Bushmaster's 'Man Card' ad campaign

[_MeDotOrg]

What a thoughtful advertising campaign. I'm sure in no way was it made to convince men that they need an automatic weapon to bolster their masculinity...

Actually there's a multiple choice question your supposed to take before you get your 'Man Card'. Here are some of the questions:





...you get the idea. Basically trying to equate masculinity with poor impulse control.



Seriously? One place to start might be to regulate gun ads the way cigarette ads are regulated. Require a warning label in the corner.

[_Gadianton]

I found the CNN blog that discovered the "Man Card". I don't think it's a bad idea to take the site down given the circumstances. However, while I would personally take the kitten, I think the CNN writer is extrapolating way too much. The ad is not a straightforward sale of testosterone boost geared toward guys who feel inadequate and have social problems. It's a couple layers of sarcasm. It's obviously in the spirit of the beer ads that run manliness satire, such as, the taco salad being the manly choice for the health-conscious man, because it's anything but healthy. It's making fun of the brain-dead logic of stereotypical manliness, while at the same time celebrating the comradery of guys bonding over the humor within this brain-dead logic.

While buying guns maybe a compensation for some men like buying cars or other things, I don't think the insanity and danger runs in proportion to the aggregate number of guns a person owns. The people I know who own dozens of guns are extremely careful about having them properly locked up and cautious about how they are used, because with the investment at stake, all those guns will go bye-bye with the first stupid mistake. In these stories that reach the mass-media, are we hearing about guys who buy a gun to feel adequate, it's not enough, so he gets another, and another, and by the time he's reached the tenth gun he's mad with self-hatred and goes out on a rampage? This is the logic of the CNN guy. The recent mass media episodes have either been the guns of other people used, or novices who do their deed with the first gun they buy, one bought for the express purpose of doing the deed.

I do think there needs to be stricter gun control, but I don't think the gun campaigns are selling sheer hatred and stupidity.

[_bcspace]

I'll be buying this type of weapon (and several others) for defense and because I feel the Second Amendment of the US Constitution is under the greatest threat ever. You may thank Obama and the Democrats for my purchase. May it stimulate the economy in some small way.

[_EAllusion]

I'll be buying this type of weapon (and several others) for defense and because I feel the Second Amendment of the US Constitution is under the greatest threat ever. You may thank Obama and the Democrats for my purchase. May it stimulate the economy in some small way.

[_bcspace]

You think my daughter will like this one?

[_MeDotOrg]

The ad is not a straightforward sale of testosterone boost geared toward guys who feel inadequate and have social problems. It's a couple layers of sarcasm. It's obviously in the spirit of the beer ads that run manliness satire, such as, the taco salad being the manly choice for the health-conscious man, because it's anything but healthy. It's making fun of the brain-dead logic of stereotypical manliness, while at the same time celebrating the comradery of guys bonding over the humor within this brain-dead logic.

I would agree that there is a post-feminist reactionary man-cave element that is common to beer ads and most ads selling beef, bacon and cheese.

But I don't think there's sarcasm. I don't think it's supposed to be ironic. For example, the 'correct' choice if you are cut off by another team's car on the way to the game is to skip the game and vandalize the other guy's car, That behavior, without a gun, could land you in jail. The ad says if you receive a slight, react in an impulsive,irresponsible and illegal way. That (and a Bushmaster semi-automatic) makes you a man.

The NRA pretty much blamed "The Media" for violence in this country. What I'm saying is, what about the Arms Industry's OWN use of the media in advertising? Do they share any responsibility for their use of the media?

I think it would be a good idea to examine gun advertising in looking at ways of reducing gun violence.

You think my daughter will like this one?

I think there are some parents and children in Sandy Hook that wouldn't find that funny.