08.25.09

Microsoft Wants Only White People in Poland

Posted in Microsoft at 7:41 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

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6 Comments

aeshna23 said,

August 25, 2009 at 8:09 pm

Is this post some effort to discredit BoycottNovell by Roy himself? Why is self-mutilation so popular? An “argument” this silly can only be considered an effort to alienate anyone with half a brain. I assure the casual reader that Roy isn’t insane and makes good points most of the time. Just ignore this outbreak of irrationality on Roy’s behalf.

In America, “Microsoft only wants Asian people” could be said with more justice. It would still be a crazy thing to say.

Roy Schestowitz Reply:
August 25th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
You obviously misread it. The post is trying to show that Microsoft Poland eliminated one person from this photo, which is what the whole kerkuffle is about. The headline is partly humourous of course.

aeshna23 Reply:
August 25th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
If it’s a joke, that’s good. I have some friends who would think it isn’t.

Though I’m sure you noticed it, the Asian guy remains Asian in the Polish ad.
maxstirner said,

August 26, 2009 at 8:36 am

the MS marketing dept’s concession to racist Poland.. whilst being a bit unnerving, I would consider this standard practice in late-capitalist advertising strategy
NotZed said,

August 26, 2009 at 9:04 am

How is it racist? How many african american’s do you think hang out on Polish board-rooms? It’s not racist, it just looks silly. That particular shot was (very obviously) made for the USA – it would look out of place just about anywhere else in the world (e.g. in the UK he might be Indian, in Australia he might be more european looking, etc).

We’re now bombarded with American adverts on tv here – and one of the reasons they’re easy to spot is the bizarre notion that the world is made of equal numbers of each ethnic group. It looks very out of place. That and the shit-house video quality and sometimes funny dubbing.

MS just tried to do something on the cheap that every marketing department has to do anyway – customise to the target market. e.g. you’re pretty unlikely to have a blonde blue-eyed swedish bird in a shampoo advert anywhere in asia.

Roy Schestowitz Reply:
August 26th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Even the MSBBC has coverage of this now:

Microsoft in web photo racism row

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