Letter to PepsiCo from PFH

posts from hell · 12-27-2010, 03:10 PM

I said I'd post this. Here's my response to Pepsi, and I emailed it to the same lady AGB wrote.

Quote:

Dear Ms. Hamp,

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Matt Webster. I am writing this letter firstly as a Deaf person, secondly parent of a Deaf daughter, and lastly as a successful business owner. This letter is a response to the open letter that Alexander Graham Bell (AG Bell) wrote to PepsiCo and yourself dated January 31st, 2008 regarding the Super Bowl advertisement (two people honking in a neighborhood to find a deaf household) that was aired the following day.

I realize that it has been almost three years since the AG Bell's letter was written. However, I wanted to say a big thank you to PepsiCo for airing the commercial. I am not sure if you are aware with the fact that since the commercial was aired I still see people joking about the commercial to this day. The commercial in itself has generated a huge positive impact on all sides. First: for PepsiCo – millions of people still remember that commercial and Pepsi as a brand. Since then there has been quite a few followers by other companies using sign language and deafness in their commercials. Second: myself as a Deaf person I see more and more people wanting to learn sign language. The experience has made my and my daughter's life much easier.

That, alone, has a huge positive educational impact within our society that I strongly feel that we, both hearing and the deaf, need. This is because as of now in the entire deaf community there is 65% unemployment rate. This includes people with hearing aids and implants. People in general have the impression without the ability of hearing you can't be a fully productive member of society. The reason I started my business with a Deaf partner and Deaf investor is to be able to hire the deaf and contribute a significant portion of our profits to the deaf community. I also am a part of a non-profit organization that is currently working on getting a deaf center up and going that will employ more deaf people. I aim to eradicate the image that the deaf aren't fully able. In that sense your commercial helped greatly in softening the barrier between the deaf and the hearing.

I strongly feel that PepsiCo can be a great acquaintance with the deaf community in whole. We can make a positive impact with educating the society that we, the deaf community, are able in several methods. These methods are not limited to just advertisements. We also can have an initiative pushing PepsiCo hiring deaf people in all positions in PepsiCo, including higher positions. The possibilities are endless.

I sincerely hope that the letter from AG Bell did not deter PepsiCo from producing any more commercials invoking the use of ASL.

Win a deaf person's heart, you will have them as a lifelong customer.

The reason I say that, typically the deaf person will end up being loyal to those who take care of them. And I can't really stress any more through this letter.

Sincerely and with great regards,

Matt Webster

This is in response to the AGB's letter here.. http://agbell.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=246

AlleyCat · 12-27-2010, 03:47 PM

I very much like that response. Great job!

deafbajagal · 12-27-2010, 03:49 PM

Very well written.

craigm26 · 12-27-2010, 04:29 PM

Very nice.

65% unemployment rate? jeez. I didn't know these kinds of stats were tracked. <crap, I haven't posted those other stats yet>

I hope your beer project will hire deaf people

posts from hell · 12-27-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigm26

Very nice.

65% unemployment rate? jeez. I didn't know these kinds of stats were tracked. <crap, I haven't posted those other stats yet>

I hope your beer project will hire deaf people

Yeah.. Its also the reason we're the smallest socioeconomic group of all..
We cant even support ourselves as a community... For now.

craigm26 · 12-27-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by posts from hell

Yeah.. Its also the reason we're the smallest socioeconomic group of all..
We cant even support ourselves as a community... For now.

I like a challenge.

posts from hell · 12-27-2010, 04:54 PM

You see how the letter form AGB basically is telling Pepsi to direct the $$ to them? Did you know AGB owns National Geographic?! Filthy rich and they're saying to give them more so hundreds of helpless people can get hearing....

Its like... dude.

craigm26 · 12-27-2010, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by posts from hell

You see how the letter form AGB basically is telling Pepsi to direct the $$ to them? Did you know AGB owns National Geographic?! Filthy rich and they're saying to give them more so hundreds of helpless people can get hearing....

Its like... dude.

Contradictory in so many ways. And who represents deaf people? I mean there's AG Bell, some non-profits, but do any actual pull weight in law-making? And AG Bell is supporting a platform which would *probably* weaken the deaf community as opposed to an ASL-awareness proposal.

I appealed the scholarship rejection letter they sent me. I asked them use an "average" scale instead of simply judging hearing impairment on having one side being a minimum of a loss. No response.

**Jiro** · 12-27-2010, 05:02 PM

YouTube - Bob's House -- Pepsi's new Super Bowl Ad

**Jiro** · 12-27-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigm26

Contradictory in so many ways. And who represents deaf people? I mean there's AG Bell, some non-profits, but do any actual pull weight in law-making? And AG Bell is supporting a platform which would *probably* weaken the deaf community as opposed to an ASL-awareness proposal.

I appealed the scholarship rejection letter they sent me. I asked them use an "average" scale instead of simply judging hearing impairment on having one side being a minimum of a loss. No response.

AGB is "helping" deafies by giving them an ability to hear in order to elevate themselves to coexist with hearing people in terms of jobs, society, etc.

craigm26 · 12-27-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

AGB is "helping" deafies by giving them an ability to hear in order to elevate themselves to coexist with hearing people in terms of jobs, society, etc.

ah. Got it now.

I need to read more.

**Jiro** · 12-27-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigm26

ah. Got it now.

I need to read more.

I've never read much about it but it's the gist I get from their agenda.

craigm26 · 12-27-2010, 05:19 PM

I meant more about deaf culture/socioeconomics in general. I think I'm not very well-informed and I'd like to be so that I know what you guys are talking about. I mean overall, I'd like to be more involved with the deaf community as I am not having fun with hearies (especially socially).

**Jiro** · 12-27-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigm26

I meant more about deaf culture/socioeconomics in general. I think I'm not very well-informed and I'd like to be so that I know what you guys are talking about. I mean overall, I'd like to be more involved with the deaf community as I am not having fun with hearies (especially socially).

same here. I get my info from PFH.

Tousi · 12-27-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by posts from hell

You see how the letter form AGB basically is telling Pepsi to direct the $$ to them? Did you know AGB owns National Geographic?! Filthy rich and they're saying to give them more so hundreds of helpless people can get hearing....

Its like... dude.

I think AGB might have been one of the founders of NG way back when but I don't think there's been any affiliation for a long time now. But I could be wrong....

posts from hell · 12-27-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

I think AGB might have been one of the founders of NG way back when but I don't think there's been any affiliation for a long time now. But I could be wrong....

hmmm

AGB himself was who morphed NG from dry text to picture and such. Funny irony if you think about it.. he knew visual was the way to convey information..

I'll check into seeing if they actually own it or not. AGB is one sly company, they dont even have their fiscal information online, don't share much info, etc... I havent researched into them much ,and i should start now.

craigm26 · 12-27-2010, 05:37 PM

Check WikiLeaks first

rebeccalj · 12-27-2010, 06:46 PM

First and foremost, what an incredible letter.

I've never seen that ad. I watch the Superbowl but I missed that one. Did anyone else get teary eyed just watching it?

The same thing happened to me when I watched that Glee episode where they *sang* Imagine. Beautiful but we need more of that, and deafies visually out in mainstream society, so that others can understand us better.

YouTube - Glee - Imagine

**Oddball** · 12-27-2010, 07:11 PM

Well said!! I hope someone from AG Bell organization is going to reply to your letter soon.

Miss-Delectable · 12-27-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oddball

Well said!! I hope someone from AG Bell organization is going to reply to your letter soon.

I bet they won't. Heck, they didn't respond to our letters of complaints against them.

BTW, good letter, PFH.

posts from hell · 12-27-2010, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oddball

Well said!! I hope someone from AG Bell organization is going to reply to your letter soon.

I wrote it to PepsiCo.. I will let you guys know if they reply.

***naisho*** · 12-27-2010, 08:00 PM

Thank you for contacting PepsiCo. We value our customer input seriously and will take your concerns with utmost concern.

If you have any questions, you may contact us at (914) 253-2000.

For questions or concerns about PepsiCo, please visit us at PepsiCo Home | PepsiCo.com

This is a post-only mailing. Replies to this message are not monitored or answered.

posts from hell · 12-27-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naisho

Thank you for contacting PepsiCo. We value our customer input seriously and will take your concerns with utmost concern.

If you have any questions, you may contact us at (914) 253-2000.

For questions or concerns about PepsiCo, please visit us at PepsiCo Home | PepsiCo.com

This is a post-only mailing. Replies to this message are not monitored or answered.

I doubt thats how the Senior Vice President of Communications will respond.

The Director of FIFA didnt reply like that either

Tousi · 12-27-2010, 09:09 PM

I know the NAD wrote letters back then, too. But the more the merrier....Pepsi hearing about the issue again two years later has to be good....

posts from hell · 12-27-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

I know the NAD wrote letters back then, too. But the more the merrier....Pepsi hearing about the issue again two years later has to be good....

Yeah, what'd they say

deafdyke · 12-27-2010, 09:23 PM

You know, ever notice that AG Bad is always " rah rah rah! We don't need the "crutch" of ASL or other things like that." But they're always whining that there's not something like oral 'terps, FM devices and other things like that easily available, the way Deaf people can use 'terps.
I also love how they harp on the fact that most deaf people use spoken language as their first language. First of all, most dhh people are old or late deafened. Second of all, even if they use spoken English as their first language, it doesn't prevent them from having ASL as a second language.
Ten bucks says that the president of AG Bell is an auditory verbal "spoken language only is SO empowering!"

deafbajagal · 12-27-2010, 09:25 PM

I still think it's funny how I am specifically banned from any and all AGBAD events. Lol. No joke...I really am.

I hate that organization with a passion. BUT I will admit that for people who are hard of hearing, AGBAD has wonderful resources and techniques. Deaf people? They need to RUN! lol

**Bottesini** · 12-27-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

You know, ever notice that AG Bad is always " rah rah rah! We don't need the "crutch" of ASL or other things like that." But they're always whining that there's not something like oral 'terps, FM devices and other things like that easily available, the way Deaf people can use 'terps.
I also love how they harp on the fact that most deaf people use spoken language as their first language. First of all, most dhh people are old or late deafened. Second of all, even if they use spoken English as their first language, it doesn't prevent them from having ASL as a second language.
Ten bucks says that the president of AG Bell is an auditory verbal "spoken language only is SO empowering!"

Ten bucks says any old born deaf people who read this post are now baring their yellowing old fangs menacingly at you.

And that they all have fabulous vocabularies from their hovering helicopter parents.

posts from hell · 12-27-2010, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafbajagal

I still think it's funny how I am specifically banned from any and all AGBAD events. Lol. No joke...I really am.

I hate that organization with a passion. BUT I will admit that for people who are hard of hearing, AGBAD has wonderful resources and techniques. Deaf people? They need to RUN! lol

what stunt did you pull to achieve this?

deafdyke · 12-27-2010, 10:16 PM

Quote:

I still think it's funny how I am specifically banned from any and all AGBAD events. Lol. No joke...I really am.

I hate that organization with a passion. BUT I will admit that for people who are hard of hearing, AGBAD has wonderful resources and techniques.

You ARE? Why? That's awesome actually! I went to a conference for hoh kids, and two of the "hoh" kids were the stereotypical AG BAD overacheivers. (I want to go to an Ivy League School in ten years....and no it wasn't matajan speaking) and the unspoken attitude was that speech, speech and more speech was the Best Thing in the World.....and deafbaja I think you're saying that AG Bad is OK for the hoh folks who don't identify with ASL and Deaf culture....there are TONS and TONS of hoh as kids who identify strongly as Deaf!

12-27-2010, 08:00 PM	#22 (permalink)
*naisho* Forum Disorders M.D.,Ph.D Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 6,161	Letter to "posts from hell" from PepsiCo Thank you for contacting PepsiCo. We value our customer input seriously and will take your concerns with utmost concern. If you have any questions, you may contact us at (914) 253-2000. For questions or concerns about PepsiCo, please visit us at PepsiCo Home \| PepsiCo.com This is a post-only mailing. Replies to this message are not monitored or answered.

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12-27-2010, 03:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
AlleyCat Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In my time zone Posts: 10,780	I very much like that response. Great job!

12-27-2010, 03:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
deafbajagal Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Posts: 5,171	Very well written.

12-27-2010, 04:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
craigm26 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 1,291	Very nice. 65% unemployment rate? jeez. I didn't know these kinds of stats were tracked. <crap, I haven't posted those other stats yet> I hope your beer project will hire deaf people

12-27-2010, 04:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
posts from hell Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 9,434	You see how the letter form AGB basically is telling Pepsi to direct the $$ to them? Did you know AGB owns National Geographic?! Filthy rich and they're saying to give them more so hundreds of helpless people can get hearing.... Its like... dude.

12-27-2010, 05:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
craigm26 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 1,291	I meant more about deaf culture/socioeconomics in general. I think I'm not very well-informed and I'd like to be so that I know what you guys are talking about. I mean overall, I'd like to be more involved with the deaf community as I am not having fun with hearies (especially socially).

12-27-2010, 05:37 PM	#17 (permalink)
craigm26 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 1,291	Check WikiLeaks first

12-27-2010, 07:11 PM	#19 (permalink)
Oddball Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Toxic State Posts: 4,569	Well said!! I hope someone from AG Bell organization is going to reply to your letter soon.

12-27-2010, 09:09 PM	#24 (permalink)
Tousi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,731	I know the NAD wrote letters back then, too. But the more the merrier....Pepsi hearing about the issue again two years later has to be good....

12-27-2010, 09:23 PM	#26 (permalink)
deafdyke Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 13,078	You know, ever notice that AG Bad is always " rah rah rah! We don't need the "crutch" of ASL or other things like that." But they're always whining that there's not something like oral 'terps, FM devices and other things like that easily available, the way Deaf people can use 'terps. I also love how they harp on the fact that most deaf people use spoken language as their first language. First of all, most dhh people are old or late deafened. Second of all, even if they use spoken English as their first language, it doesn't prevent them from having ASL as a second language. Ten bucks says that the president of AG Bell is an auditory verbal "spoken language only is SO empowering!"

12-27-2010, 09:25 PM	#27 (permalink)
deafbajagal Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Posts: 5,171	I still think it's funny how I am specifically banned from any and all AGBAD events. Lol. No joke...I really am. I hate that organization with a passion. BUT I will admit that for people who are hard of hearing, AGBAD has wonderful resources and techniques. Deaf people? They need to RUN! lol