Chrysler Should Be Ashamed...
Look , I don't have children but I did teach for many years - and let's face it, I'm just a very tall, very bald kid. HOWEVER...
The new ad campaign for Chrysler minivans rankles me greatly. One ad features a lunchroom full of screaming, badly behaved grade schoolers, and the second is essentially the same group on a school bus. All commotion ceases when the adult in charge of each scene...wait for it...flips down the DVD screen. Silent, immobilized children...
OK, does anyone else find it appalling to imply that parents' and educators' only acceptable, successful method for interacting with kids is to plug them in to a TV? The ad isn't even funny, nor does it try to be. It's more wink-wink-gee-won't-your-life-suck-when-you-don't have-a-DVD-player-and-you-actually-have-to-talk-to-your-kids. Give people a little credit, would ya?
The new ad campaign for Chrysler minivans rankles me greatly. One ad features a lunchroom full of screaming, badly behaved grade schoolers, and the second is essentially the same group on a school bus. All commotion ceases when the adult in charge of each scene...wait for it...flips down the DVD screen. Silent, immobilized children...
OK, does anyone else find it appalling to imply that parents' and educators' only acceptable, successful method for interacting with kids is to plug them in to a TV? The ad isn't even funny, nor does it try to be. It's more wink-wink-gee-won't-your-life-suck-when-you-don't have-a-DVD-player-and-you-actually-have-to-talk-to-your-kids. Give people a little credit, would ya?
Oh, and this also happens to be Turn Off Your TV Week, too...
Coincidence? Hmmm...
4 comment(s):
I couldn't agree with you more. I dread having to get our next car since I've heard DVDs are now standard features. Some of my best conversations with the kids (e.g. homelessness, soccer strategy, school updates) have been during the 3 mile drive between house and school.
Plus, THAT's the time to work on their music preferences. Nothing like hearing a pair of 2 year olds sing "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die!" (complete with Cash twang). Now that is a life skill!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
I haven't seen the ad, since that kind of mindless luxury doesn't have a market in The Netherlands, but just hearing you describe it is like to make me gag.
And I like a car ride without electronic buzz... Generally we all settle in and like SMID says we can really enjoy the conversation. That can't be easy when you are competing with action on the screen.
Great topic! Hurrah for NO TV week. It's my favorite.
I haven't seen that yet, but yes, that is absurd!
To tell you the truth, during a 12 hour drive to Florida, the DVD player can be a life saver.
Having said that, unless we are taking that long a drive... the dvd player stays home.
We know people who let their kids watch a movie between home and school!
Nuts!
Post a Comment