The website for Twix candy bars features an interactive video presentation in which you can “help” a doughy, disingenuous guy manipulate a young progressive woman (a blogger, no less) into a sexual relationship. At several crucial moments, the male character pauses, and you are given the opportunity to choose the correct action. The “correct” choices are as follows:
1. Pretend to be interested in blogging about social issues
2. Pretend to be nice to the woman’s effeminate male friend, but secretly overwhelm him with a masculine handshake
3. Be mean to the walking caricature of a Frenchman
4. Lie to the woman (again)
Of particular interest is that, if you pick the “wrong” choice, the video will then replay, showing you what you should have chosen to further the guy’s agenda. (If the video freezes, you can hit the “Pause” button to the left, then hit “Play” and it will continue).
I think the overall message to be taken away from the site is that women who blog are easily manipulated, particularly if you separate them from their readily-stereotyped friends and acquaintances. Furthermore, at the end of the day, what these progressive women ultimately want is a guy who represents danger.
Sorry, ladies, but the candy bar with the cookie crunch has spoken!
