Re: Got milk?

February 19, 2002

Okay, it's time to drag out the " let's all be offended because we somehow

think we ought to be offended " routine.

Come on, this is clearly not meant to be a slam at dwarfism. It's meant to

be funny. I mean, do you think Alba's fans are sitting around

complaining because the picture makes her look like she's pretending to be a

monkey with her arms hanging down around her knees?

Got Milk Add in March 04, 2002 Magazine Page 15- Complaint

>

> Dear Sir or Madame:

>

> I am very disturbed by the advertisement that was placed in your March

> 4th issue of Us Weekly. The add was placed by " America's Dairy Farmers

> and Milk Processors " . This add pokes fun at people with Dwarfism. If

> you suffered from this handicap you would understand. The majority of

> these height challenged people are very sensitive to their situation. I

>

> feel the content of this add in poor taste. You should ask the

> advertisers to please pull the add and replace it with a more suitable

> one.

>

> Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Maurice J. Colontonio, Jr.

> President- Tab Paper Recycling

>

> ===

>

February 20, 2002

I don't mind the ad...what I do mind is the well intentioned letter stating

that we are suffering from dwarfism and that we are handicapped.

Yes, dare I say it...dwarfism is not a handicap...just some of the side effects

are. :-)

I think our biggest " handicap " is people, who are well intentioned, but REALLY

UNINFORMED.

Besides, growing up...milk was stressed as being SO important for calcium to

strengthen the bones...some of us need all the help we can get.

Karin

Got Milk Add in March 04, 2002 Magazine Page 15- Complaint

Dear Sir or Madame:

I am very disturbed by the advertisement that was placed in your March

4th issue of Us Weekly. The add was placed by " America's Dairy Farmers

and Milk Processors " . This add pokes fun at people with Dwarfism. If

you suffered from this handicap you would understand. The majority of

these height challenged people are very sensitive to their situation. I

feel the content of this add in poor taste. You should ask the

advertisers to please pull the add and replace it with a more suitable

one.

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Maurice J. Colontonio, Jr.

President- Tab Paper RecyclingGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download

: http://explorer.msn.com

February 20, 2002

In a message dated 2/20/2002 11:56:43 AM Eastern Standard Time,

kage_ar@... writes:

> <While I am one of those who has donned a few costumes

> in my day, I feel mocked when I look at this ad.>

>

I did, too. The only way that I can explain my reaction is to compare it to

what Blacks feel when they see a white person in " black face " -- something

which is considered to be very un-PC.

luthien

February 20, 2002

In a message dated 2/20/02 10:43:15 AM Central Standard Time,

dbradfor@... writes:

> P.S. Otherwise I have no problem with Alba on her knees.

>

I am sure it's not the first time she has been on her knees. Man! They should

have gotten to do the ad.

Irwin ( I know, I know )

February 20, 2002

The name of the company who created the ad is Goodby, Silverstein, and

Partners in CA. If you wish to voice a complaint, you can contact them

either on their web site at http://www.goodbysilverstein.com or call

415-392-0669 and ask to speak with Martha.

luthien

February 20, 2002

As others have said this is actually true. My brother was told while stationed

in Korea that the average height of Koreans had increased about 2 " since the

introduction of Milk and Orange Juice.

It has also been shown that poor diet during a childs growth period will effect

their height.

Now does this mean that if all the boys and girls on this list had eaten better

and had drank more Milk and orange juice, we would of combated dwarfism - No.

>>> " DwarfStar " <dwarfstar@...> 02/19/02 09:11PM >>>

The following email was sent to me this morning. Here is a link to

preview the ad http://www.whymilk.com . The caption in the pic reads

" No tall tale. About 15% of your height is added as a teen and milk

helps make the most of it. Got milk? " More info about the ad is posted

at http://biz./bw/020206/62434_1.html .

If you have a response (flame), please send them to the ad agency, NOT

ME!!!

In Love And Service,

D. Kline, aka DwarfStar

http://www.dwarfism.org

Got Milk Add in March 04, 2002 Magazine Page 15- Complaint

Dear Sir or Madame:

I am very disturbed by the advertisement that was placed in your March

4th issue of Us Weekly. The add was placed by " America's Dairy Farmers

and Milk Processors " . This add pokes fun at people with Dwarfism. If

you suffered from this handicap you would understand. The majority of

these height challenged people are very sensitive to their situation. I

feel the content of this add in poor taste. You should ask the

advertisers to please pull the add and replace it with a more suitable

one.

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Maurice J. Colontonio, Jr.

President- Tab Paper Recycling

===

February 20, 2002

At first I was like a bunch of other people, i.e. " what's the big deal " .

But if you look at the ad closely you can see that Alba is

kneeling on her sandals, kinda like " Dorf On Golf " .

I find I have two minds on the issue. One is, ok, maybe it's borderline

non-PC but it's kind of a reach to get offended by this -- there is such a

thing as being too sensitive. The other is that maybe we do need to nip

this kind of thing in the bud; even if the ad agency thinks the protest is

kind of ridiculous, at least it heightens (no pun intended) awareness of

dwarfism.

But the thing that I wanna know is, who is this Moe Colontonio, Jr guy and

why does he feel a need to speak to this issue. Don't get me wrong, I

appreciate his support, and his letter wasn't badly written. I just would

like to know his story.

Dave

P.S. Otherwise I have no problem with Alba on her knees.

February 20, 2002

My feeling on the Got Milk ad:

While I wish they hadn't portrayed Alba in a dwarf stance,

cuz who really has an average sized body but short legs, other than

us? However, I guess, maybe they did as they had few options of

portraying growth or so they may have been to believe by their ad

agency? I say that cuz when I was a infant and of course this is only

going by what my mom has told me of late, I was a very alert baby who

used to watch and understand tv at 1 month old. I remember seeing

with my still undeveloped eyes at that time, the Wonder Bread

commercial where it said that Wonder Bread helps one to grow in 12

different ways. Anyone else remember that one? Then they demostrated

that by depicting a kid from 1st grade to 12th grade growing up right

before our eyes in the commercial. So, my guess is that maybe the Got

Milk campaign may have wanted to go that way too, but mostly that

routine was copyrighted by Wonder Bread already? Who knows? But in

either case, I think the Got milk campaign copped out by going the

way of the Tim Conway routine of Dorf, where he also knelt with his

shoes in front of him all the while he played golf. Anyone remember

that one? Of course, I don't much either other than my mom saying

that I did see that one on TV too. LOL

What the got Milk campaign should have done rather than being funny

and ending up false, I think, is to have gotten a young girl who

pretty much resembled Alba and had the two of them stand side

by side, both with milk smiles rather than having her stand on her

knees as a fully grown adult. I think that would've been cute and

more effective too. Why, because we all know if her body structure

were really such, no amount of milk would've have changed it. So, the

commercial, is silly at best and deceptive at its worst. My opinion

only.

I did do their little thing on their ad where they stated that

studies have shown that if one doesn't drink milk or get the calicum

intake that milk can give one during childhood, most likely, you

would've been 15% shorter than you are presently. Well, I'm 54 inches

(4'6 " ) and times 15% and then subtracting that I would've been 46

inches (3'10 " ), but would that have really made a difference in who I

am personally anyway? Or just in my height only? I would like to

think in my height only and I hope that's all the Got Milk campaign

was thinking too because beautiful people come short as well tall:).

In fact, many shorties are just as beautiful as Alba:).

luv, grady;)

PS-However, I'm still not going to give up my milk because

stood on her knees! LOL

PPS-To who used to live in Texas but now lives in Wisconsin

and her comments:Þ.

>>about the milk ad...

>>I love milk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>>Um I'd say it did my body good!!!

I now live in NY but I used to live in Creve Couer, a suburb of St.

Louis, Missouri and being formerly from the " Show Me " state

its only in my nature to doubt you!:Þ So would you " show me " what

your body looks like now thanks to milk. You can email your pic for

verification to: gradysir@... haha

February 20, 2002

Interesting - - the posts from people who fee this ad

is not offensive, or only mildly so, are most of the

folks who are (for lack of a better term) " anti-elf " -

- The people who feel that LPs should not take

" degrading " entertainment roles, etc.

While I am one of those who has donned a few costumes

in my day, I feel mocked when I look at this ad.

Or, perhaps my sleep deprivation is catching up with

me...

Hummmm....

__________________________________________________

February 20, 2002

At 08:38 AM 02/20/2002 -0800, you wrote:

>P.S. Otherwise I have no problem with Alba on her knees.

I don't have a problem with it either. :-) <g>

February 20, 2002

I am not offeneded by this ad BUT by saying that ur an LP bc of not

drinking milk is false info. Its like ppl who think i have OI is bc

of a calcium deficiency, its NOT, its collagen, just like other types

of dwarfism, its cause by genetic reasone, not lack of calcium, The

milk ppl should get their shit straight before advertising false info

and NOT even using a REAL LP. Geez.

> Okay, it's time to drag out the " let's all be offended because we

somehow

> think we ought to be offended " routine.

>

> Come on, this is clearly not meant to be a slam at dwarfism. It's

meant to

> be funny. I mean, do you think Alba's fans are sitting

around

> complaining because the picture makes her look like she's

pretending to be a

> monkey with her arms hanging down around her knees?

>

> Got Milk Add in March 04, 2002 Magazine Page 15-

Complaint

> >

> > Dear Sir or Madame:

> >

> > I am very disturbed by the advertisement that was placed in your

March

> > 4th issue of Us Weekly. The add was placed by " America's Dairy

Farmers

> > and Milk Processors " . This add pokes fun at people with

Dwarfism. If

> > you suffered from this handicap you would understand. The

majority of

> > these height challenged people are very sensitive to their

situation. I

> >

> > feel the content of this add in poor taste. You should ask the

> > advertisers to please pull the add and replace it with a more

suitable

> > one.

> >

> > Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Maurice J. Colontonio, Jr.

> > President- Tab Paper Recycling

> >

> > ===

> >

February 20, 2002

I would like to pose a question to all fellow LP's out there. I

noticed that a great deal of you are saying you are not offended by

this ad. This strikes me a bit odd. Since I see alot of people

complaining about being cast in stereiotypical roles.

Do you really all believe thats its justifiable to have this type of

image, filled with false information? Think about it. What if the

milk company took micheal Jordan, pianted his face white and said

this is what lack of sun does?????

I personally think that LPA should ban together and make them pull

this ad, because its demeaning and belittling for someone who does

not know the facts. Dwarfism is geneticaly inhereited and in no way

will any amount of milk with make you average height, THAT's false

advertising! If you're going to complain about stereotypical

situations, here's a start!

> > > > Okay, it's time to drag out the " let's all be offended

because

> we

> > > somehow

> > > > think we ought to be offended " routine.

> > > >

> > > > Come on, this is clearly not meant to be a slam at dwarfism.

> It's

> > > meant to

> > > > be funny. I mean, do you think Alba's fans are sitting

> > > around

> > > > complaining because the picture makes her look like she's

> > > pretending to be a

> > > > monkey with her arms hanging down around her knees?

> > > >

> > > > Got Milk Add in March 04, 2002 Magazine Page 15-

> > > Complaint

> > > > >

> > > > > Dear Sir or Madame:

> > > > >

> > > > > I am very disturbed by the advertisement that was placed in

> your

> > > March

> > > > > 4th issue of Us Weekly. The add was placed by " America's

> Dairy

> > > Farmers

> > > > > and Milk Processors " . This add pokes fun at people with

> > > Dwarfism. If

> > > > > you suffered from this handicap you would understand. The

> > > majority of

> > > > > these height challenged people are very sensitive to their

> > > situation. I

> > > > >

> > > > > feel the content of this add in poor taste. You should

ask

> the

> > > > > advertisers to please pull the add and replace it with a

more

> > > suitable

> > > > > one.

> > > > >

> > > > > Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

> > > > >

> > > > > Sincerely,

> > > > >

> > > > > Maurice J. Colontonio, Jr.

> > > > > President- Tab Paper Recycling

> > > > >

> > > > > ===

> > > > >

February 20, 2002

i don't see this ad as mocking LP's as much as it is a subliminal message that

if you drink/ somehow ingest milk, you will grow tall, and have strong teeth and

bones.

i'm thinking that no matter how much milk luthien [ my closest contact with

dwarfs] drinks today, tomorrow, or all thru her life, she simply isn't going to

break 5 feet tall. no amount of milk, cheese, ice cream or yogurt is going to

eliminate [dare i? ] achondroplasia.

on the other hand, my son who is now 24, drank milk like he owned a cow. he has

teeth that have had the strength of chalk from the time he was a baby.

go figure.