. The only thing it makes me want to do is; either quit playing basketball or, buy some Nike shoes so that I may be the shover rather than the shovee. So let's all take a cold shower and take another look at the ad...

Lazy L wrote:

That's because people are looking at it too literally. The guys in question don't have to be gay. All that matters is that the joke only works in the context of disapproval of men being too close.

Remember, too, that the audience that is most likely to want these shoes is probably that which is least accepting on homosexuality.

Think about this - "No one likes..." could be finished with any number of things other than having another guy's crotch in your face, including flossing, spilling coffee on oneself, stepping in dog poo, etc. But no one would ever say "that ain't right" about any of those things.

i feel this ad is like an in your face type of thing in a basketball context. But it is still emphasised by the crotch in the face aspect. Yet instead of feeling it is related to anything sexual, which is a definite overreach as jefe said, it is more simply adding to the 'in your face' aspect.

The words 'that ain't right' do stretch my mind to a sexual connotation however and i think this is the thing certain people are bandwagoning on. It could be akin to being fater in the face surely.

But as for a gay sexual connotation i simply cannot see for the life of me.

Can someone explain it? Lazy L? Where is the gay sexual connotation?

Nike's next commercial:

Two skinny guys are breathing heavy, sweating like crazy, and bouncing up and down up and down together. What are they wearing? Only 2" inseam split leg shorts as a matter of fact. They're out for a nice hot, sweaty, adrenaline driven long run and as they run by EVERYBODY in town that sees them (in cars, on the streets, out of windows) - everybody will lean to the person next to them as say, "That certainly ain't right"

Ummmmm...... I don't really know how effective the gay whiners can really be on these boards, considering distance runners probablly get more gay-hate thrown their way then people that are actually gay.... I'm serious.... I get called out and yelled at probably 4-5 times/week in public (while running) despite me being happily married and straight.

Also ........ sweaty crotch in face ......... IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote="I need no stinkin green card"]

Someone please explain to me the rampant use of the word "retarded"? I find your use of the word offensive.[/quote]

Well perhaps you should think about it before you kneejerk get offended. Think about the alternatives to retarded: I could have said idiotic, moronic, stupid. Do you know what an idiot or a moron was, in the original sense of the word? A retarded person. Thank you.

Remember the part of "Along Came Polly" when Ben Stiller was a neat freak and was playing basketball and his face got rubbed up all in that nasty hairy fat guys chest? I saw that and thought, "That is frikken disguisting!!!!!" - not because it's another guy and I'm against a guy being intimate w/ another guy, but because it was actually disgusting.

People that are offended - are you offended by Along Came Poly?