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Street Cents is cancelled
"…I read on Wikipedia that you're cancelling in October. A lot of what you talked about was also helpful to Americans,as well. I wish the hosts good luck in whatever projects they choose to do next. The show was just wonderful and I enjoyed it so much. I just want to say that it's been an awesome ten years. Thanks for caring about the young people! All the best!!"
-Danielle from Amherst, New York
"Hey SC team,
I just wanted to let you know that I am incredibly saddened to know the show won't be on TV anymore. It was the only show I ever looked forward to watching. I guess this is just one more step to whitewashing the truth and that's not good. So, if there's any way that the show could make a comeback, let me know! Good luck with the future you guys! Thanks for making my days while it lasted!"
Kristina
"I have been watching Street Cents since it came out all those years ago. I cannot believe that they have cancelled you. It was the best show out there for teens and young adults. It was a sad day to find out a show of this quality has been cancelled."
- Karyn
"It's an absolute shame your show was cancelled. I'm really going to miss "fit for the pit", In my opinion, that was the best part. Too bad there's nothing that can make the CBC change their minds and let an 18th season go to air! I've been watching Street Cents for about 12 years here in Halifax. I hope there will be reruns. Even though some of the products complained about may be out of date...It's still interesting I think. I don't think CBC will be the same without Street Cents."
- Robert
"I wanted to tell you that I was really unhappy to know that you were canned! That's the worst news. You guys are 1 of the best shows on tv. I love it. It's so annoying they did this. I think those cheapskates didn't even want to spend the extra on you like they should be. You're worth all it costs to run the show. I'm gonna miss you a lot.:( You're such a gd show…"
- Jill
"We got cable about 6 months ago. The first thing we turned to was CBC, and soon discovered Street Cents. All week we looked forward to getting up, grabbing some breakfast, and watching but over and over again, it's preempted for sports. It puts a damper on the whole day. What's the deal??? Is the show ever on at other times, days, or on line? Basically, your show is so good. I want to see ALL the episodes. (FYI: we live in Olympia, Washington, so our subsidiary is CBUT Vancouver) My best to all involved in producing a great show."
- Robert
"I just heard that CBC will be cancelling your show for the upcoming season. I wanted to thank you all for such a great show that can be brutally honest and intelligent with kids and teens. I watched Street Cents for about 10 years when I was younger, and I often tune in now as an adult to check out what stories you are working on. I am so sorry to hear that you are going - please keep the reruns on!"
- Jennifer
SHOW FEED BACK - Handguns
"I just watched this episode on the Sunday Sept 10th (rerun). I have watched your show for a long time and even been on it once…
Although I only was able to watch the last portion of the show I did catch the part where you ask people about handgun ownership.
As I did not see the complete show I do not know if handgun sports were commented on.
I am an avid long gun and handgun shooter. And take part in a number of different sports.
It should be known that it is not an easy task to legally own a handgun in Canada. You must be licensed to own any firearms and need a higher grade of license to own a hand gun. You must also follow strict storage and transportation laws.
The problem that some see with the owner ship of firearms is the problem with illegal firearms. Not the firearms owned by sport shooters or hunters."
- Jeffrey
Other Fans
"...just wanted to tell u guys that i love ur show. it's totally awesome!!! i get good times out of it."
- Marilyn
"Hey SC - I have been watching Street Cents for who knows how long...since the Jono days.... I say bring back the PIT....I will always remember the crappy stuff which was "fit for the pit"....bring back the pit..it'll make my day..I still watch Street Cents...woot."
- Mike
"I love the show, I have been watching it for years now and I just can't get enough. When I watch the show, I get alot of useful info about products out there."
- Kayla'
"Hey Street Cents! I just wanted to say I LOVE YOUR SHOW because you guys tell the truth and get down to the point. Your show is very helpful, letting me know about the pros and cons of products. THANKS SO MUCH! I hope Street Cents never goes away!"
- Laura
"I love your show. It's pretty cool because it's all about real life teen issues. I just wanted to say keep up the good work."
- Megan
"I like your show and I think it's osum and my sister says the same thing."
- Leighia
Teens in the Media
"…In a time when media does so much damage to our youth it is refreshing to see a show directed at teens that will help them feel validated, able make strong choices, and able to look upon the issues they face day to day with a critical eye. Your show is entertaining, educational and empowering. I hope that CBC continues to produce this show, and looks at other ways to reach out to teens with these positive messages in ways they can connect with. Keep up the good work!!"
- Angela
My NHL Ad (more feedback further down this page. - Ed.)
"I saw the recent segment on the NHL ad which involved the woman dressing the hockey player. I understand the outcry, however, what failed to be mentioned is that the ad is reflective of ancient samurai tradition. Samurai are honorable, and so are hockey players (or at least, that's what the ad company wants to convey) Samurai before going out into battle were dressed by their significant others. I don't think this is to connotate anything sexual, even though the undertone is there, but it's meant to display that the NHL is bigger and better, and when the players go out it's on a stake of honor. They fight their hardest, sometimes win, sometimes lose. Even the ambiance of the room suggests samurai. Just my two cents! Love the show!"
- Andrew
Episode 2 Listen Up - Age discrimination towards teenagers in retail stores
"I watched the one episode you had where this young lady complained how a worker at some shop was "scowling" at her because she thought the worker thought she was a thief or something to that extent. I believe that she was very biased and should realize that workers at stores and clothing shop HAVE to be on guard; no matter who the person is. I read in an article that shows statistics on how stealing from a store can be extremely damaging to the profits it would have gotten. I thought that Street Cents had made a poor decision in letting some city brat whine how she was judged by someone who was taught to suspect everyone who comes into the store. I suggest that you look into the effects of shoplifting and how the stolen items are actually being paid for by honest patrons of the store (i.e. if someone steals a CD at a store, other people in the future will pay higher prices because this item was stolen)."
- Kyle
More Opinions on the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty...
"I must say that I strongly disagree with your show portraying Dove being stereotypical by creating the "Campaign for Real Beauty"
Firstly, I would like to bring up is the fact that full figured bodies aren't the only non-supermodel attributes displayed by Dove's new spokeswomen. Freckles, dreadlocks, pale skin, very very dark skin, hooked noses, small eyes. For once in modern society, the public is being told that women with these attributes can be beautiful too. This, in my opinion, is a very good thing, regardless of what else the company is selling.
Also, if you look at Dove's "Campaign For Real Beauty" website, the focus is more on self-image and confidence than anything else. So what if Dove is selling sculpting lotion or their mother company is selling slim-fast? If these products can change a person in a way that makes them feel better about themselves, isn't that all that this campaign is trying to do anyways?
I think this campaign is revolutionary and inspiring. In my opinion, it is unfair to focus only on the negatives when it comes to something that could make lessen media's pressuring towards perfection in any way."
- Marissa
"I was watching your show this morning and I enjoyed your feature on the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. I work with teenage girls and when this campaign first came out last year, I was very impressed to see real women in their ads, who were secure enough in themselves and the way they were made to show off their real selves to the world. I have driven past Dove billboards with guys in the car who say, "That's disgusting, we don't want to see women like that." I think that is a powerful statement about the values of our culture. It is what drives men to objectify and abuse women, and it is what drives women to eating disorders and depression. I would watch the videos on the Dove website and be in tears because maybe, finally, someone can turn this around. So of course, I was very shocked to hear on your show that Dove is owned by the same parent company as Axe deodorant, whose ads I find disgusting and degrading. You asked for my opinion on whether Dove is really concerned about beauty, or whether they are just out to make a few bucks. Honestly, I would say that when you really boil it down, what matters is how these ads make women feel about themselves. Whether or not they are running out and buying Dove's products (which apparently they are) is beside the point. What matters is that I have seen real women being proud of their beauty in these ads, and it has made a difference for women I know, including myself."
- Roslyn
"I watched the segment on your show today about Dove's "campaign for real beauty" and here's my comment. Well OF COURSE it's a marketing campaign! They're a COMPANY, companies MAKE MONEY. It's what they do. If empowering women was Dove's (or Unilever's) main concern, they'd drop making lotions and shampoos altogether and just do ads about loving yourself. But... if they can sell their products successfully and in the meantime make women feel a little bit better about their bodies, I'd say that's a pretty brilliant idea. Good for them. For those of us ladies who, like me, don't buy Dove anyway, it's just a nice way to give us a little boost in self esteem."
- Brett
"I just saw your episode about the dove campaign for real beauty. I know that there is some controversy about whether it is done because it is a beauty campaign or because that is really how they want to advertise their products. But I really don't care why they did it. I'm glad that they did the advertisement the way that they did. Of course they are a major corporation, so yes they are going to be trying to make money, but that's what every corporation is after. I just think that the way that Dove did it was very tasteful. They could have just advertised their product with very beautiful skinny models, but they chose to use plain everyday people. Which seems to make it more for "us" the everyday people.
But ya, I do understand that this could very possibly just be a new gimmick to make more money, or it could be that the people at the dove company really wanted to do something like that. Either way, I am very happy with the advertising that the dove company chose to do."
- Rebekah
"I have a comment about you segment on Dove's campaign for real beauty. I believe that the only reason Dove's doing this sort of advertisement, is to advertise. Of course their profits went up after advertising, although I do agree that if they say their doing this to make women feel better about themselves their lying…I have nothing against a company advertising their product, but I also think they shouldn't have to lie about strategy to raise profits. You might not agree that dove is lying but they aren't giving us the whole truth, but what company do you know that when they advertise tells you the whole truth?"
- Charlotte
"My comment is in reference to what you had to say about the dove ads with real women, it aired on July 29/06. I don't think it matters whether or not dove is in it to make a profit. That is between them and their conscience. I understand that their sales are up but what if that is women helping support their campaign because they feel the same way that I do? Someone had to take a stand for real women. Way too many women think of themselves as "fat" because the girls in advertisements are toothpicks. There is still a long way to go. What about the women from size 12 and up? They are just as beautiful as the size 4s in every other ad. Is dove doing the same thing as every other company, but with a wider size range? I don't know - that is another thing between them and their conscience."
- Jen
"Hey! This email is just in response to your latest show in the Hype section...You were investigating the issue of the new Dove campaign and if it is just a wolf in sheep's clothing.
I gotta say, I completely disagree with that. Dove has been extremely "courageous" in coming out with the new Campaign for Real Beauty.
Sure, it is an ad. But it's a company that is there to make money. Of course they will be advertising something, hoping to make a profit. I would rather this campaign using real women's bodies has improved their sales 12%, rather then one with more models who portray terrible examples on what women's bodies should be like today.
So sure, it's an ad. And sure its making money. But the idea behind it is something that this world has been lacking for a very long time. It's not a huge step, but it's a step."
- Sara
"Just wanted to give a comment about the Dove advertisement. Even if its a gimmick, and promotes their sales, it still shows Women as real people and shows younger girls that they don't have to be a size 1."
- Tara
"I think that even if Dove's Real Beauty campaign is to only make money it shouldn't matter. For young girls to see woman on T.V. that are not your "normal" thin models still sends a positive message. It is about time that a Beauty company shows young girls that it is okay to look like the way God made you."
- Amy
RE: Episode 2 "THE HOT SHOW"
"I have beef with you Street Cents. You make a product analysis of new, trendy, and normally electronic products from big name brands and you use a few young teens to do the evaluations and test. Then they tell their personal opinion and recommendations to the viewers who watch your program. I watched this for about fifteen to twenty minuets until I began to feel to old for the show, I'm 18! Your show comes off to me like another advertisement to suck in kids way to young to be needing cell phones and printers worth 400+ dollars. Where does a twelve or fourteen or sixteen year old kid get that money? Their parents, then if the parents don't fork over the dough, the kids feel like they're outcasts in their little world cause all the cool kids got all the latest, coolest crap they definitely don't need. And it only starts there. They get their G2 and want a car, and so on. Also, how much are these brand name companies paying to display their product, and if their not paying for you to use them then you are all fools for they are reaping thousands upon thousands of advertising dollars when you advertise their product, plus a guilt free way to influence tweens into buying their products. Well that was longer than I expected and I didn't even get to the two ten year old girls I walked by on the street yesterday who were both talking on their razor cell phones. Peace."
-Eric
re: The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty (Repeat Episode #2)
"I am writing in response to the "Dove campaign" that was discussed on your program. I understand it is Dove's intention to change the way women think about beauty standards and personally I think that they may not have changed the beauty standards as a whole, but their attempt was highly achieved. By advertising women that range in sizes 6-12, Dove is speaking to a variety of women and commenting that it is important to be proud of your body, regardless if you have a "budda belly" - their message seemed to be that one should embrace their body and all of its assets.
Dove may be associated with Axe spray and slimfast, but in no way should that be thought of as a hypocritical fact. Every product has a target audience and Axe was just as successful as Dove, because they know who their audience is. I believe that if these companies do their homework in a sense and are able to target a group of people in order to make a profit, then all the power to them. I think that Dove has achieved a more significant impact on our society, because our society focuses around women of abnormally small proportions and unthinkable body weights and Dove has targeted an audience that vary and unique in their own way. Not only have they done something significant, but they were able to do so by obtaining a huge profit."
- Lindsey
"I am really happy you decided to do a show regarding Dove's campaign for real beauty. As a consumer it has also left me very confused. I wrote Dove regarding the fact that as an Indian person who was born and raised in Canada, I have yet to see our community represented in their campaigns.
Certainly, we are an identifiable group distinct from African, Chinese and Caucasian, yet nowhere are we to be found in their campaigns. I find it odd that they would claim to "Broaden the definition of beauty" while obviously neglecting a large group such as ours. Below is an email, which they have sent in response to my email to them regarding this. (To read the letter Mark received from Dove see below. - Ed.)
I would like to draw your attention particularly to their reply email. They start off by saying that:
"Part of our work to do so includes presenting images of women and girls whose beauty does not fit the current, narrow stereotype so prevalent in our culture..."
Ok fine. So where are the Indian people then? Rarely in advertising do we see images of Indian (By this I mean from Indian, not Native) whom are portrayed in a beautiful manner. Usually, if, they are portrayed it is in a demeaning way, such as an ignorant, uneducated, immigrant, who is the comedy relief of the situation. I need only to point to the Simpson's "Apu" to make that point clear.
Presenting visibly identifiable Indians (by that I mean someone who is dark, and distinctly Indian, rather than the lightest Indian person that can be found, which could be mistaken for an European/Middle Eastern descent) in a beautiful way defies they current narrow stereotype (by this I assume they mean Caucasian), in a way that is not normally seen. I find it odd that they have yet to represent Indians in their commercials and print advertising and yet continue to make the claim of "presenting women and girls whose beauty does not fit the current narrow stereotype..."
Also in the second paragraph, I am not sure what they mean by "tokenism".
While I do acknowledge the fact that not every person from every ethnicity can be represented, I still find their ads primarily dominated by Caucasian women, only of different sizes and shapes. Still no Indian women. And the Indian community in Canada, let alone the world is not small by any means. I find it incredibly ignorant of the person responsible for the reply email not to understand this.
Further to the third paragraph, they state that not every person will, because of their reading habits, see all the campaign for beauty images and that their campaign represents a true cross section of Canadian women. I certainly don't think so. The point is, if they have undertaken upon themselves to be the voice for beauty that is not of the current stereotype and a "cross-section" of Canadian women, then I shouldn't have to search in obscurity for a picture of a beautiful Indian women in their campaigns. It should be self-apparent.
I do commend Dove for attempting to portray women beautifully big and small, but I have serious questions as to whether they have thought this campaign through thoroughly, and whether or not their marketing department truly understands what a beautifully diverse population Canada truly has."
- Mark
P.S. I have been watching your show for about 10 years now. Great Show! Keep it up! I hope CBC continues with you, as you are definitely one of their best
Original shows!
Letter from received from Dove Products to Mark on May 24, 2006:
"Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for writing!
The mission of the Campaign for Real Beauty is to broaden the definition of beauty. Part of our work to do so includes presenting images of women and girls whose beauty does not fit the current, narrow stereotype so prevalent in our culture.
So far, the images we have included in our advertising, online, in-store and in consumer mailings have included women and girls of many different shapes, sizes, ethnicities and ages. We do not ascribe to tokenism in any way, so the images we have used to date do not necessarily include every possible feature or physical difference.
We understand that most people have not seen all of the Campaign for
Real Beauty images because of individual reading, viewing and travel habits. We believe that when the images are considered all together, they represent a genuine potential cross-section of Canadian women - one to which we hope most women will relate in some way. We would encourage you to visit campaignforrealbeauty.ca to see a sample of these images.
Thanks,
Your Friends at Dove"
"I think the Dove Commercials are a step in the right direction. Image is a problem in many areas not just advertising.
How many of your on-air personalities are over a size 6? Are any even a size 6? That's what I thought!"
- Marianne
"Absolutely all beauty product advertising is designed to make potential customers feel vulnerable.
A human being who feels vulnerable is the best kind of consumer -- from the point of view of any company attempting to sell a product, at least. Vulnerability can quickly transform a want into a need.
Dove and, by extension, Unilever clearly know how to create such customer vulnerability.
Cellulite cream advertising must make women afraid of cellulite. That is fundamental.
If it can challenge the stereotypical 'magazine model' body image at the same time, so much the better. Awards and news coverage (even Street Cents coverage) amount to free advertising. That is also fundamental.
What is so clever about this particular campaign, however, is the fact that such 'truth' in advertising can increase the vulnerability of the potential customer. The corporate reasoning goes like this: "we obviously need to attack our customer's sense of confidence, sexual or otherwise. If we place supposedly 'normal' women in our ads, who supposedly use our products, and who are still 'better looking' than the customer (read: because they do not have cellulite), we will sell more product!"
As you say, it seems to be working.
That 'Axe Body Spray' only needs to claim that a nice smell will convince several hundred women to rape you in the supermarket might say something about the degree of subtlety involved in marketing to men rather than women."
- Lise
"Dove soap's commercial is a great first step for the day-to-day women. And your comment about appreciating the curves you were born with!! Why not? Artisans appreciate curves, architects appreciate curves, scientists and mathematicians all appreciate and study curves - why can't we as women appreciate our curves and see them on TV. I am soo sooo tired of seeing these women on TV who are so so thin they look like they can hardly stand on their own! Congratulations Dove for the first step in appreciating every day curves!"
- Dianne
"The Dove real beauty campaign is the best thing I've ever seen. I've been buying dove soap for many years and applaud their latest advertising. I hope more companies follow their brave lead.
Regards,
Not a super model but
I'm clean, soft and beautiful"
- Pamela
re: Listen Up (Episode #1) - The Pressure to smoke weed...
"Just to say about the Andrew shout out about the media and his friends pressuring him to smoke weed. First of all if a video is pressuring you, don't watch it. Just say no to your friends. A lot of my friends suggested that I smoke and I never said yes and even though we're still friends. If they don't want to be with you because of that, they're not real friends and if you don't want to be with them just because they smoke you're not either. Don't feel like an outcast because you refuse to smoke weed - true friends will respect your decision. You can have a lot of fun with friends that are high even if your not. If the odour of weed bothers or you just don't like to be around it, just talk about it and why don't you suggest to do an activity that doesn't include smoking weed. Your social status does not depend on whether you smoke pot or not - that is an idea given to most but it's false. Well at least my decision has never affected mine. If some one wants to smoke or not it's their choice."
- Andrew
Time Slots
"My name is Jasmine… and I have a beef. Why are shows like Street Cents, or Make Some Noise televised in such crappy time slots? I'm assuming that shows categorized in the void are meant to target teens, so it doesn't make sense to broadcast these shows at 10:30 in the morning. How many teens do you know wake up at 10:00 in the morning on a Saturday? I don't understand why shows like Street Cents got shafted from their afternoon slots on weekdays when they got such good ratings."
- Jasmine
"…I would also like to comment on your new time-slot. So far I have missed every episode because of it, so I have to end up catching everything online. 4:00 or 4:30pm Mountain Time (can't remember) on Sunday is just not a day when everyone (is) sitting at home, waiting to tune into Street Cents. Weekends are the time when you're out with your friends or playing sports, UNLESS it's prime time. Your old time slot on Monday 5:30pm(mountain) was a much better timeslot, since people are coming home from school, etc....All I'm really trying to say is that I don't like missing out on Street Cents since it's a really informative and helpful show to viewers. I always try my best to tune in when it's on. "
- Jordon
The News Reporting About MySpace....
"I love this show, it's so rad! Maybe you can talk about MySpace on the show, its becoming even more popular, and every time you watch the news or something it always has adults saying HOW BAD MYSPACE IS. Is it really? How bad can it be? Why (is) everyone talking about how bad it is, and not how good it is? Like being able to talk to your family that happens to live in another country and just can't be calling them everyday. I would love if you guys talk about MySpace it would be awesome. Love the show."
- Osmyrah
Canada Day Merchandise Beef
"I (want) to share my BEEF on something that I believe is frustrating. You know Canada Day is comming, very exiting! Every store has Canada merchandise, really cool stuff, but as I look through this merchandise I quickly realize nearly none of it is actually been made in Canada. What a shame. Aren't we industrialized enough to make our own Canada merchandise?"
-Dave, Proud Canadian
Lack of female snowboarders in test (Episode 5)
"I live in Lethbridge Alberta. I was watching your show today(saturday May 13) and was watching the section on snowboarding helmets and couldn't help notice there was only guys. As a young girl snowboarder I know how hard it is to compete with guys all the time on the ski hill, and having them be on all the movies and magazines. Having all guys try on the helmets would help out other guys, but there was no girl opinion. There was no girl snowboarder!"
- Jennifer
Relationships and Cheating (Episode 6)
"I'll tell you why cheating is so common. It's because everyone only thinks about themselves. We live in a society where everything is about getting what you want. This goes for guys especially. We are constantly shown sexual images and there are hot girls everywhere trying to compete for our attention. To us, everything is meant for us to have a good time. We check out girls constantly and when we see a girl that isn't our girlfriend we think we have some right to her too because we get everything else we want. If you really want to stay in a relationship and you actually care for someone other than yourself, you'll stop thinking just about what you want, and focus more on what will build your desire and trust with your girlfriend or boyfriend." - Joseph
NHL ads: nope or dope? (Episode 5)
"Here's what I think about that hockey TV ad with the women and hockey player in it.
I think you might have gone too far cutting it down. I believe in equality and hate sexist and degrading media, however, this commercial didn't really do that. I just saw a woman who is involved with a hockey player (maybe even a wife) that is supporting the man before the game. Yea maybe in a sexual or mostly sensual way......but that's not wrong.
Truly, the NHL was one up on everyone on this one and broke no equality ethical rules. But, pushed any further, may have done just that.
To be blunt, I am not a hockey fan, and all its public fighting and abundance of alcohol advertisments and such that regularly promote impossibly perfect women ect......but I can't say I wouldn't want my significant other to do exactly that (as in the commercial) before a mental preparation ritual such as hockey.
I'm no fool, I know the hockey male industry has many negative things going on with it especially in regards to women. Especially in junior hockey. (Ask some people in confidence, I've only heard of the tip of the iceberg.) But focus on the disgusting stuff like that, that wrecks people's lives, and not some silly commercial.
You looked like fools trying to embarrass the NHL. And I do agree, they enjoyed YOUR negative publicity as well as everyone else's. Hit'm where it hurts, not where they want you to. I think they just showed they can behave themselves, and you just proved it.
I am sincere in my comments, I love your show and have watched it since I was in elementary school with JONO.
Keep up the good work!!!!!!"
- Tony
"I wanted to comment on that NHL tv ad. That 1 you showed about the lingerie is stupid! First of all, didn't any of you even get ticked off that those ads were done in LA, of all places??!! THAT'S appalling.:[Those ads should've been done in Can.,not out there. No wonder they're so lame.:( Hockey is Canada's game. Going over to LA to try & get Can. back into it was stupid. No wonder they couldn't promote it right. That lingerie thing was outta context & all wrong for the NHL. Besides,don't they know you don't have to promote hockey in Can.?It sells on its own.:( "
- Jill
"I am writing about the validity of your segment on the NHL ad campaign,
where an all female hockey team was interviewed about their opinions on a
new NHL commercial that showed a beautiful woman dressed in lingerie helping
a hockey player get ready for his game.
There were several problems with this segment. The biggest problem was the
limited scope which the interview was conducted through, aimed solely at
hockey playing females who have had no background in advertisement analysis
and who, for the most part, had not seen he commercial before and had not
taken any time to formulate a more coherent response. Although I do agree
fully that female hockey players do need to be asked concerning the
commercial, I feel that the segment would have greatly benefited from other
points of view, such as a professor or teacher who has been educated
specifically on analyzing television advertisements, and can get to the
direct meaning behind the commercial without giggling and carrying on
throughout their first viewing of the clip and give their opinion without
excess chatter. The opinions and views expressed in the team's interview
had little backing to each of them, and they were clearing stating only
their first impressions, without giving much hard thought to what they saw
and what it meant.
Another problem was the setting. The team was situated close together right
in the middle of a practise, not allowing for any of them that disagreed
with the others or had a different opinion to express it without facing
discrimination and pressure from others in the group. A more effective way
would have been to conduct the interviews in a thought provoking, quiet
setting, allowing the girls to think and give their individual answers.
The commercial itself I had never seen before, but overall I did not find it
as bad as the consensus was on the show. The reason for the woman in the ad
was to show the rituals of ancient warriors, where the women often dressed
the male soldiers before battle, seeing them off and wishing them luck.
This was to portray the players as warriors who are going to fight a battle,
not only because sex sells to the public, although the sexual innuendo
definitely did play a part in the advertisement. The NHL cannot say that
this commercial isn't sexist, however, since it clearly enforces the gender
roles of a different period of time, no matter how they are interpreted by
the viewers.
Another thing that this segment failed to take into account was the target
audience of the ad. Hockey fans are mainly white men, and this commercial
had appealing characteristics for this audience, much like a beer
commercial which displays many beautiful women surrounding men who are
drinking a specific brand of beer. This commercial does an excellent job of
appealing to this audience, and credit should be given to the creators for
this."
- Kory
" I am not saying that the new nhl commercial isn't sexist, but i think that even if the commercial is sexist complaining about it isn't really getting anyone anywhere. if that commercial had a sexy guy dressing a girl do you think that all the guys that play hockey would complain. it is just a commercial and i think everyone is way too caught up in being politically correct. it doesn't mater what is on commercials because whatever is on them is going to offend someone. just let commercials do what they are supposed to do and that is attract people and thats what that commercial did."
- Justin
"Although I agree with your admonishment of the advertisements created by the NHL, I think the perspectives presented on your show were not well informed. The premise of the advertisement is that NHL players were being portrayed as warriors. In Samurai tradition women dressed their warriors before sending them off to battle. Similarly, in this portrayal of NHL players as
hardened warriors the scantily-clad woman was preparing her "warrior" for "battle." It is a bit confusing why she is so scantily clad and there is ample reason to criticize the advertisement on grounds of using sex to promote the sport; however, charges of chauvinism are unfounded."
- Greg
"Your segment on the controvesy stirred by the recent "my nhl" ad campaign is blowing it out of proportion. Albeit, the woman was probably placed in the ad to get attention from men, but this has been going on in sports for years. Look no further than the other major north american sports of basketball and football, what purpose do you think the dallas cowboy cheerleaders or laker girls are there? To get attention of men. Sure its sexist, but the nhl doesn't have a reputation for using women to keep attention to what's happening, like the nfl or nba. So, before you criticize the nhl for essentially trying to incorporate something that has worked for other sports, have a segment on how the nba and nfl have been using women as "sexual ornaments" for years."
- Kyle
An issue with the Pimp Your Ride story...
"I have a problem, mainly with the segment on your show on how to pimp your ride. Not 1 of those "custom" parts had to do with performance. That guy just spent 9 grand to customize his ride but it's still just as slow as a STOCK civic, and don't even try to tell me that a stock civic is fast. You guys could have at least spent more time on engine mods to make the car at least go fast instead of these useless ugly body mods. So it cost about 5-7 grand for that civic plus another 9 grand to have it "tricked out" or you could take that money spend 10 grand on a used mustang or camero or a already fast car and made that thing FASTER. But no because that 4500 for his body and rims added a lot of speed. These cars are termed "ricer" they have spent so much money make his car look fast but its still as slow as hell. PLEASE PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU - STOP DOING THIS CRAP TO CARS. THEY DON'T LOOK COOL, THEY AREN'T FAST AND THEY ARE A HUGE WASTE OF MONEY. So I'm just warning you if you want a fast car don't go out and buy a civic and try to make it "fast" just buy a already fast car."
- Anton
Animal Treatment in Pet Stores...
"I watched your show that aired on April 19th where you covered a viewer's question about Pet Stores not walking their pets outside...
Although the viewer's question was a good one, that showed caring and concern for the welfare of animals, I felt that your reporting failed to even mention the bigger issue which is pet stores lack of regard for the animals to begin with. Many pet stores purchase their pets from Puppy Mills which was not mentioned once during your episode.
I think that you should have mentioned alternatives to pet stores such as the SPCA and also shed a little light on where the pet stores get their animals from in the first place. Supporting a pet store in many ways helps to keep the demand for puppy mills in place which is a cruel and inhumane business."
- Vanessa
The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty...
"I visited Doves website and it opened with this remark:
'For too long, beauty has been defined by narrow stifling stereotypes.
You've told us its time to change all that. We agree.
Because we believe real beauty comes in many shapes sizes and ages.
It is why we started the Campaign for Real Beauty'
You reported on your show that the women appearing in their ads ranged from size six to twelve. That doesn't seem to be a very wide selection, the people who live in my house alone range from size zero to twenty. I think they have missed the mark merely in their trying not to be narrow.
Honestly though, they are missing the mark entirely with their whole campaign. What is beauty? IF you are going to judge merely appearance you are never going to get it. Every culture has a different idea of what this is. The range is so great that every woman fits some cultures view of what physical beauty is. True Beauty is in who you really are.
I am sick of seeing women parade around in little more than underwear, focusing on what they look like to get some guys attention. If you really want to be beautiful focus on who you are, your integrity, your personality, your intelligence and likewise are the only things that are going to last your whole life. When you're old, do you want to look back at your life and think, I made a difference to someone or I watched my figure."
- Carla
"I think it's all a marketing gimmick. thy want 2 pretend they appeal 2 women who arn't small & gorgeous, etc but they're phony. Like u said on tv,they have a cellulite cream that isn't a product 2 enhance our curves. How lame is that?:) Also, the ads have models only up 2 a sz 12. Big deal, most women r like an avg of sz 18 or more-no? That's not appealing 2 a lot of chx out there. I don't fall 4 this stuff. I hope more women don't either."
- Jill
"While I think your program certainly has a lot of pros, I was slightly appalled by some of the comments made about the Dove campaign that they have going on about this whole "natural beauty" thing. It is a good campaign and of course, they are a company, so profit is always on their mind. But I think you went too far to say that it's all a marketing ploy because the parent company owns other companies such as Axe. Can we stop over-analyzing things and for once look at the positive? Dove has thrown out the idea of a "perfect" woman and I think that's great. Other companies should try out the idea of reality. The fact the Dove has an anti-cellulite cream is not saying that we are vain, it's saying that people are human and are prone to try and cover up their imperfections."
- Dave
"I have a comment on the Dove campaign. I think it is marketing. I thought it was amusing that they claim to have women size 6 to 12 and therefore represent the average woman. What about the women wearing size 14...16...and...heaven forbid...24?!?!?!? I think the campaign is still pretty limited in its view of all women of all shapes and sizes."
- Jo H.
"They don't care about the consumer. A Dove shampoo for dry, damaged hair made my hair even more dry and damaged... the worst I've tried. An email I sent advising them of this netted me a very arrogant sounding response along the lines of < its been extensively tested, we stand by it, thank you for writing.> Nothing about being concerned about MY satisfaction; nor advising me to return my purchase from where I bought it. Ya, they really care...."
- Angela
"I am 21 years old and just like every girl have had to deal with body image and self esteem issues. I believe that dove is doing a good thing. Of course they are turning a profit, but they are in a business. I have been to their website on several occasions and read over dozens and dozens of posted comments on the subject. If anything it is starting a dialogue among people on the subject of beauty. It is allowing people, especially young women, to realize that they are not alone when they think that they can't live up to how the media or men believe they should look. The campaign is not a solution to the problem, it is simply a starting point. The damage was not done over night and won't be fixed over night either."
- Carissa
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