Is there a thread about the Samsung running advert?

[Antarcticant]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-61242917

I couldn't find an existing thread (struggling with the new search function) - if there is I would be really grateful if you could link it.

I once had a male colleague lightheartedly tease me for being 'lazy' when I was mentioning getting a taxi home at night for a journey that would have been ten minutes' walk. It just hadn't occurred to him that there would be any reason other than laziness for a woman not to walk home alone after dark.

A tone-deaf advert in my opinion.

[MrsRobinsonsHandprints]

Not the more likely to be attacked by strangers (the greatest risk to women is men she knows) but the rest yeah probably. But as a whole men do have a different approach to risk than women. Evident by how they drive, they are much more likely to be in a serious car collision for example. They are more likely to go looking for fights. If you observe male animal behaviour they behave the same. Biology matters in everything we do. It is after all Biology that means men are statistically more likely to be violent and why we are more at risk from them than other women. This must never, and doesn't justify their action. The concern for me is we are brought up to be terrified of strange men, of walking alone/at night etc yet we are safer on the streets than we are in our homes

[TruthHertz]

Young men are still more likely to be attacked by strangers. But they don't worry, I assume it is evolution, they had to believe they would make it when hunting and fighting.

I'm pretty sure you made this up. 😂

[MrsRobinsonsHandprints]

Young men are still more likely to be attacked by strangers. But they don't worry, I assume it is evolution, they had to believe they would make it when hunting and fighting.

I've always felt safer in the middle of nowhere than amongst people. I have never worried about walking the fields and woods in the dark as figure bad people won't be waiting where no one is expected

[TruthHertz]

It's defo odd, but in my last job I'd finish at 11:30pm and hit the gym.

[AstroSurf]

@deydododatdodontdeydo

Who runs at 2am anyway?

Exactly. It would have been unrealistic if a man had been depicted running at 2am. But let's not allow an opportunity for outrage to go to waste.

[TruthHertz]

Also think Brazilian ju jitsj is an excellent self defence method for women btw. Much much better than most of the 'self defence' classes, mainly because you can actually properly practice it in sparring without holding back as it's 99% rolling around on the floor and avoiding getting pinned.

I doubt I could beat most men in a sustained fight but the average guy would struggle to get me on my back unless he surprised me. I'd defo stand a very good chance of biting off his ear or poking out an eye, which would hopefully be enough to get away.

[TruthHertz]

I used to run after work, which meant in the dark in winter. I wouldn't do it through a dodgy area but most towns I wouldn't worry too much. I don't believe there are many random rapists hanging around on streets corners and I reckon the average bloke would struggle to catch me tbh.

[redskyatnight]

"According to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics, half of all women have felt unsafe at some point walking alone in the dark." Actually, that's a pretty low figure. I would have thought most women have at some point. Buy that doesn't mean I generally do. It's a weird question that I don't actually think tells us much. Although I'm pleasantly surprised to hear half of women said 'never'.

I wonder what question was asked?
I know an awful lot of women that never do walk alone in the dark. So they would answer "no" to the question "have you ever felt unsafe walking alone in the dark?".

[StrawberrySquash]

I honestly have mixed feelings. I don't think the way some women feel that any short distance at night is automatically unsafe is true or a healthy way to live. And these sort of outrages perpetuate the idea that we should stay safely at home.

Also I've never actually seem figures on how much more danger I am going out for a run at night than in the day. And I'm certainly not staying home in the day because I have a life to live. It's just not realistic.

"According to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics, half of all women have felt unsafe at some point walking alone in the dark." Actually, that's a pretty low figure. I would have thought most women have at some point. Buy that doesn't mean I generally do. It's a weird question that I don't actually think tells us much. Although I'm pleasantly surprised to hear half of women said 'never'.

[Antarcticant]

UPDATE: Samsung have now apologised for the advert:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-61242917

[opensunflower]

Oh wow. I have never run after dark/before sunrise

Its not safe

[WibblyWobblyJane]

I felt lt anxious just watching it. Sad having this conversation. I don’t often think about the things I’d like to do but won’t because of safety.

[OhamIreally]

And that risk assessment, being run by millions of women all over the world is: if I do this or go there what is the chance that a man will rape or kill me?

It's infuriating that this is a woman's problem.

I kept seeing that ad and experienced a kind of cognitive dissonance- like I was waiting for the real point of it, or the punchline where she was not really on her own or something. Just so strange and unrealistic.

[Antarcticant]

Yes, it's for everyone to do their own 'risk assessment' WoodenClock.

I wonder how many male runners even consider risk when deciding where/when to run? I'm not saying none do - there are some areas that are going to be unsafe for anyone after dark - but I'd bet that many never have to give it a second thought.

[WoodenClock]

@Antarcticant

www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-61242917

I couldn't find an existing thread (struggling with the new search function) - if there is I would be really grateful if you could link it.

I once had a male colleague lightheartedly tease me for being 'lazy' when I was mentioning getting a taxi home at night for a journey that would have been ten minutes' walk. It just hadn't occurred to him that there would be any reason other than laziness for a woman not to walk home alone after dark.

A tone-deaf advert in my opinion.

I have the opposite frustration. It drives me mad when people "insist" I get a taxi or a lift for a short walk.

I don't run on my own in the dark because it's not enjoyable, but I do run in the woods on my own, which lots of people are appalled by.

OK, there may be a small risk attached, but it's my risk to take.

[HoyaSaxa]

Goodness I would love that sense of freedom. What offensive dross.

i feel bad thar one of my reactions was that she does not run like a runner. And another one was that the knee socks were a bit creepy. The only runners I know that wear them are pretty serious long distance folk who are more likely to wear a old racing top and a race belt than have full make up and bouncy hair.

[Antarcticant]

@EmmaH2022

I saw it as a fantasy created by a woman. I like it.

the lyric choice "and the message coming from my eyes/says leave it alone".

I thought it was intended as a piece of fantasy.

I have been out at 2am but sadly walking rather than running.

If it was clear in the ad that it was a fantasy/ideal/utopia I would have no problem with it at all. The idea of a woman running when, where and how she wants, without fear, is a powerful one (all the more so because it highlights that it's not reality at the moment).

But the advert as presented comes across as pitifully unrealistic.

[KilmordenCastle]

Good to know I wasn't the only one who started ranting at whoever was in the room when I first saw this advert. Utterly ridiculous and tone deaf. I'm glad it's been called out online.

Honestly though, who in their right mind would sign that off?🙄

[CowboyFromHell]

As others have already said, I doubt any women were involved in the creation of the advert.

(And on a side note, what an awful drippy version of a perfectly decent song!)

[Bagadverts]

in a previous job I took a taxi home at 9.30pm,dark instead of walking to bus station alone waiting for bus and then walking home. Tried to get expenses but told that only covered from 10pm. This was generally a 9-5 job, I can’t drive due to disability. I was a trainee so did not challenge at the time. thinking back makes me angry.

[deydododatdodontdeydo]

The most shocking thing is the revelantion by ONS that half of all women have felt unsafe at some point when walking alone in the dark.
I would have estimated it at 100% for women, and probably 50% for men as well.

[SingingSands]

DH and I both think the advent is rubbish, but for differing reasons.

Mine: what woman goes running at 2am, wearing headphones?

Him: why would you not be in bed at 2am?

He agreed with me and I agreed with him.

[DorotheaFrazil]

The saddest thing about that ad is that my teen daughter watched it and said, what woman would go running on her own at night? She'd most likely be killed 🙁

[Useranon1]

I also ranted when I first saw it. Complete fantasy!

[EmmaH2022]

I saw it as a fantasy created by a woman. I like it.

the lyric choice "and the message coming from my eyes/says leave it alone".

I thought it was intended as a piece of fantasy.

I have been out at 2am but sadly walking rather than running.