# Is the racial stereotype in this ad offensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509 "2015-08-31T16:42:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/21 "2015-08-31T23:46:07Z")
When she uses the French seasoning, suddenly they’re all in guillotines. Spanish Inquisition flavor, with bacon bits. Whoever refuses is hauled away as a crypto-Jew ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/22 "2015-09-01T00:29:57Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Spanish Inquisition flavor, with bacon bits. Whoever refuses is hauled away as a crypto-Jew We have two main flavor additives - peppers, paprika, and blind allegiance to the po ------ we have three, three main flavor additives ---------- Cardinal Biggles, where are you? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/23 "2015-09-01T01:39:44Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m more offended by the idea of a container of “Chinese Spice.” Not, like, racially or ethnically offended. _Culinarily_ offended. It starts as a basic Five Spice, with black pepper instead of Sichuan, but adds dried garlic, onion “crystals,” and sugar and salt as filler. Lots of filler. Appears to have no sulphites, unlike the McCormick model, so it is less likely to kill me. Overall, uninteresting when it’s so easy to make, or even buy, a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/24 "2015-09-01T02:42:07Z")
I don’t find that offensive at all. Chinese hats? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/25 "2015-09-01T06:22:28Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m more offended by the idea of a container of “Chinese Spice.” Not, like, racially or ethnically offended. _Culinarily_ offended. I have a jar of “McCormick Mexican Seasoning”. Is that also taboo? 'cause I have no idea what all the seasonings used in “Mexican” food are. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/26 "2015-09-01T07:14:40Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Before viewing: “It’s gonna be British.” > > After viewing: “Yup, British.” > > What is it about the Brits that makes them need to portray every racial and ethnic stereotype they can think of? Is this _meant_ to be ironic? It’s the internet: I just can’t tell anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/27 "2015-09-01T08:46:01Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I just watched the shot frame by frame - he adopts a fixed facial expression with eyes closed to slits and teeth exposed, then turns and shrugs or bows down slightly. > > It definitely doesn’t look like a natural smile (the same kid is seen smiling naturally at about 0:20 in the same video). As I say, it might just be that the kid had trouble acting a natural-looking grin, but I dunno. I think you work too hard to find something you can be offended by here. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/28 "2015-09-01T09:52:23Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I don’t think the kid was trying to slant his eyes to look Chinese. > > Even so, the coolie hats were in bad taste. Not insulting, just… dumb. > > I mean, if the commercial were selling a French spice, and the commercial played accordions while putting berets on the family’s heads, that wouldn’t be racist, just cheesy. Same here. Agreed. One reason it is dumb is because the hats aren’t specifically Chinese anyway. They are found in various parts of Southeast Asia - I’m actually more likely to think of Vietnam than China when I see one of those hats. And I have a beautiful beaded example from Indonesia hanging on my wall. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/29 "2015-09-01T11:51:26Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Agreed. > > One reason it is dumb is because the hats aren’t specifically Chinese anyway. They are found in various parts of Southeast Asia - I’m actually more likely to think of Vietnam than China when I see one of those hats. And I have a beautiful beaded example from Indonesia hanging on my wall. Yeah, my mom is Vietnamese and wears those hats unironically and unembarrassedly for ten months out of the year. I call her “Raiden.” ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/30 "2015-09-01T12:07:41Z")
That ad is a crime against the advertising industry’s reputation, but that kid isn’t being racist. The hat is just a REALLY clunky ‘ooh it’s like I’ve been transported to CHINA’. Really, the marketing people that let that go should be fired. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/31 "2015-09-01T15:43:11Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > I have a jar of “McCormick Mexican Seasoning”. Is that also taboo? > 'cause I have no idea what all the seasonings used in “Mexican” food are. 😉 More cumin than anything else, usually. Regardless, I’m pretty sure that McCormick’s wouldn’t do a commercial in which a housewife cooked enchiladas, and the whole family suddenly had sombreros on their heads while mariachi music played. The ad execs would anticipate that many real Mexicans would find that offensive. Me, I’d just find it silly. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/32 "2015-09-01T15:54:19Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > More cumin than anything else, usually. > > Regardless, I’m pretty sure that McCormick’s wouldn’t do a commercial in which a housewife cooked enchiladas, and the whole family suddenly had sombreros on their heads while mariachi music played. I don’t know. It would be stupid, but I could see someone trying to appeal to people who don’t know much about Mexican food. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/33 "2015-09-01T15:56:35Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > More cumin than anything else, usually. > > Regardless, I’m pretty sure that McCormick’s wouldn’t do a commercial in which a housewife cooked enchiladas, and the whole family suddenly had sombreros on their heads while mariachi music played. The ad execs would anticipate that many real Mexicans would find that offensive. > > Me, I’d just find it silly. Naw, you’d want INS jackbooted thugs to burst in and arrest them instead. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/34 "2015-09-01T16:00:47Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > More cumin than anything else, usually. > > Regardless, I’m pretty sure that McCormick’s wouldn’t do a commercial in which a housewife cooked enchiladas, and the whole family suddenly had sombreros on their heads while mariachi music played. The ad execs would anticipate that many real Mexicans would find that offensive. > > Me, I’d just find it silly. Schwartz are owned by McCormick. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/35 "2015-09-01T16:15:32Z")
I’m left wondering if the family was hungry again in an hour. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/36 "2015-09-01T16:33:46Z")
As an Asian-American it did not offend me. It was stupid, but it was not offensive. If the idea is “This is like being magically transported to the Orient!” it would have been much more effective to have the kitchen fall away and have them appear to have been magically transported to the Orient. Or at least have some lanterns and other Asian stuff pop up around the table. As is, the message is more like, “This will turn you into an Asian person!” which is ludicrous. . ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/37 "2015-09-01T16:33:59Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I mean, if the commercial were selling a French spice, and the commercial played accordions while putting berets on the family’s heads, that wouldn’t be racist, just cheesy. Same here. This is where I am at. I cannot viscerally perceive the offense, and that leads me not to give it a second thought. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/38 "2015-09-01T16:59:44Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Before viewing: “It’s gonna be British.” > > After viewing: “Yup, British.” They better not eat [Imperial Margarine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTX09-I1wa4), or the whole family gets it like the [Duke of Monmouth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO83oA78QMo) did ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/39 "2015-09-01T17:05:38Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > More cumin than anything else, usually. > > Regardless, I’m pretty sure that McCormick’s wouldn’t do a commercial in which a housewife cooked enchiladas, and the whole family suddenly had sombreros on their heads while mariachi music played. The ad execs would anticipate that many real Mexicans would find that offensive. > > Me, I’d just find it silly. not McCormicks, but wasn;'t there a run of commercials about ‘taco nite’ and one of those boxed ‘taco kits’ - can’t remember the brand - that did just that? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509/40 "2015-09-01T17:46:02Z")
> [@simster](#): > > not McCormicks, but wasn;'t there a run of commercials about ‘taco nite’ and one of those boxed ‘taco kits’ - can’t remember the brand - that did just that? I was going to say the same. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-racial-stereotype-in-this-ad-offensive/729509.md?page=3)