"Windows gives me the family nature never could." That's the new catch phrase for Microsoft's Windows 7, promoting their photo editing software.
Did anyone else find offense in this??? I think it is an absolutely horrible, negative, disgusting line that ever existed in a commercial, and I can't believe Microsoft decided to include this concept in its marketing.
Why? Because perfection is not what family is about. Duh, Microsoft.
Hubby and I recently had family pictures done for our Christmas cards. The photographer took a lot of pictures and guess what- the boys still didn't smile or look in the camera at the same time. It's called being a child and I'd rather have pictures with personality than cookie-cutter, plastic smiles frozen on their faces in an obvious attempt to feign the ideal family.
When I was nine, my family had a rare occassion where all the aunts, uncles, and cousins visited my grandparents' house at the same time, so we took a family portrait. Some of us had weird looks on our faces and my Uncle B had to jump into the picture after setting the timer, so he's giving this odd finger-point, but it was memorable and funny to look at now. I wouldn't want to photo-shop generic forced smiles just to get the perfect picture because everyone's personality showed through.
Listen, I know that it's hard to get everyone seated and in a good mood and happy to be dressed alike (btw, matching outfits is just nerdy), but that's life. Take a few shots, pick the best one, and move on with it. The idea that we can photo-shop isn't what I don't like- it's the concept that the natural state of your family isn't good enough. I would never want to conceal my boys' energy and personality just to make it seem like they can sit and stay like trained dogs. Our Christmas card this year will include a smile from me, a half-smile from the Hubby, and no smile from the boys. JC didn't smile in a single picture because that's how he was that day and I never want myself or them to feel guilty for being who they are.
So Microsoft, please rethink the tagline. And fire whoever thought of it and the people that approved it.
1 comment:
I agree.... who wants perfect pictures? I love the Christmas cards where the family isn't all perfectly arranged and smiling perfectly at the camera! In my favorite family picture, my older sister and I are the only ones smiling at the camera. My dad is looking off to the side, my mom is actually on her cell phone, my oldest sister is looking at my mom, and my younger brother is blocked by my youngest brother, who is standing on his lap bent over making fart sounds in his hands. Every time I look at it, it makes me smile because it shows exactly what my family is... chaos :)
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