UPDATE.... GM will change robot ad

In the wake of heavy criticism, General Motors decided late Thursday that it would make changes to an ad that originally aired during the Super Bowl (see previous post.) The ad depicted a GM factory robot committing suicide after not achieveing "perfection" when it drops a bolt on the assembly line and is fired.

GM has a change of HEART...

Collective voices can make a difference or was there a possibility that the tragic death of Anna Nicole Smith might have been ruled a suicide making the issue a "hot button" topic?

Super Bowl commercial in poor taste?

In the plethora of Super Bowl ads, I found one particularly disturbing. Apparently others did as well as it is making the news rounds today. It was a General Motors commercial centering on an automated factory robot that drops a bolt on the job and is fired. The robot is shown taking lesser jobs, but eventually commits suicide by hurling itself off a bridge. But it is only a nightmare and the robot awakes. You may click the link below to view it:

GM Robot Super Bowl Ad

I was at a Super Bowl party of which many of the attendees were “pretty happy.” There was silence during this commercial and upon its conclusion, no one laughed. The big question is: What is this commercial selling?

The problem I have with this ad is that it mirrors too closely or oversimplifies the spiral some take when faced with job loss or other personal challenges. And in today’s sometimes fast paced, perfection expected world (being fired for dropping a bolt??!!), it’s easy to see where one can take offense or relate. To make matters worse, the song: ”All by Myself” is played in the background playing up the isolation such situations can bring.

Suicide prevention groups are outraged at the insensitivity of the commercial and want GM to pull it. GM has stated that the ad will continue to run.

From a personal standpoint, I have been “on that railing” and felt very alone at a couple of points in my life. I am one of the lucky ones that always fought through and found my way back, but some have or did not. To the families of those who have lost loved ones to suicide, I’m sure this ad was completely tasteless and offensive.

GM took this idea too far and by doing so magnified a very sad human reality: sometimes perfection is expected and not achieved in our lives (both professionally and personally.) In the wake of mistakes or failures, we’re too hard on ourselves, and for some this is devastating. There is also a some stange irony here: in the fickle world of automotive production and jobs going overseas, GM has laid off thousands.... something to think about.