Super Bowl ads 2010: Men can't be men and it's all our fault (wah, wah, wah)

LOL! Susan, I watched in suspense wondering where all that was going (the Dodge commercial). My favorite is the one about the guy having his spine removed and not being able to watch the game because of his "injury."

Wow you took it really serious. Have a laugh!

In my opinion the commercials were hilarious. I seriously dont think its anything to get ofended by. Just imagen the role being in switched!? Women are acting like we dont nag over things like that. You knows its totally true and guys do the same thing when we shop for hours for a damn pair of shoes. Next time you decide to get with a man, read the manual. Thats just the way they are. Have some sense of humor and cheer up.

I don't understand why men whine so much about taking care of themselves. We are not their mothers and shouldn't put their underwear in the basket for them, so why is it too much to ask? I like one of the other comments, where are all the women who are working, cleaning, cooking, changing shitty diapers and giving in to the man's every whim. I think WE should be getting the Charger for putting up with more than they do. Oh, my man, like so many others, is unemployed. So when I pay 100% of the bills and still do everything, I believe he should do what I ask. It's not like they don't make a mess, eat the food, make more bills and after a 50 hour week, demand sex. Well I think men have it easy, so quit whining. Grow up, get a job, clean up after yourself, or find yourself and the homeless shelter because no one wants to take care of a grown man, like a child. We married a MAN, not a boy!!!!

I thought the commercials were suppose to be funny depictions of guys alter egos. They really weren't that funny and certainly not to be taken seriously. I think the ads have certainly become less entertaining over the last few years. And yes, I miss the ads where big buxom, scantily clad babes duke it out over "less filling, tastes great." After all, I'm one of those Neanderthals mentioned above.

James: I think that would be a very interesting study. MY theory is that the animosity is a bi-product of radical feminism (the key word there being "radical"). More specifically, I mean the branch of feminism that seemingly implies that gender differences should largely be ignored (for all practical purposes that don't specifically benefit women) with the goal of creating a more "egalitarian" (androgynous) society.

I just like how heterocentrist they are.

I thought the ads were very realistic to most females these days. They are very spoiled. Women now want to fuss about being equal to men, but they still want to be catered to. The one's that aren't like that probably had a good laugh at the ads.

Martyr, I think it's more "art imitating life" than anything. I believe the advertisers are simply making fun of what a lot of people see as an emerging social trend for the obvious reason of getting sales.

Evil Penguin: I see your point and I see the remants as well. I HOPE you're right about the small segment not being much of a threat.

The animosity isn't a byproduct of "radical feminism," it's a result of men losing privileged positions in society. I keep on hearing from men that they're being oppressed in some way and women are in control of society. It reminds me of when I read excerpts of The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion. The same rhetoric pushed by anti-Semites who said Jews were in charge of the world is being used to say women are controlling society. Somehow, we're in charge of things despite men controlling all three branches of government and most of the Fortune 500 companies. Yes, we're less underemployed and unemployed than men, but that's because women are attracted to jobs that aren't affected by recessions, i.e. health care, government, and education as opposed to many males being in construction and manufacturing. I work in the non-profit service sector and my boyfriend works in construction. Guess who's making more money being that Texas is barely getting hit by the housing crisis?

Me and my boyfriend are tired of hearing it. My boyfriend keeps on telling me, "I want men to be men and to not whine about things." He comes from a small town on the Texas coast so he wants to retain his masculinity. Males from small Texas towns tend to not complain about anything because the Texan and/or Southern culture tells men to be men and "walk it off."

I think there should be a new article exploring the animosity between the sexes. The current sad state of affairs stems from the original assumption that men had to be softer, more caring, gentler, blah, blah, blah! It has completely emasculated a generation of men. Making matters worse is that this new generation hover over their kids incessantly, whether stepping in to help their teachers "understand" their kids or to take the notion out of winning and losing out of sports. Men and women should pick up their stuff, have manners, show some class, help others, etc. but we need to lose the notion that men and women are the same, think the same and should act the same. Furthermore, I don't know about your household but in mine, it is the wife that dictates the sex life... While it may not be right, when sex is a bargaining chip, so too is fidelity!

chill out baby..you sound like you are missing so me time.........thats pent up hostility

I didn't take any offense to them. I'm sure women can think of funny (and stereotypical) commercials that we have to put up with from men. You sound really bitter, by the way.

Fuck these ads and the advertising agencies that continue to make them. I'm okay with them stereotyping all males as inept, spineless, pussy-whipped pieces of shit. What I'm NOT okay with is that the commercials themselves are chronically fucking UN-FUNNY.

Where has the creativity in the advertising industry gone?

It's pretty disturbing, eh? I'm baffled by the fact that advertisers continually attempt to define men via misogyny when research indicates that they fair poorly without us (e.g., dying quickly after the death of a spouse, whereas women will carry on happily for many more years after the death of a spouse).

I suppose it's no different than how they try to define us--by our ability to be good objects for men. Both are trite and absolutely ludicrous. But then again, so is the Super Bowl.

Sometimes I wonder if batteries should become my new best friend

Hmmm... and WHY do you think there were so many commercials about dealing with a woman's nagging?....

Tom, I appreciate your perspective on the advertising industry -- and the fact that you realize that it is a LACK of life experience (and I'm assuming, experience's companion, wisdom) which creates these ads. The reason why these ads are offensive to many of us is that they're not just reflective of an immature mentality, they perpetuate and spread that mentality. By presenting those stereotypes they reinforce them, and any guy who has ever felt a little bothered about holding his wife's purse now has a Cause to attach his indignation to. And the issue becomes not about having to hold a purse, it becomes a fight for male freedom and dignity??? Where are the great role models for men? Its a shame that the media has turned the most dignified lifestyle a man can lead -- working hard, taking care of his kids, loving his wife, and creating a positive legacy-- into a drag and an assault on his beer-swigging, junk-scratching, la-z-boy loving masculinity. So even though its young guys in advertising writing these ads because they're immature, we still have to take them seriously for the stereotype they're perpetuating.

Also, its commendable you care for your wife. The point that you demonstrate well is that caring for your partner isn't a drag, its beautiful. thats what life is about, but you'd never know it by what the media shows.

HAHAHAH. Okay sorry, but I thought the ads were hilarious! I didn't watch the superbowl so I am just now seeing them for the first time.

Jennifer, I do get your point about the ads perpetuating stereotypes. I can also see why some people may be offended. On the other hand, they're advertisements. They are designed to be memorable (hence the exaggeration, controversial theme and for many of us-humor). It is a powerful statement about pop culture that so many advertisers simultaneously chose the same "controversial" theme!

I doubt there are many of us who don't see some truth to the emascualtion portrayed in the ads (albeit not to the extreme in these commercials) whether we choose to admit it exists on a wide scale or not. If it didn't, there wouldn't be so many advertisers using that particular theme during the most watched television program of the year!

Count me in with the "perspective" crowd. Advertisements are usually targeted to specific audiences who are likely to relate so they'll want to buy that product. They are generally intended to get sales and NOT to effect social change. The obvious exception being public service ads and none of these are.

On a side note, I don't watch televison often. I mostly watch my favorite shows and movies on DVD. On the occassions that I do happen to be in the room when others are watching, I am often appalled at how men are commonly portrayed anymore in many of the lame sitcoms being produced anymore! So, yeah, I get offended too by some of that crap for the same reason you are by the Superbowl commercials.

i laughed my butt off at the Dodge commercial - it was such a fantasy!!! - still laughing... :)))))