Best Buys commercial (USA)

[jkinatl2]

has anyone seen the latest series of commercials for Best Buys and their computer sales? It is a "parody" of dating commercials, with a pleasant, caucasian woman talking about what she is looking for in her computer/mate.

One of her presentation points is that she wants her partner/computer to be "virus free."

I get the double meaning. I do. Its clever.


But it made me feel that thing in my throat. You know, that dirty feeling. Am I being too sensitive?

Oddly, since the woman was looking for a laptop, she should have said that she didn't want any fatties either. But she didn't go there. And she coulda specified whether she wanted a white one.

But she didn't.

Anyhow, am I overreacting? Or is this another nasty stigma?

[aztecan]

I haven't seen the commercials, but, considering the context, I don't like the double entendre.

Parody or not, I always have a negative gut reaction when someone uses terms like "clean" or "virus free."

Maybe we are being too sensitive. But too many people still think that way.

[HIVworker]

Yeah I saw that and thought the same thing. Oversensitive? Maybe. Check out some of the adds from the paper and I think they say "Drug and disease free". For the clever computer double-take that wouldn't work. Computers get viruses and if you are dating you don't want someone with a virus - the two that spring to mind are Herpes and HIV.....HepC at a push. I think if you got Best Buys PR on the phone they would claim that this is commonly used in dating ads and if it is anyone's fault it is the dating adds. Maybe I have heard to much PR BS and just doubt the whole industry.

R

[jkinatl2]

Yeah, I agree with you both. Its omnipresent. As is our stigma, and our collective required shame. I just don't do shame that well anymore. And I am reticent to promote or participate. Maybe I ough tto write a letter... But how sad when my only real response would probably be a manufactured reply and maybe a twenty five dollar gift card.

People suck. Sometimes I forget that. Best Buys reminded me.

[HIVworker]

It's the sad fact. HIV has been around for so long that people have become immune to it - even though 40 million are infected and 1 million die per year in Africa (about the number who died in that Tsunami about every two months).

I imagine you would get a corporate response and a gift card. They are hardly going to pull the ad. Hey, maybe you could by a Project (Red) phone? Oh don't get me started....

R

[jkinatl2]

:::shudder:::

I dont even wear red anymore. screw that. When Bono decides to pay taxes, I might start taking him seriously. Plus, you know how I feel about empty PR gestures.

People that want to make a difference in HIV infection can start not by buying more crap, but by volunteering to deliver meals or combating the stigma.

People. What do they do? Suck.

[HIVworker]

We don't suck Jonathan. That's 2 out of 6 billion. Anymore takers for the "Do not suck" list?

However, I don't deliver meals to anyone, so I take myself off that list.

R

[jkinatl2]

to be fair, the first thing in my head was what I wanted to buy with the gift card. What PS2 game is worth my dignity and self worth?

Hmm... Maybe a Grand Theft Auto.

[sweetasmeli]

Parody or not, I always have a negative gut reaction when someone uses terms like "clean" or "virus free."

Maybe we are being too sensitive. But too many people still think that way.

Mark, I don't think you are being too sensitive. I think its other people being insensitive.
Yesterday, I actually stopped dead in my tracks, whilst reading the article about Tommy Morrison (boxer I believe?). As soon as I read the words: “I was clean every time…” with a roll of my eyes, I closed the link. I don’t have to and will not tolerate the ignorance and insensitivity of others. 

Maybe I ough tto write a letter... But how sad when my only real response would probably be a manufactured reply and maybe a twenty five dollar gift card.

You know, Jonathan, that is so true. I wrote an email the other week to the author of 2 nutrition books I recently purchased, because in his books he had said, and I quote:

"Dietary and Lifestyle Recommedations
- Do not have sexual intercourse with persons known to have or suspected of having HIV..."
 
and

"Causes
...Primary risk factors for developing AIDS and HIV infection include sexual contact with an HIV-infected person..."

I expressed my “horror” at the misinformation his literature was providing - ie. the complete omission of the word 'unprotected' - and also went on to explain the real facts, with the gentle and polite suggestion to discuss these 'little facts' with his editor when the time came for his books to be republished.

This is the (automated) email I received in return:

Hello,

Thank you for contacting me. Unfortunately, due to the enormous number of
e-mails like yours that I was receiving I am unable to personally answer
your question. In most cases, my website’s Condition Center
(http://www.doctormurray.com/conditions/index.htm) will likely answer your
question. Simply click on the condition that is most relevant to you. If
doing so does not answer your question, please try doing a search on my
website by utilizing the search function available on any page of my
website (http://www.doctormurray.com ). I have tried to pack my website
full of useful information. If you require more support, I would recommend
finding a naturopathic physician in your area by going to
http://www.naturopathic.org.

Again, I apologize.

Sincerely,
Michael T. Murray, N.D.

What a dink! And no bloody gift voucher for Melia. PAH!

Some people - but not all, of course - do indeed suck.

Little Miss Melia

[bocker3]

Are you being "oversensitive"?  I don't know -- people feel what they feel -- feelings aren't right or wrong, they just are.
I try, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, to not let others get to me in these kinds of situations.  For instance, when I'm looking for a computer -- I sure as shit want one that is virus-free.  Now I know the ad is going for some double-entendre here, but I have to think back to my pre-diagnosis days --- given the choice of dating someone with HIV or Herpes and someone without -- I probably would have gone with the "virus-free" guy.  Now, I'm not saying that was right -- my diagnosis certainly made me rethink that thought process, but the fact remains that for most negative folks, they think that is the safer route.  More education would be good to help folks understand.  Now as for the whole "clean" thing -- I'm not a big fan of those ads either, but when used in the context of a test result, I'm less concerned.  My mother had breast cancer 20+ yrs ago and for the next 5 yrs had a body scan every 6 months.  Each time the doctor told her that her "scan came back clean".  I don't find that insensitive. 
Bottomline, it would be very easy for me to get upset, hurt or angry over so many things, but I don't want to live like that.  Happily, I'm able to do this most of the times, but there are times where I simply want to scream, so I fully understand what you are saying.

Mike

[David_CA]

Overly sensitive or not, their your opinions and neither right or wrong.  I thought the ads were kinda clever, being an IT person and all, but I have a bit of a warped sense of humor.

It's all about marketing.  If all those with HIV & AIDS boycotted Best Buy, they'd still probably be ahead due to the fact that many others also think the ads are funny.  It's like when a neg person tells a tasteless gay or HIV joke; I get kinda pissed.  If a gay person or HIV+ person tells the same joke, it's not so bad.  I know if a straight person called me 'girl' or 'bitch', I'd get a bit offended, but if another gay person does the same, it doesn't bother me.

I think when we can get to the point that we can ignore those ads, comments, and jokes, we'll be well on our way to totally accepting HIV.  I guess it's like being called "whitey" or "cracker".  Those don't really bother me either. (If those last two lines offend anybody, I'll be glad to remove them; my intent is NOT to offend anybody).

David

[GSOgymrat]

I saw the Best Buy commercial and I didn't think about HIV. I barely remember that I saw the commercial it was so unremarkable.

[Bucko]

I saw it, shuddered, and decided that I was being oversensitive.

But the shudder was real.

Brent
(Who wonders if "undetectable" qualifies)

[aupointillimite]

I saw that commercial, and when I heard the "virus-free" bit, I was kinda like, "What ze fuck?" in my best French accent... but I sort of shrugged it off.

Although I did think it a smidge odd that someone going into buying a computer would want it "virus-free."  That usually happens after you get it hooked up to teh Internets.