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Another day, another stupid "controversy" where a few Twits complain on social media simply to get attention and publications pick it up as if it's a real issue

Another day, another stupid "controversy" where a few Twits complain on social media simply to get attention and publications pick it up as if it's a real issue. Why waste our time? Here's the ad: https://youtu.be/ntjkwIXWtrc https://youtu.be/ntjkwIXWtrc

Apocryphon 2y ago
As noted elsewhere in this discussion, the ad attracted particular criticism from Japan for what it sounds like cultural-spiritual sensibilities. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cld0rxlqgggo https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cld0rxlqgggo > People based in Japan appear to be prominent amongst the critics, which some said "lacked respect". > Some said this was based in "tsukumogami” - a term from Japanese folklore describing a tool which can contain a spirit or even soul of its own. > "The act of destroying tools is arrogant and offensive to us Japanese," one person explained, while another said musicians value their instruments "more than life itself". https://twitter.com/AngelicaOung/status/1788241764383678900 https://twitter.com/AngelicaOung/status/1788241764383678900 > Everybody hated That Apple Ad but the Japanese REALLY hated it. I’ve never seen so many upset Japanese ppl commenting on a single thread
- russellbeattie 2y ago
  So, let's reverse this. A Japanese company's online advertisement offends some American sensibilities (not a stretch to imagine). So a few hundred Americans comment on the video and on Twitter. Would that deserve a news article and a statement from the company?
  - Apocryphon 2y ago
    They might, depending on the slight. It's a culture that emphasizes politeness and propriety after all. You might’ve chosen one of the least effective counter-examples for this one.
  - silisili 2y ago
    Apple is advertising to a global audience here, and are big in Japan. I think the closest thing I can think of is Sony, perhaps, doing an offensive ad(to Americans) with the PS5/6. I do think it'd be written about and they'd apologize, though it's a little different because Sony has a specific US subsidiary which acts like its own company.
  - voidUpdate 2y ago
    Imagine a Japanese ad where they melt down guns, set fire to an F150 and turn some bald eagles into a burger. I believe a lot of Americans would call for the death of the company, not just a statement

Apocryphon 2y ago

As noted elsewhere in this discussion, the ad attracted particular criticism from Japan for what it sounds like cultural-spiritual sensibilities. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cld0rxlqgggo https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cld0rxlqgggo > People based in Japan appear to be prominent amongst the critics, which some said "lacked respect". > Some said this was based in "tsukumogami” - a term from Japanese folklore describing a tool which can contain a spirit or even soul of its own. > "The act of destroying tools is arrogant and offensive to us Japanese," one person explained, while another said musicians value their instruments "more than life itself". https://twitter.com/AngelicaOung/status/1788241764383678900 https://twitter.com/AngelicaOung/status/1788241764383678900 > Everybody hated That Apple Ad but the Japanese REALLY hated it. I’ve never seen so many upset Japanese ppl commenting on a single thread

russellbeattie 2y ago
So, let's reverse this. A Japanese company's online advertisement offends some American sensibilities (not a stretch to imagine). So a few hundred Americans comment on the video and on Twitter. Would that deserve a news article and a statement from the company?
- Apocryphon 2y ago
  They might, depending on the slight. It's a culture that emphasizes politeness and propriety after all. You might’ve chosen one of the least effective counter-examples for this one.
- silisili 2y ago
  Apple is advertising to a global audience here, and are big in Japan. I think the closest thing I can think of is Sony, perhaps, doing an offensive ad(to Americans) with the PS5/6. I do think it'd be written about and they'd apologize, though it's a little different because Sony has a specific US subsidiary which acts like its own company.
- voidUpdate 2y ago
  Imagine a Japanese ad where they melt down guns, set fire to an F150 and turn some bald eagles into a burger. I believe a lot of Americans would call for the death of the company, not just a statement