Family upset after Vitamen water cap calls them a retard

[Ryback on a Pole!]

I laughed.

And I would laugh harder if I opened a bottle and got a message like that.

[BigBadZ]

Sept 21, 2013 19:08:49 GMT -5 CM Dazz said:

Sept 21, 2013 19:05:13 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Uh... that wouldn't happen because as stated by the company this was an error based on them choosing a random French word that is spelled the same way as an English slur, and not them slipping in the slur to be insulting correct?

Granted they should have had some kind of filter to remove it in case it was caught by the random number generator especially since it was combined with the English word of You...

First, we're all of a sudden taking corporations at their word? Second, if there was another slur, the company's excuse wouldn't mean shit. Their buildings would be swarmed with protestors.

Although I, personally, am not really offended or upset with Coca-Cola for this obvious mistake, CM Dazz makes a great point. Even if Coca-Cola would have had a word that is misconstrued as a slur, people would call for boycotts. For example, had they used the word "niggardly" in some similar situation, it would have a different backlash (NOTE: I've not heard this word used very much and when it was, it came off as condescending or someone trying to get a reaction and then act smarter because they presumably don't know what it means). This is more about how it's more acceptable to use "retard" as a derogatory slur in society than it should be.

Had this incident happened to me, I probably would have posted a picture of it online but never got Vitamin Water involved. But then again, I view "retard" more as a slur in the same vein as "fag" as showed in that South Park episode about it. Neither are words I use outside of close friends who won't be offended because not everyone thinks as I do and I'm cool with that.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Sept 23, 2013 6:19:48 GMT -5 Rumble McSkirmish said:

Am I the only one who thinks the company line about a contest sounds like a complete ass pull?

Yeah...you see this was...a contest we was running. Yeah we chose an English word at random, and a...French word at random...and the French word we happened to choose...was "late" which coincidentally happened to be spelled..."retard." Yeah, that's the ticket...totally random you see.

As opposed to, "Here's what we're going to do. Print "You Retard" under every bottle cap. It'll be hilarious! Almost no one throws a shit fit over that word!! Good thing Canada has two official languages, so on the off chance one person in a 30 million finds it offensive we have an out!"

[Heartbreaker]

This story is hilarious. I would have loved to see the reaction if it was the c word.

[Mozenrath]

You know, I can relate to them. One time I bought milk, and the lid called me a HOMO.

[Young Game]

This one time I opened a package of Ramen noodles and on the inside, in big bold letters, were the words "WHY YOU SO POOR?".

Sept 23, 2013 6:19:48 GMT -5 Rumble McSkirmish said:

Am I the only one who thinks the company line about a contest sounds like a complete ass pull?

Yeah...you see this was...a contest we was running. Yeah we chose an English word at random, and a...French word at random...and the French word we happened to choose...was "late" which coincidentally happened to be spelled..."retard." Yeah, that's the ticket...totally random you see.

"And then I proceeded to drink the Vitamin Water with my wife...Morgan Fairchild."

[Blindkarevik]

I think I'd be pretty worried if my self-esteem hinged on what a bottle cap thought of me.

[crowwreak was WRONG]

Some people find a word more offensive than others do, but that doesn't mean that saying that word is OK. You wouldn't believe how many times I've had to point out to other members of this forum that the phrase "[X Diva] looks like a tranny" isn't OK


This, I can understand as a screw up of some level

[Legion]

Yeah, this is a PR nightmare, but this family smell cash and that's why they are so angry.

The same as any of us. You'd laugh, then greed would set in.

Welcome to the world.

[Deleted]

I want a statistician to calculate the odds of this cap landing in that family's house.

As for the cap itself, I can't really get too upset about it since 'retard' is a legitimate French word. I will say that they would have done better to have French and English words with the same meaning on the caps though.

[Mozenrath]

Sept 28, 2013 12:52:03 GMT -5 Blindkarevik said:

I think I'd be pretty worried if my self-esteem hinged on what a bottle cap thought of me.

If your sister was mentally challenged and you got it, I would imagine you'd have less worries and more anger. I believe the explanation of the company, but whoever thought "retard" should have been in the rotation does need to seriously be reprimanded, if for no other reason than the stupidity of doing something that'd bring that kind of heat on the company.

[Blindkarevik]

Sept 28, 2013 17:04:26 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Sept 28, 2013 12:52:03 GMT -5 Blindkarevik said:

I think I'd be pretty worried if my self-esteem hinged on what a bottle cap thought of me.

If your sister was mentally challenged and you got it, I would imagine you'd have less worries and more anger. I believe the explanation of the company, but whoever thought "retard" should have been in the rotation does need to seriously be reprimanded, if for no other reason than the stupidity of doing something that'd bring that kind of heat on the company.

Or maybe a child, as I do.

Still, it just rings of people being pissed because they are afforded the possibility of bitching to the press.