
Walter of roselle, NJ on Nov. 5, 2010
I should begin stating that this complaint will strike "ConsumerAffairs.com" as irrelevant if indeed this entity concerns itself only with the general quality of products themselves (unless of course the "inspirational" quality of a product's slogan, or lack thereof, is included in the overall definition of quality, and therefore subject to scrutiny) and not the entire package a given product is offering. Nevertheless, my concerns do merit some attention since they carry the consumer's best interest in mind. On Thursday, November 4th of this year, while browsing the racks at my local sporting goods store, I came across the Nike section when a particular slogan displayed on one of their t-shirts caught my attention and struck a very familiar, nevertheless, human nerve. The slogan read: "Weak Men Can't Jump", in big, bold letters. Previously, I have never found issue with Nike's slogans, I even thought of them as clever and empowering; "Just Do It" comes to mind. However, "Weak Men Can't Jump" is neither of these things.
It is offensive, hurtful, denigrating, and ironic, if you consider Nike's mission statement: "To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world. If you have a body, you are an athlete". Whether their slogan was an innocent attempt to induce "cheap thrills" or an effort to inspire by employing the use of reverse psychology (if you want to be strong, then get moving, jump! Become strong!), it still represents a basic lack of understanding and respect for people with spinal cord disabilities. While it is indeed true that many wheelchair-bound athletes can jump, it is also worth noting that many can't (paraplegics, for instance, would have a hard time), it is therefore, not Nike's place to judge people's character based solely on physical attributes and abilities. Such bold, elitist statements undermine not only the will and psychological strength of people with disabilities, but also Nike's mission and core values as a company.
What inspiration could they hope to bring me if I was physically unable to jump by writing such politically incorrect statements and putting them out there for everyone to see? Is it Nike's mission also to perpetuate the bullying and harassing likely to ensue as a result of selling this product? There's already enough social stigma regarding people with the aforementioned ailments and their ability to perform as equals in our society. They certainly don't need Nike to also claim that they're "weak". Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and I hope it finds its purpose.