Coke "promotes" Nazi Robot

[Adam Y.]

PS. I hope this thread doesn't need to be closed. If I have said something you think I shouldn't have, please pm me.

I do not think it should be closed but it should be moved after seeing that this is not even a robot but a toy and that the discussion is more political than anything.

[Jeff Waegelin]

Agreed. The General Forum is for general FIRST discussion. This has absolutely nothing to do with FIRST, and should be moved to Chit-Chat.

[DanL]

It's been said before, but yeah, most people aren't aware there's multiple meanings to the swastica.

On the discovery channel one day I was watching a show where they went into this. Apparently the swastica has been found on pottery and decorations in India dating back to the Indus River civilization. It has been a symbol of life and prosperity. Hitler apparently took this symbol and it's meaning and had his artists cleverly rotate it 45 degrees, make it bold, and bam! It became the symbol of his regime. If you look at it from his point of view, it actually was a good propaganda move to have such an inspiring symbol (at that time) as the national symbol. Of course, if you look at it from a Western Post-Hitler point of view, it obviously has a different meaning.

When you think about it, it's actually pretty interesting how a symbol of life and prosperity has been transformed into a symbol of evil and hatred in such a (relatively) short period of time. It's also pretty interesting to note that outside of Western culture (i.e. Buddhist India and Asia), the swastika is seen as a religious symbol. Just goes to show you how different the world is outside of the West.

The show also brought up another interesting symbol. Before Christianity, the cross was seen as a symbol of death and punishment, much like the swastika is seen now. However, once Christianity spread... well, it's worn around the necks of countless people around the world now.

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As for the Coca-Cola bot, $10 says it was designed and manufactered in Asia. This is one of those examples that businesses face when trying to market products in other countries - cultural differences tend to get in the way. In Asia and India, with a large number of Buddhists and Asian culture, nobody saw anything wrong. When they tried to bring it to the West, though... well, yeah. Swastikas don't exactly fly too well around here.

The example of the Ford (?) Nova comes to mind. A few decades ago, Ford (?) made a car called the Nova. However, when they tried to market it in South America, it just didn't sell and cost them lots of money. Apparently no one realised that in Spanish, "no va" translates to "does not go". Who wants to buy a car that doesn't run? ;-)

[Edit]It's been mentioned that the swastika is Hindu, not Buddhist... my bad[/edit]

[Madison]

Originally posted by SuperDanman
The example of the Ford (?) Nova comes to mind. A few decades ago, Ford (?) made a car called the Nova. However, when they tried to market it in South America, it just didn't sell and cost them lots of money. Apparently no one realised that in Spanish, "no va" translates to "does not go". Who wants to buy a car that doesn't run? ;-)

Chevrolet, for what it's worth.

[WakeZero]

Originally posted by srawls
But at the same time, I think they should take the time to learn and understand another culture before they make a knee-jerk reaction and assume that this symbol is directed hatefully towards them.

Funny you should say that, because the Jewish people have been misunderstood, persecuted and attacked throughout their entire existence. Even today they are not safe, and must try to go about their daily lives while terrorists run through malls and crowded streets with bombs attached to their chests. I think they have every right to be weary of such things.

To use a phrase from a previous post, what I think is disgusting is the inability for people to undertand and appreciate the Hindu culture, and force them to be ashamed of publically displaying a religous symbol.

Did I miss something? The Hindu symbol is totally different from the Nazi one. The little dots and the curved endings aren't on the swastika, so what's the big deal? Anyone wearing a pure swastika though should learn to respect what horrible things the Jewish people have been through, and just not wear it: plain and simple.

Anyone who does wear it though, has that right to do so in this country... but then I also have the right to spit on every sidewalk that they walk on... unless of course it makes the sidewalk slippery enough to be dangerous

PS. I hope this thread doesn't need to be closed. If I have said something you think I shouldn't have, please pm me.

As long as threads remain civil, they shouldn't be closed. Just stay on topic and attack/defend the issue, not the people

[illumanat'i]

my 2 cents:

ahhh, the forum just spammed my message... sorry, but anyway: as a jew i can't help but see the swastica as the nazis

seeing that there is an exact opposite meaning to it in india is an eye opener, but the fact remains that coke would be wize not to bring the toy to isreal... i respect peoples rights to see the symbol in its purer form, but it still kind of feels wrong to me the other way....


p.s. if someone could explain the differences because the pictures i've seen are just turned, not flipped or anything

[Powers]

Also, if anyone has read The Great Gatsby, that the swastika was a decorative symbol before Hitler took it into account. And, i believe it was already said, but that the Hindu swastika stands for peace/life. What I think is sad is that papers would publish those adds attacking Coke before looking it up themselves. They really should think before publishing on such a large scale. If there is no editor's revision somewhere in a later edition of the NY Post I would be thouroughly disappointed. And yes, it certainly was a tragedy what happened during WWII that should NEVER be repeated under ANY circumstances, and maybe all the controversy over the swastika symbol will keep the event in our minds to prevent it from happening ever again.

[purpledaisy]

All I can say is this, if the designs were the decorative, graceful designs that were illustrated in the first post, I think the controversy would be unreasonable. however, when i looked at the picture, the designs on the robot did look to me more like the nazi swastika. I'm sure this is unintentional, but there is a history to the symbol, and a very deep emotional meaning. To not aknowledge that is to ignore the sufferings of millions of people, and forget that, whatever its original use, the swastika was the symbol placed before them as the emblem of their tormentors.

I think Coke was right to pull the toy. Should the newspapers have presented the rest of the meanings of the swastika? yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that it has represented pain and suffering to millions of people.

In short, freedom of speech is great, but if you want to remain a product that sells, be smarter.

[Chris Dibble]

Robotics, anyone?

[Raven_Writer]

Sorry for bringing up lost threads, but I feel I should say something.

I'm not an great on my WWII history, or history period....but the swastika was also a meaning of good will and friendship in the indian language (since they used symbols for meanings). I also believe that you should and shouldn't wear a swastika. It all depends on your intentions. The fact that it has a thought of hatred, murder, and dispise now, but peace, love, and happiness then something people don't know. They all assume that it means that you support Hitler. So, I feel you should be able to, and Coke should've still put those things on the market still.

My 2 cents.....nothing more. If you wish to fight this w/ me, then
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[Adam Y.]

Also, if anyone has read The Great Gatsby, that the swastika was a decorative symbol before Hitler took it into account. And, i believe it was already said, but that the Hindu swastika stands for peace/life.

If I remeber correctly that was a Jewish character who had it in his front door. It certainly confused the hell out of me before I read the little notes they had.

[BingoTheClowno]