There is a new commercial out for the Sony Playstation gaming system which is pretty funny. It is of a family playing a golf game and the mother is beating everyone so the family goes to great lengths to distract her during her swing including running a blender, shaking keys and blowing a vuvuzelas (side note - these things are not going away after this summers World Cup). Then the grandfather says just as the mother is in the middle of her stroke "You're Adopted."
So at work, I had a co-worker watch this commercial with me and provided him no context to what it was a about. At the point of the grandfathers phrase, "You're Adopted" he laughed out loud. It was the one line in the entire commercial that made him laugh.
So I asked him what about that phrase made him laugh and he explained that it is an often used phrase for a joke, such as a sibling telling the other they are adopted. It was then that I asked him, but why is that funny?
I am asking all of you as well, why is it funny to tell someone they are adopted?
If your young daugther saw this commercial and heard that phrase and looked up at you and asked, "Daddy, what did they mean by "You're Adopted", what would you say?
I don't believe that Sony was trying to be intentionally derogatory with the statement, but I think you need to look further and understand that the reason the joke is 'funny' is just that - it is meant as a put down.
I am trying not to be overly sensitive,, but my experience with my co-worker confirmed the uncomfortable feeling I had with the commercial and I felt it is important as a conspicuous family to educate others on this topic.
Would love to hear others feedback on this topic. Do you feel the same as I? Do you defend Sony and the use of this phrase? Maybe you think I am overly sensitive? Let us know by leaving a comment.
And if you want to let Sony know your comments, you can send the to scea_media_hotline@playstation.sony.com.
