# Mike Rowe jean commercial - Racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 29, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914 "2010-08-29T20:36:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/61 "2010-08-30T21:35:07Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > There are a lot of acts that are not reversible between male & females due to societies agreed rules but even that can be different in different cultures. Sure, agreed. > [@](#): > > So on questionable situations I try to apply the reverse test, then I make up my mind. Okay, so what happens when you reverse the races? For me, nothing changes. When you reverse the genders, though, I don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/62 "2010-08-30T21:45:38Z")
> [@](#): > > The ad does show that we clearly see a sexual come on from a woman as a whole lot less threatening. Gee, I wonder why. I am glad I don’t have to jump in and defend Mike Rowe from charges of elitism as I see many of you others have already done so. I would however like to add my voice to those declaring we don’t care how ugly his pants are. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/63 "2010-08-30T22:58:57Z")
Mike Rowe is doing a jeans commercial? :eek: Why haven’t I seen this? (I’ve seen him in so many Ford commercials I can almost entertain the thought of actually buying a Ford… …no, sorry, Mike…) ---
**Author:** ![rayman5321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@rayman5321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayman5321)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/64 "2010-08-31T11:07:29Z")
It’s not racist. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/65 "2010-08-31T15:57:40Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Considering how invisible Black women are in TV advertising [snip] Not in the past 30-plus years. I have noticed that in the past five years, there’s fewer dark-skinned women in multiracial ads. It’s the same light-skinned woman with curly hair. I dig the T-Mobile commercial with the white husband and black wife. “Find outlet mall!” ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/66 "2010-08-31T16:29:12Z")
> [@clarkstar](#): > > i’ve watched his dirty jobs show a couple times. he seems like a real “i’m better than you” type of person belittling peoples jobs He bit the balls off a lamb. That’s the exact image I have of people that think way too much of themselves. ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/67 "2010-09-02T04:45:27Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > > [@clarkstar](#): > > > > i’ve watched his dirty jobs show a couple times. he seems like a real “i’m better than you” type of person belittling peoples jobs > > He bit the balls off a lamb. > > That’s the exact image I have of people that think way too much of themselves. yeah but he acts like he’s sooo much better than every job i’ve seen him doing and cracking jokes about their livelihood. maybe i’m just overly sensitive ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/68 "2010-09-02T05:53:33Z")
You’re misreading him, I think. He makes jokes about his own ineptitude at doing the jobs. He doesn’t fit your description of him at all, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/69 "2010-09-02T12:30:51Z")
> [@clarkstar](#): > > yeah but he acts like he’s sooo much better than every job i’ve seen him doing and cracking jokes about their livelihood. maybe i’m just overly sensitive You’re overly sensitive. In some jobs, there is a little bit of “wow, people really do this job?”, but hey, he’s only voicing what everyone in the audience is thinking. And jokes about the job? C’mon man, allow a little levity into the show without crying about it. I think there is also a little pushback based on how the people there treat him. I’ve seen a couple of people be dicks to him on the show because he’s not doing the job fast enough or well enough for them. Always looks to me like they probably edit that DOWN to keep the negativity out of the show, but sometimes I think “wow, that guy isn’t doing himself or his company any favors by treating Mike that way on national TV”. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/70 "2010-09-02T13:19:34Z")
I’ve seen him crack a joke at someone who tells him how to do a job, because he thinks (or at least acts for the camera), that they’re putting him on - “No one could possibly do what you just told me to do.” Invariably, the person will demonstrate it for Mike 10 seconds later, leaving him astounded and laughing. He’s laughing at his own incompetence, not the other person. And I’ve often seen him be apologetic to the person who has been assigned to train him for the day - “I’m really slowing you down, aren’t I?” ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/71 "2010-09-02T19:12:00Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > > [@clarkstar](#): > > > > yeah but he acts like he’s sooo much better than every job i’ve seen him doing and cracking jokes about their livelihood. maybe i’m just overly sensitive > > You’re overly sensitive. > > In some jobs, there is a little bit of “wow, people really do this job?”, but hey, he’s only voicing what everyone in the audience is thinking. And jokes about the job? C’mon man, allow a little levity into the show without crying about it. > > I think there is also a little pushback based on how the people there treat him. I’ve seen a couple of people be dicks to him on the show because he’s not doing the job fast enough or well enough for them. Always looks to me like they probably edit that DOWN to keep the negativity out of the show, but sometimes I think “wow, that guy isn’t doing himself or his company any favors by treating Mike that way on national TV”. i wasnt crying, i admitted i might be overly sensitive, ya jerk 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/72 "2010-09-02T19:49:29Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > He’s a little embarrassed at the hands-on-attention but not actually complaining. Seems a little more than ‘not complaining’ to me, even - he’s a bit embarrassed, but kind of likes the attention. The amused ‘friendly, though’ ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/73 "2010-09-02T20:04:46Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Seems a little more than ‘not complaining’ to me, even - he’s a bit embarrassed, but kind of likes the attention. The amused ‘friendly, though’ Dangit, how did I not finish this post…? The amused ‘friendly, though’ does it, I think. As to Mike’s attitude toward the jobs he does - I gotta throw in with the people who have the opposite impression. QUITE the opposite, in fact. I’ve occasionally gotten the impression he’s developed a low opinion of people who don’t do the sort of hard, dirty, physical work that’s featured on the show. And his mockery is always of himself and his crew - especially Barski (well, and the show’s producer in that one episode). Or, very occasionally, of the jargon, if any of the terms used for equipment or jobs can be taken as at all dirty (in the meaning of the term that’s not used in the title). Or that one dude who was wearing a thong on the construction site. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/74 "2010-09-05T04:05:07Z")
Mike Rowe did a TED talk ([http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/mike\_rowe\_celebrates\_dirty\_jobs.html](http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/mike_rowe_celebrates_dirty_jobs.html)). Video starts playing automatically. He’s soooo not condescending. Mike Rowe is fantastic. Used to sing Opera too. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/75 "2010-09-05T05:06:55Z")
**Snarky Kong** , thanks for posting that. That was one of the most worthwhile 20 min. I’ve ever spent. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/76 "2010-09-05T13:26:20Z")
The only thing I saw as remotely racist is that the pretty girl had to be a light skinned black woman. And I only noticed that after reading the OP. And I agree that **Snarky Kong** ’s link was nice. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/77 "2010-09-05T13:42:01Z")
Mike Rowe = Awesomeness That is really all there is to say… ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/78 "2010-09-05T14:15:07Z")
Those of you who have been on this board for some time might recall I used to talk about race quite a bit on the SDMB, but not so much anymore. Why? **ECP** raised a _question_. He/she didn’t say “THAT’S RACIST OMG!!1!” Just put it out there. While many folks said, “I don’t see it,” there’s this whole line of hostility that the question was even raised. That’s fucking annoying. Like simply asking if others saw something that **ECP** saw was a problem. I should state that as far as I read, that I didn’t detect **ECP** making a definitive statement one way or another. It’s like people vilify someone for _asking a question_. FTR, I didn’t find it racist. I thought it might be a little sexist, but it that way that most commercials that deal with sexuality and gender are. But it’s actually kind of cute in IMO. I could understand why the question would come up, but no. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/79 "2010-09-05T14:34:01Z")
In re-reading the OP it does seem that **ECP** thought it was possibly racist. But it didn’t seem that he/she was coming out with guns blazing. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914/80 "2010-11-02T18:44:32Z")
No comment on Mike’s butt or how his jeans fit (they looked like, well, a regular guy wearing jeans to me) or about the racism bit (except to say…huh?), but: [QUOTE=clarkstar] i’ve watched his dirty jobs show a couple times. he seems like a real “i’m better than you” type of person belittling peoples jobs [/QUOTE] Watched his show from time to time and I’ve never gotten this vibe from the guy. He tells jokes (many at his own expense), but that’s because, well, it’s a TV show and he’s supposed to be entertaining (which he is IMHO). ETA: > [@](#): > > yeah but he acts like he’s sooo much better than every job i’ve seen him doing and cracking jokes about their livelihood. maybe i’m just overly sensitive Um…he’s an entertainer and it’s a TV show. He’s supposed to crack jokes and stuff about the jobs. It’s expected. I’ve never seen him act like he’s better than anyone else on the show. -XT [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-rowe-jean-commercial-racist/551914.md?page=5)