| Author |
Message |
Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
|
 Wed May 10, 2006 1:35 pm Cingular Pulls Ringtone Deemed Offensive |
|
| Quote: | BROWNSVILLE, Texas (May 10) - Cingular Wireless pulled a ringtone from its Web site Tuesday after learning that it carried a message the company called "blatantly offensive."
The Atlanta-based cell phone company became aware of the ringtone, which uses mixed English and Spanish and threatens deportation, after an inquiry from a reporter for The Brownsville Herald.
The newspaper reported in its online edition Tuesday that the ringtone started with a siren, followed by a male voice saying in a Southern drawl, "This is la Migra," a slang term for the Border Patrol.
"Por favor, put the oranges down and step away from the cell phone. I repeat-o, put the oranges down and step away from the telephone-o. I'm deporting you back home-o," the voice continued.
Hispanic activists called the product racist.
"It's horribly offensive and a disgusting thing," Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, told the newspaper.
Cingular removed the $2.49 ringtone, among thousands available for downloading from its Web site, Tuesday afternoon, said company spokesman Mark Siegel.
"Needless to say, we deeply regret and apologize for it ever being there in the first place. The ringtone is blatantly offensive," he said.
The ringtone became available between late February or early March and was downloaded eight times, Siegel said. It was developed by Barrio Mobile, Siegel said. Barrio Mobile is a brand owned by Lagardere Active North American, the U.S. division of a French media company.
Cingular officials were reviewing the process used to screen ringtones, which are developed by several other companies, he said.
05/10/06 01:09 EDT
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. |
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
|
|
|
TrekkieMage
Office Junkie
Joined: 17 Oct 2004
Posts: 5335
Location: Hiding
|
| Wed May 10, 2006 6:14 pm |
|
That's just tasteless. Shouldn't they know what they're selling?
|
|
|
Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
|
| Wed May 10, 2006 6:21 pm |
|
 Hey I'm Spanish and think that is pretty funny. Maybe a little offensive, but still pretty funny stuff. Oh well, might just be me....
|
|
|
LightningBoy
Commodore
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 1446
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A.
|
| Wed May 10, 2006 8:04 pm |
|
Don't like it? Don't download it.
What's the fuss? As if all the gangster rap ringtones that are availible aren't offensive.... 
|
|
|
Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
|
| Wed May 10, 2006 9:27 pm |
|
Exactly. LightningBoy, you hit it right on the ball.
If we're going to prevent them from listening to this, then why not go after the Rap ringtones that are so offensive?
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
|
|
|
webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
|
| Thu May 11, 2006 8:33 am |
|
More to the point, so what if something is offensive?
With all the hunger, starvation, povery, crime, natural disasters, ethnic conflicts, hatred, violence, murder and outright genocide going on all around us every day, who cares if someone is "offended"? Big deal, get over it.
If being "offended" by something is a major issue in your day, you should get down on your knees and thank God that you have things so good. 
-------signature-------
"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
Star Trek �, in all its various forms, are trademarks & copyrights of Paramount Pictures
This site has no official connection with Star Trek or Paramount Pictures
Site content/Site design elements owned by Morphy and is meant to only be an archive/Tribute to STV.com
|
Search
FAQ
Log in
