Comments on: Oops, Racism at Microsoft? Impossible http://realitytalkblog.com/2009/08/oops-racism-at-microsoft-impossible/ Making it Real Wed, 26 May 2010 21:03:24 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Synchoomy http://realitytalkblog.com/2009/08/oops-racism-at-microsoft-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-1630 Synchoomy Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:41:42 +0000 http://realitytalkblog.com/?p=140#comment-1630 hello, great webpage how to create blog posts and smash in your readers: http://tinyurl.com/yly5jj5 hello, great webpage
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]]> By: Jeyc http://realitytalkblog.com/2009/08/oops-racism-at-microsoft-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-741 Jeyc Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:59:20 +0000 http://realitytalkblog.com/?p=140#comment-741 I’d be hung up on to be au fait that too! I’d be hung up on to be au fait that too!

]]> By: Gibble http://realitytalkblog.com/2009/08/oops-racism-at-microsoft-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Gibble Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:24:59 +0000 http://realitytalkblog.com/?p=140#comment-81 I'm sort of wondering if this is political correctness gone mad, If the shoe was on the other foot e.g. a white guy being replaced with a black guy so it could be a photo that could be better marketed in Africa....who would care? The only people who get upset would most likely be the white supremacy people and seriously who really who cares about those guys any more..? In fact if the shoe was on the other foot, people would be all like..it's affirmative action, we're representing the people etc... I mean if we want to live in a world with out racism then just maybe people shouldn't be getting on their high horse about every little thing... In hindsight it was obviously a dumb thing to do and probably driven by targeting the audience and trying to keep marketing costs low...it happens in big companies. So lets not try to get all xenophobic about it, Microsoft make a lot of money out of all their customers...not just the white ones! I’m sort of wondering if this is political correctness gone mad,
If the shoe was on the other foot e.g. a white guy being replaced with a black guy so it could be a photo that could be better marketed in Africa….who would care? The only people who get upset would most likely be the white supremacy people and seriously who really who cares about those guys any more..?
In fact if the shoe was on the other foot, people would be all like..it’s affirmative action, we’re representing the people etc…
I mean if we want to live in a world with out racism then just maybe people shouldn’t be getting on their high horse about every little thing…
In hindsight it was obviously a dumb thing to do and probably driven by targeting the audience and trying to keep marketing costs low…it happens in big companies.
So lets not try to get all xenophobic about it, Microsoft make a lot of money out of all their customers…not just the white ones!

]]> By: Devo http://realitytalkblog.com/2009/08/oops-racism-at-microsoft-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Devo Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:38:32 +0000 http://realitytalkblog.com/?p=140#comment-27 You have a terrific point there Krystal. Thanx for the other side of the coin. You have a terrific point there Krystal. Thanx for the other side of the coin.

]]> By: Krystal http://realitytalkblog.com/2009/08/oops-racism-at-microsoft-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Krystal Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:22:05 +0000 http://realitytalkblog.com/?p=140#comment-23 and it does go both ways. if Poland is 95% white and all white people is what you'd see in any Polish board room, then of course they changed the stock image reflect what their audience expects to see. In marketing, you have to talk to your audience and take their reality into consideration. You can't offend people in Poland with western "diversity" mandates if that isn't being pushed in their society. and it does go both ways. if Poland is 95% white and all white people is what you’d see in any Polish board room, then of course they changed the stock image reflect what their audience expects to see. In marketing, you have to talk to your audience and take their reality into consideration. You can’t offend people in Poland with western “diversity” mandates if that isn’t being pushed in their society.

]]> By: Krystal http://realitytalkblog.com/2009/08/oops-racism-at-microsoft-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Krystal Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:09:48 +0000 http://realitytalkblog.com/?p=140#comment-22 I'm a graphic designer. I am also a dyed in the wool mac lover and Microsoft detractor. As much as I'd like to heckle the "evil empire" here, this was most likely motivated by the realities of design in a corporate setting rather than any kind of malicious intent on the part of Microsoft. The Art Director or CD probably decided to alter a stock image for reasons of showing diversity and the artist who did it missed the hands, then no one caught it in proofing. A lot of times, budget or time constraints do not allow for custom photo shoots. You do the math. Stock images cost between $25 and $200, whereas a custom shoot with models and makeup is $2,000+. It's pretty easy to see why for a small campaign like this, they went with stock. The practice of altering stock images to fit whatever corporate/design mandate the higher ups decide on is VERY widely used in advertising/graphic design. A good photoshop artist can create a new reality in just an hour or two and you could never tell. The irony here is that Microsoft was most likely trying to be INCLUSIVE rather than portray an all-white world and tripped themselves up on their own quest to meet the pressure to be "diversified" in advertising. It really was a case of good intentions and the road to hell. I’m a graphic designer. I am also a dyed in the wool mac lover and Microsoft detractor. As much as I’d like to heckle the “evil empire” here, this was most likely motivated by the realities of design in a corporate setting rather than any kind of malicious intent on the part of Microsoft. The Art Director or CD probably decided to alter a stock image for reasons of showing diversity and the artist who did it missed the hands, then no one caught it in proofing. A lot of times, budget or time constraints do not allow for custom photo shoots. You do the math. Stock images cost between $25 and $200, whereas a custom shoot with models and makeup is $2,000+. It’s pretty easy to see why for a small campaign like this, they went with stock. The practice of altering stock images to fit whatever corporate/design mandate the higher ups decide on is VERY widely used in advertising/graphic design. A good photoshop artist can create a new reality in just an hour or two and you could never tell.

The irony here is that Microsoft was most likely trying to be INCLUSIVE rather than portray an all-white world and tripped themselves up on their own quest to meet the pressure to be “diversified” in advertising.

It really was a case of good intentions and the road to hell.

]]> By: Reel Advice http://realitytalkblog.com/2009/08/oops-racism-at-microsoft-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Reel Advice Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:10:50 +0000 http://realitytalkblog.com/?p=140#comment-21 I saw this one a few days ago. I say shame on Microsoft. I saw this one a few days ago. I say shame on Microsoft.

]]> By: Nedekcir http://realitytalkblog.com/2009/08/oops-racism-at-microsoft-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Nedekcir Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:51:33 +0000 http://realitytalkblog.com/?p=140#comment-19 If Microsoft is own by black person, I bet no one will get upset or call it racist if there is no white person on the picture. And guess what the picture is still racist because there is no Indian, middle east and other race there. If Microsoft is own by black person, I bet no one will get upset or call it racist if there is no white person on the picture. And guess what the picture is still racist because there is no Indian, middle east and other race there.

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