To find the new Alexa ad sexist and disturbing

[Sugarleaf]

The premise seems to be: men can’t help their aggression and swearing, but they have to try to rein it in for the sake of the women and children, so Alexa steps in to help.
I googled the man in question and apparently he’s well known, but I had no idea who he was. What I see is a man being aggressive, AI playing music so ‘the cops aren’t called,’ leaving his sister and the children outside while he tries to get his aggression out of his system.

And I really don’t like the way this portrays women as genteel, non-swearing creatures who need protecting from men’s behaviour. Women swear. We don’t need to be cast as the delicate audience for men trying to manage their own behaviour.

Alexa being a female and coaching this poor aggressive man just adds to the weirdness
The whole premise feels pretty patronising

AIBU?

(ps the original post was withdrawn due to a problem with the link!)

When Alexa asks if he needs help getting the swearing out of his system then says she’ll play loud music so that ‘no-one calls the cops,’ then afterwards asks if he’s feeling better and he says he feels cleansed.

I totally get that if you understand the character and the situation on Ted Lasso then it makes sense and isn’t concerning. But the vast vast majority haven’t. I’ve seen most major programmes that ‘everyone watches’ but happen to have not seen that. I had no idea he was a famous face. I took the ad at face value which most people will. Esp. Children

But he’s not uncalm at any stage.

he’s literally just getting all his swears out before he is around children, that’s all.

it’s not even a worrying advert if you don’t know of his characters.

swearing isn’t always aggressive, but it is always inappropriate around children.

Conformation bias.

If you are looking for things to be offended by, that is all you will find.

It's just awful. Isn't there a bit where he replies that Alexa is a cheeky **! It is an American product though so maybe lost in translation.

I agree.

Well you don't know what he says because it is blanked out, and I think we are getting carried away Alexa is an AI machine i don't think we should be "humanising" it.

I didn't know who he was as I don't really watch U.S. dramas/comedy etc.

What’s angry about him? If it’s his appearance I may have to get offended on his behalf as a fellow angry eyebrows haver. It’s not our fault, they just grow that way.

Fuck’s sake, this can’t be real, no one is that keen to be offended, surely?

I wouldn’t tell anyone to leave their husband if he walked up and down the lounge swearing at no one in a piss (sorry) take about getting them all out before he’s around kids.

theres a big difference at what’s going on in the advert and actual abuse within a relationship.

he doesn't sound angry or aggressive, and it does suggest he's just sweary but agree it comes across odd, I'd say patronising to him. it's just a weird ad if you don't know who he is (I don't)

I've never seen the TV show in my life and I think it's you who doesn't get it.

He's not angry at all but you appear to be wilfully ignoring that.

The advert is doing exactly that- making humans believe they can make 'real' emotional connections with automata, tragic really if you think about it!

I'm very grateful for this thread because I had NO IDEA what this advert was supposed to be about!

But then if any machine dares to try to tell me how I should behave in my own house it would be hoyed out of the window before it got the first syllable out.

Honestly, I didn't take any of what you did from the advert, OP

(And I haven't seen Ted Lasso if that makes a difference)

@Sugarleaf I didn't know who he was OP and I've never watched Ted Lasso. I agree the advert did make me uncomfortable.

But next time a poster talks about their husband shouting and swearing and everyone says, ‘don’t put up with it’ then have a think about what ads like these tell people about what’s normal in a household.

But the whole point of the ad is the Alexa stopping him from shouting and swearing in front of his family! It's literally the opposite of what you're complaining about.

Ted Lasso is phenomenally popular in the US, so guessing Amazon think the show is just as popular throughout the whole world. Much prefer Shrinking personally.

I don't like the line about the police. I think Amazon would argue that it's about the swearing he's doing before the family get there that could get the police there, hence the music. But it lands weirdly.

The rest, I love Brett, love Roy, love Ted Lasso. Which BTW tackles family violence, abuse, mental illness, male friendships, all sorts of brilliant, wholesome things that are important.

And Brett is someone who swears a lot but also love the Muppets and JLo and bends male expectations. He's sweet. That's the backdrop.

I really hate how quickly jump to "you must have been living under a rock" if you are not up to date with insert tv show, book, tech etc what the hell. I didn't watch the show that doesn't mean I have been living under a rock. Maybe is not my taste maybe I have other things to do. Grow up and stop judging people based on what you think they should watch!
That being said, without knowing context or Ted Lasso, I am not offended by said comercial one bit.

Do you know that AI related water consumption could equate to the domestic needs of 1.3 billion people by the end of decade. Then there is the space needed for the data centres. I personally think encouraging humans to mistakenly believe they have an emotional connection with technology that is responsible for part of this damage, rather than just having real friends, is a pretty important thing to concern yourself with.

They will not, they will find a solution, already many or most of the companies use recycled water to cool their data centers, they do not use fresh water.

Links?

Life must be a challenge when you’re professionally offended

It's tongue-in-cheek. Alexa is not a woman - it's AI which has no gender, regardless of what voice type is in use. It's a fairly well-known trope to 'get the swears out' in situations where you need to regulate your language - much like that thing where people can't help but giggle/swear in church. I know of Ted Lasso but have never watched it and I don't think it has a bearing on this advert at all because they are using the actor's name, not a character name (I know him from Uncle). Even in my wildest dreams I couldn't be offended by this.