Hasbro's Officially selling to all demographics now

[Riganthor 484]

This is pretty good news but this won't change everything. We still need better media coverage and people who are respected stand with the brony community. As for hasbro I applaud this move and can't wait to see what comes next.

[Castle Bleck 19,379]

Guess this means they aren't ready to ditch G4 anytime soon.

[EverEverOn 346]

I'm actually pretty excited to finally see this happening. I guess over the years Hasbro has slowly been opening up to the older fan base, especially with Slice of Life. But now we have Hasbro even acknowledging the older men who watch the show. Hopefully this means the toys will start becoming more show accurate, and possibly even higher quality than they were before. Heck, I'd like to see more ponies with molded manes rather than brushables, since boys aren't exactly known for brushing a doll's hair. This new toy line is a huge step forward.

But does this really change EVERYTHING? Boys have already been playing with ponies regardless of who they originally were meant for.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing what Hasbro does in the future.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

It's just an observation. I mean I could totally be wrong and I am accepting that, but can you not agree that I made a very correct observation: there are no males beyond the little boy and I find that sort of odd considering when most people think of "adult" fans they think of bronies which are predominately male. I just find it odd and I am questioning why, is that not permitted? I just find it very odd considering Hasbro is well aware of the brony fanbase and putting them in an ad like this would basically be easy support from them, would you not agree? It's a no-brainer in terms of profit. I am just curious as to why they did not take the easy and obvious route.

And I'm not saying they wouldn't have an older male on an ad in the future, but they literally have an adult with a wig effectively cosplaying as a character in one of the pictures. How does that NOT represent the brony fandom? Does it need to be a guy to represent a Brony? Pegasister/Brony are pretty much interchangeable among a lot of women in the fandom anyway. 

[Guest]

And I'm not saying they wouldn't have an older male on an ad in the future, but they literally have an adult with a wig effectively cosplaying as a character in one of the pictures. How does that NOT represent the brony fandom? Does it need to be a guy to represent a Brony? Pegasister/Brony are pretty much interchangeable among a lot of women in the fandom anyway. 

You're correct there, but they ALSO showed millenials and that too was a woman. I am just saying if the idea of their campaign is to say "hey we are encouraging diversity in my demographic" you think they would show older males too. But because they haven't and Hasbro's history of being very non-progressive I am sort of skeptical. I think that's fair considering we know how Hasbro is.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

You're correct there, but they ALSO showed millenials and that too was a woman. I am just saying if the idea of their campaign is to say "hey we are encouraging diversity in my demographic" you think they would show older males too. But because they haven't and Hasbro's history of being very non-progressive I am sort of skeptical. I think that's fair considering we know how Hasbro is.

Yes we do, which is why this ad even happening to begin with is something to make note of. Maybe you are right and they'll back-peddle on the first sign of trouble, but the fact of the matter is is they didn't need to dip their toe in these proverbial waters to begin with. They are treading into new waters with this IP, I say coax em in further not get disappointed when they do take a chance and its not exactly as you wanted it. 

[Fhaolan 4,484]

Moved this down a notch into the Merchandise forum, as it seemed appropriate since it's discussing the merchandise and marketing of merchandise.

 

As for my on-topic bit: Corporations move like glaciers when it comes to this kind of thing. Several retailers like Target and Walmart have been making changes to their toy sections to eliminate the 'pink aisle' and 'blue aisle' for a couple of years now. And Hasbro has been through a couple of court cases where consumers were attacking the boy/girl toy divide (Not just MLP. There were parents who was upset that there weren't gender-neutral or boy-targeted versions of the Easy Bake Oven so that their boys could emulate professional chefs and bakers, who traditionally are mostly male in Western culture.)

 

So this has been in the cards for a long time. It's nice to see it finally bubble up to the surface in a company so heavily departmentalized as Hasbro.

 

I doubt they've re-organized their departments yet, though. They actually have a 'Girls' and 'Boys' *departments* (as well as others like 'Games') and release their financials divided that way with MLP reported under 'Girls'. It's going to take a lot more time for that divide to get re-arranged given how heavily entrenched it is in their corporate setup.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

 

 

Moved this down a notch into the Merchandise forum, as it seemed appropriate since it's discussing the merchandise and marketing of merchandise.

Fair enough 

 

 

As for my on-topic bit: Corporations move like glaciers when it comes to this kind of thing. Several retailers like Target and Walmart have been making changes to their toy sections to eliminate the 'pink aisle' and 'blue aisle' for a couple of years now. And Hasbro has been through a couple of court cases where consumers were attacking the boy/girl toy divide (Not just MLP. There were parents who was upset that there weren't gender-neutral or boy-targeted versions of the Easy Bake Oven so that their boys could emulate professional chefs and bakers, who traditionally are mostly male in Western culture.) So this has been in the cards for a long time. It's nice to see it finally bubble up to the surface in a company so heavily departmentalized as Hasbro. I doubt they've re-organized their departments yet, though. They actually have a 'Girls' and 'Boys' *departments* (as well as others like 'Games') and release their financials divided that way with MLP reported under 'Girls'. It's going to take a lot more time for that divide to get re-arranged given how heavily entrenched it is in their corporate setup.

 

 

Well lawsuits will certainly get a glacier moving if that's the case lol. It will be interesting to see if Gen 5 MLP show and merchandising would be more geared to a gender neutral audience, or if a Transformers series will add in more female characters. MLP gen 4 is great, I love it to death, but when you are trying to talk to your buds about the characterization of "Lemon hearts and Twinkle Shine" one tends to get raised eyebrows. This could result in some really great stuff for Hasbro if they play their cards right. 

[Silver Letter 1,832]

 

 

Everything beyond that apparently they are only targeting women.

They said "adults". Just because they only pictured women, doesn't mean that they are only targeting one sex.

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

They said "adults". Just because they only pictured women, doesn't mean that they are only targeting one sex.

And I'm pointing out that if they wanted to sweep male bronies under the rug they would of used a term like "Women" not "adults"

Do you NEED a male picture in the Adults column? Is it so terrible that there isn't a male picture in the adults column?

What term they used doesn't matter.  Because it's what isn't there that speaks volumes - and says it louder.  Practically everyone else is still represented pictorially.  If Hasbro is earnestly shooting for all-inclusive, the totally unanticipated adult male demographic that practically threw itself into its lap shouldn't be outright excluded.  We are still - and will always be - an anomaly.  We didn't need to be kowtowed to and - despite all the noise we've been making - haven't been directly, overtly, or widely targeted.  And we aren't even openly acknowledged in this new marketing strategy; it isn't about the likes of adult male MLP fans.  Lady in the wig could have been swapped out for some twenty-and-up dude in an MLP T-shirt stroking a brushable...  But that probably would have caused some uncomfortable shuffling during the strategy reveal and subsequent embarrassment on Hasbro's side of things.

 

This isn't all-inclusive.  They aren't including the adult male demographic that seemingly sprang up out of nowhere in response to G4.  More for the sake of dollar signs than for altering what is socially acceptable, Hasbro is saying, "Hey, boy children should also play with our product."  Anyone who's thinking it's more than that is only going to be disappointed in the long run.

 

I'm not saying that change won't ever happen.  I'm saying that it ain't gonna be some big-ass corporation that brings about that change.  Real, significant change happens in individual households.  It happens when a father recognizes that his son isn't likely to "grow out of" that "phase" he was formerly certain he was going through.  It happens when the people closest to someone who's different embrace who they are regardless of whether or not anyone else will, and then they serve as an example to others.

 

Hasbro isn't part of this equation.  You shouldn't have to be told by a toy manufacturer that you can collect and / or play with their product.

Edited February 13, 2016 by Ziggy and Angelbaby

[Shanks 10,816]

World's not going to change because of this.  And the only thing I don't see up there is an adult male.  That means Hasbro's acknowledging that it's still weird for men to buy these toys for themselves; despite the fact that I'm already doing just that. xD  I'm buying your damned product, Hasbro.  How come I'm not up there? xDD

True, but the fact that toy companies are changing their marketing strategies so drastically does show a fundamental societal shift that goes well beyond just the brony fanbase. It shows that these companies are taking notice of these changing societal attitudes and are adjusting their marketing to reflect that so that they remain profitable. Companies while they can have their heads up their asses a lot of times do in fact listen to these sorts of trends if are convinced that doing so will be profitable, if G3 was successful and profitable than they would still be going in that direction instead. This change is everywhere, there are strong female characters in all kinds of media and various depictions of both male and female characters taking on certain societal roles that are "non traditional" so it makes sense that toys and how they are marketed would change along with this. The change of males being into traditionally "girly" things is happening much more slowly, but it is happening.

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

True, but the fact that toy companies are changing their marketing strategies so drastically does show a fundamental societal shift that goes well beyond just the brony fanbase. It shows that these companies are taking notice of these changing societal attitudes and are adjusting their marketing to reflect that so that they remain profitable.

Yours is a comparatively more realistic take on the whole thing.

[JeyWiz 1,097]

I'm glad to see Hasbro's expanding the brand more than just merely including different demographics in the advertisements. They were always aware of and capitalized on the diverse fanbase this whole property has, and I'm glad to see them continuing to do it. Some of these new toylines include products this fandom has been requesting for years, and I'm sure it definitely will pay out for them.

^ What this guy said! That's exactly what I was thinking!

 

I'm glad to to see this happen. Now that Hasbro is targeting the new MLP toy line to both genders this time, this shows how open minded they have become. It's about time that gendered marketing should be put to an end. I think gendered marketing is unnecessary. People can't just assume that all girls in general are into Barbie, or that all boys are G.I. Joe fans. I guess that the reason why there were boys featured in the ad for this new toy line (I forgot the name), is because Hasbro has decided that they would make it enjoyable for both genders. Also, by doing this, Hasbro would be making twice the amount of money than before, since both genders are consumers of the new toy line.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

 

 

What term they used doesn't matter.  Because it's what isn't there that speaks volumes - and says it louder.  Practically everyone else is still represented pictorially. 

So what you are telling me is you are not satisfied by the fact that a WOMAN is representing adults, is that what I'm getting here? Because a man wasn't put in that slot, you feel that you as a man was shunned.

 

Well she was black as well, were white adults shunned because they didn't put a white person in that slot? How about Asian, Asian adults didn't have a representation in that slot either. And why is there only a white boy in the boys slot, where is the representation of all the other races of boys? Where are the transgender people? Are THEY not allowed to buy Hasbro toys? I mean by your logic "What isn't there speaks volumes", so clearly they are shunning a ton of people right now.

 

The only thing this "speaks volumes of" is that you won't be satisfied until they run your own picture in their ad so US MEN are "properly represented"  

 

Like I said, that's as dumb of an argument as when people were freaking out that Mario Maker DARED to have a white hand on their box instead of "representing everyone", friggin entitled people I swear. 

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

So what you are telling me is you are not satisfied by the fact that a WOMAN is representing adults, is that what I'm getting here? Because a man wasn't put in that slot, you feel that you as a man was shunned.

 

Well she was black as well, were white adults shunned because they didn't put a white person in that slot? How about Asian, Asian adults didn't have a representation in that slot either. And why is there only a white boy in the boys slot, where is the representation of all the other races of boys? Where are the transgender people? Are THEY not allowed to buy Hasbro toys? I mean by your logic "What isn't there speaks volumes", so clearly they are shunning a ton of people right now.

 

The only thing this "speaks volumes of" is that you won't be satisfied until they run your own picture in their ad so US MEN are "properly represented"  

 

Like I said, that's as dumb of an argument as when people were freaking out that Mario Maker DARED to have a white hand on their box instead of "representing everyone", friggin entitled people I swear. 

You're the one who made the erroneous claim from the get-go that Hasbro was targeting ALL DEMOGRAPHICS.  When...  They're not.

 

Nope: I don't feel as though I, as a man, was shunned.  But anyone who thinks or, as you essentially did, claims that Hasbro's reaching out to the adult male demographic (typically generalized as Bronies; despite the existence of adult female fans) is simply jumping to unfounded conclusions.  That's the issue I've been addressing from the start.

 

And then your post heads in a needless direction.  You know full well that this was never an issue of race; doesn't so much as begin to be relevant.  I assume you were trying to make a point by introducing what you felt was an applicable analogy, but throwing those sorts of cards into the mix didn't benefit your argument in the least.  Actually, I don't see how it applies to either of our arguments.

 

Wasn't making that argument.  I don't personally care that there isn't a man in the ad; I don't need to be represented in some toy manufacturer's marketing strategy. xD  I'm not a Brony, and my gender actually doesn't define me as an individual.  Nor do I regard myself merely as a demographic.  Just as I've been doing all along, I will buy - or not buy - whatever I want regardless.  I made these points in my initial post.  All I've done is point out what I felt was obvious in the face of assertions I deemed to be false.  Specifically that this new marketing strategy isn't and was never about the adult male demographic.  I provided what I thought was perfectly reasonable evidence in support of my position, which was largely a position I took at all because of the unsupported claims that some people were making in this topic.

Edited February 13, 2016 by Ziggy and Angelbaby

[El Duderino 879]

Well, they've seen that adults, teens, etc... will buy MLP stuff, so it is smart for them to market to them. I say this is good. Both for us and for Hasbro.

[Dark Qiviut 22,445]

Everyone's making a big deal out of this all-inclusive marketing strategy from Hasbro.  As if boys couldn't play with "girls' toys" before, and the shackles of toy-related gender roles have finally been cast off.  Timmy, it's now acceptable for you to dress that Barbie doll and have her hang out with her friends at the mall!

 

I think the value of advertisement has been greatly exaggerated here.  Did I buy essentially the same Rainbow Dash brushable four times because my demographic was being expertly targeted?  Was it because of that one awesome commercial I saw?  No.  Is marketing what has - until recently - been portrayed exclusively as a "girls' toy line" to boys as simple as airing commercials where a male is seen playing with ponies?  No.  That noisy plastic gun will still be the likelier gift choice for a young boy, because that young boy's parents will buy it for him.

You completely underestimate the power of advertisement.

 

Just because you don't feel shunned as a male doesn't mean others won't. For decades, toys and toy stores have labeled their products to be for girls or for boys. It bled into gender-neutral products, like Lego. Why is this a problem? Because the toy companies send sexist implications to kids and adults alike, like:

1. Girls shouldn't play with action figures
2. Boys shouldn't play with anything pink
3. Lego shouldn't be played by anybody unless they're color-coded for specific sexes.

These companies unleash stereotypes upon us as a people, and these stereotypes are damning. The Pink Aisle and Blue Aisle are psychologically harmful: For example, a boy may want a pink toy, but the Pink Aisle's presence may overwhelm him so much that he'll avoid it. The same example applies to girls venturing in the Blue Aisle. A few years ago, Let Toys Be Toys (link below) caused Toys R Us UK to desegregate the toy aisles.

 

This stereotype rings true to FIM's toys. FIM's show is family-friendly and gender-neutral, but Hasbro marketed the first-party toyline to girls only. Through advertisement and packaging, Hasbro tells boys and girls and everyone worldwide that it's appropriate for only girls to play with My Little Pony…when MLP was originally a unisex franchise. Hasbro disrespects its own show and every child worldwide by pandering their toylines to one gender.

 

Do these stereotypes damn adults, too? Absolutely. Toys are a leader in enforcing gender roles. Society pressures us as a people to conform. Terrible toys and the stereotypes companies attach to them through packaging, campaigns, and the people who play them influence our society. As adults, we're responsible for opposing these stereotypes and speaking loudly against them whether they appear or not.

 

Guardians of Harmony marks a significant experiment for not just Friendship Is Magic, but every other franchise in other companies, too. Why are Hasbro and Mattel teasing a merger for so long? Because neither company knows if they can maintain long-term interest. Girls' and boys' products have declined. People like ourselves, children, grassroots organizations, and charities have pressured companies to move into the modern times and start marketing to people without using sexist stereotypes. For the past several years, a grassroots organization in Britain has pressured companies to desegregate the toy aisles and toys themselves with success. GoH is an aftereffect to this pressure. By marketing FIM to boys and girls, they're telling us as people (not just fans) that ponies are for everyone.

 

Does bronydom have an impact? Yes. Much more than anyone here thinks.

 

 

Bronies have a media appeal because they're loud and proud about their support of FIM in spite of sexism plaguing the market. The stereotypes of ponies and pink things should only appeal to girls and action figures and race cars should only appeal to boys deserve to be hied to the pyre. By being an FIM fan (a.k.a., brony), you're tearing down the stereotypes, even if you don't see it and don't think so.

 

For Hasbro to create a unisex appeal to FIM's first-party toyline is an excellent start, but more must be done. Hasbro is notoriously slow in social progression. Will Hasbro's rival Mattel follow suit? Will Lego dispel the gender norms they enforce on their packaging and advertising? Will Hasbro start marketing other franchises without segregating sexes, too? We won't know.

Edited February 14, 2016 by Dark Qiviut

[Foxy Socks 2,600]

I am surprised, and very dissappointed in them. How could they do something as terrible as this? Now they are saying that Millennials can't be adults or tweens?

 

I actually think it's a good idea. It doesn't seem like they are pushing the idea too much, but still focus on their original demographic too. 

Edited February 14, 2016 by Namae

[Buck Testa 5,505]

You're the one who made the erroneous claim from the get-go that Hasbro was targeting ALL DEMOGRAPHICS.  When...  They're not.

 

Nope: I don't feel as though I, as a man, was shunned.  But anyone who thinks or, as you essentially did, claims that Hasbro's reaching out to the adult male demographic (typically generalized as Bronies; despite the existence of adult female fans) is simply jumping to unfounded conclusions.  That's the issue I've been addressing from the start.

 

And then your post heads in a needless direction.  You know full well that this was never an issue of race; doesn't so much as begin to be relevant.  I assume you were trying to make a point by introducing what you felt was an applicable analogy, but throwing those sorts of cards into the mix didn't benefit your argument in the least.  Actually, I don't see how it applies to either of our arguments.

 

Wasn't making that argument.  I don't personally care that there isn't a man in the ad; I don't need to be represented in some toy manufacturer's marketing strategy. xD  I'm not a Brony, and my gender actually doesn't define me as an individual.  Nor do I regard myself merely as a demographic.  Just as I've been doing all along, I will buy - or not buy - whatever I want regardless.  I made these points in my initial post.  All I've done is point out what I felt was obvious in the face of assertions I deemed to be false.  Specifically that this new marketing strategy isn't and was never about the adult male demographic.  I provided what I thought was perfectly reasonable evidence in support of my position, which was largely a position I took at all because of the unsupported claims that some people were making in this topic.

My point is that saying that the words they used were gender neutral, and saying that "Because X wasn't shown in a picture they aren't targeting X" Is a logical  fallacy, just like it would be a logical fallacy to say they wouldn't want the other groups of people I listed. 

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

These companies unleash stereotypes upon us as a people, and these stereotypes are damning. The Pink Aisle and Blue Aisle are psychologically harmful: For example, a boy may want a pink toy, but the Pink Aisle's presence may overwhelm him so much that he'll avoid it.

 

This stereotype rings true to FIM's toys. FIM's show is family-friendly and gender-neutral, but Hasbro marketed the first-party toyline to girls only. Through advertisement and packaging, Hasbro tells boys and girls and everyone worldwide that it's appropriate for only girls to play with My Little Pony…when MLP was originally a unisex franchise. Hasbro disrespects its own show and every child worldwide by pandering their toylines to one gender.

 

Do these stereotypes damn adults, too? Absolutely. Toys are a leader in enforcing gender roles. Society pressures us as a people to conform. Terrible toys and the stereotypes companies attach to them through packaging, campaigns, and the people who play them influence our society. As adults, we're responsible for opposing these stereotypes and speaking loudly against them whether they appear or not.

I think these are things that you have to overcome as an individual.  I'm not saying that they're good, but I kind of like the idea of that one boy striding - if not confidently - unawares down the pink aisle in spite of what it's supposedly intended to psychologically represent.  Flip it around, and there could be a girl waltzing down the Transformers aisle or happily selecting a pirate-themed LEGO set.  When enough people stop giving a damn about what toy this or that child plays with (excepting, perhaps, the always-popular Bag of Broken Glass), the stereotype will lose all its power.  And little is quite as effective against stereotypes as the realization of how irrelevant they actually are.

[Dark Qiviut 22,445]

I think these are things that you have to overcome as an individual.  I'm not saying that they're good, but I kind of like the idea of that one boy striding - if not confidently - unawares down the pink aisle in spite of what it's supposedly intended to psychologically represent.  Flip it around, and there could be a girl waltzing down the Transformers aisle or happily selecting a pirate-themed LEGO set.  When enough people stop giving a damn about what toy this or that child plays with (excepting, perhaps, the always-popular Bag of Broken Glass), the stereotype will lose all its power.  And little is quite as effective against stereotypes as the realization of how irrelevant they actually are.

What you're suggesting is much easier said than done. Like I wrote already, society pressures kids to conform to these stereotypes. If their pressure didn't work, they'll try again and keep trying until it becomes too much to handle. Toy companies help society force kids into conforming with stereotypes via their ads.

 

As adults, we're responsible for destroying these stereotypes so kids can learn without conformation and pass those nonconforming lessons to their kids. By screaming against stereotypes and proactively pushing stereotypes away, we tell kids, "I got your back." Adults lend their support tp kids so they can grow more confident against sexism. Let Toys Be Toys helps lead that path by, what I linked above, forcing Toys R Us UK to desegregate the aisles. By merging the aisles, TRU UK forces parents to learn that kids should be able to search for toys they want to play with without society, their parents, or corporations punishing them for daring to go against the status quo.

Edited February 14, 2016 by Dark Qiviut

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

My point is that saying that the words they used were gender neutral, and saying that "Because X wasn't shown in a picture they aren't targeting X" Is a logical  fallacy, just like it would be a logical fallacy to say they wouldn't want the other groups of people I listed. 

But how is it any more logical to assert that this new marketing strategy either does or will target adult males?  My issue with your claim is that it seemingly expects a particular group to be included merely because other groups have been included.  This is a visual representation of the direction in which they mean to proceed as a company, and, at first blush, I see the campaign tap dancing right around the male Brony demographic.  Again: *Makes very mature fart noises with his mouth* I don't care lol.  It doesn't affect me in the slightest.  But, had the adults frame included some guy half-lurking in the background with a colorful wig that doesn't suit him at all, I'd honestly have no argument.  That wouldn't have made for as good an overall presentation, and that's kind of my point, too.  If Hasbro, within the context of the heretofore intended only for Group A toy line, were to openly market towards adult males, they'd inspire a lot of raised eyebrows.

What you're suggesting is much easier said than done. Like I wrote already, society pressures kids to conform to these stereotypes. If their pressure didn't work, they'll try again and keep trying until it becomes too much to handle. Toy companies help society force kids into conforming with stereotypes via their ads.

Society supposedly pressures everyone to do - or not do - all sorts of things.  And everyone has a different idea as to what form that pressure assumes.  Someone could argue that, in unifying the two toy aisles, stores have effectively delivered a slap in the face to long-held and precious traditional values.  Sure, I'd disagree with them (or perhaps even relish said slap), but my disagreement likely does nothing to move them from that point of view.  I know someone who's pretty big into maintaining traditional gender roles.  It's possible that doing so is just as important to them as it is to persons such as yourself that such "norms" are eventually defeated.

 

And most everything is more easily said than done.  But what point is there to only doing things that are easy?  I'm all for ultimately creating an environment wherein crap like this ceases to matter, but I don't think it's the likes of Hasbro that are going to make the biggest difference.  Another poster suggested that this represents an effort on part of the company to adapt; to change with the times.  The flip side of that coin being that, were it not in their best interests, they would have remained the same.

[1Bit 1,531]

Very good on Hasbro's part! Perhaps it might be a little less weird going to buy any pony toys when they are actually being aimed at a wider, less gender-centric demographic.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

But how is it any more logical to assert that this new marketing strategy either does or will target adult males?  My issue with your claim is that it seemingly expects a particular group to be included merely because other groups have been included.  This is a visual representation of the direction in which they mean to proceed as a company, and, at first blush, I see the campaign tap dancing right around the male Brony demographic.  Again: *Makes very mature fart noises with his mouth* I don't care lol.  It doesn't affect me in the slightest.  But, had the adults frame included some guy half-lurking in the background with a colorful wig that doesn't suit him at all, I'd honestly have no argument.  That wouldn't have made for as good an overall presentation, and that's kind of my point, too.  If Hasbro, within the context of the heretofore intended only for Group A toy line, were to openly market towards adult males, they'd inspire a lot of raised eyebrows.

What marketing team WOULD include someone "half lurking" in their ad? I'm asserting that the ADULT male demographic is implicit by the ADULT tag.

Men and Women are both Adults, yes?

When you need to represent an adult, does it matter which sex you use? Not really

 

You do have a point that they'd have to make the picture with the adult male not look like a creeper, but that could be easily remedied with a Father Daughter picture or something to that effect.  

Edited February 14, 2016 by Buck Testa

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,303]

What marketing team WOULD include someone "half lurking" in their ad? I'm asserting that the ADULT male demographic is implicit by the ADULT tag.

Men and Women are both Adults, yes?

When you need to represent an adult, does it matter which sex you use? Not really

 

You do have a point that they'd have to make the picture with the adult male not look like a creeper, but that could be easily remedied with a Father Daughter picture or something to that effect.  

You said it for me: "Men and Women."  They could have easily replaced the, I think, cautiously and deliberately ambiguous "Adults" (as represented by the less creeper-ish lady-in-colorful-wig) tag with that.  Also, depending on who you talk to, Men aren't strictly considered Adults. x3

 

And when you're a company whose recent television series / toy line tie-in unexpectedly inspired a bunch of adult males to tune in (essentially engendering its own formerly unheard of demographic) and come together on the likes of MLP Forums to discuss whether or not they're included in your advertising efforts, you had damn well better be crystal levels of clear.

 

Though perhaps Hasbro's just that damned good at both excluding someone and making them feel as though they've been included anyway.  In which case male Bronies still lose, but assume that they've won.  Well-played, Hasbro, well-played.