Direct TV’s Commercials For Hateful Jerks: NFL Sunday Ticket

The ad campaign for Direct TV’s NFL Sunday Ticket raises the question: if it is despicable, unethical and wrong to do something hateful to another individual because of his race,religion or national origin, can it be cute, funny or socially acceptable to take the same action against someone because of his pro football loyalties?

The Direct TV campaign, depicts the fans of various NFL teams expressing their anger and dismay over the fact that the satellite television service allows neighbors who have recently moved to their area can continue to root for their home town football teams by subscribing to NFL Sunday Ticket. In each commercial, a fan expresses his or her hatred for the newcomer by inflicting some form of surreptitious insult,  indignity, or attack: Continue reading

Celebrity Jerk in Training: Justin Bieber

It’s good to know teenie-bopper idol Justin Bieber is already practicing for the day when he will be a full-fledged, arrogant, self-absorbed, celebrity jerk, assuming his career survives puberty.

Apparently a kid tried to hack the Facebook page of one of Bieber’s pals, in a failed attempt to get tickets to a concert or something—it doesn’t matter. What matters is that the pop star took his revenge by tweeting to his 4.5 million Twitter followers, “Everyone call me or text,” and included the would-be hacker’s phone number. Continue reading

Solution to the Starbucks Gun Controversy: Try Ethics!

Starbucks is under fire from anti-gun advocates for its policy of allowing patrons in states that permit open carrying of firearms to sip their espresso with guns on their hips. This has, of course, provoked the usual high dudgeon from Second Amendment supporters, NRA members, conservative media, and—who knows?—maybe a few postal workers getting ready to blow. Continue reading