New Nike Ad featuring 12 year old...opinions?

He was on the Today show, dont know if anyone mentioned it!! Very inspiring young Man, it was yesterday, pull it up on MSN, no exploiting going on at all!!

I actually thought it was encouraging, and felt good that a huge athletic corporation wasnt spouting cut and uber fit bodies as usual, but that it was reaching closer to home, that we all have it in us, we just have to try.

the people who think he as exploited are probably fat themselves, tbh. i loved the commercial. someone close to me has been in the shoes as that kid is in (overweight as a child having to do what he can to work it off at a younger age) and he thought it was amazing.

i loved the message behind it. getting up in the morning and running, even if you can't, is greatness. people who get mad about it being "exploitation" need to chill.

the article said people were saying it was exploitation because the kid threw up during takes--- i know collegiate level athletes that throw up after a wrkout. hell, an olympic triathlete got sick during his race this year.

I thought it was a great ad, I looked like that running a few years ago and have made progress and it brings a smile to my face every time I see it an appeal to the greatness in all of us and the ability to go out and change ourselves

I love this Nike Ad!!! I am about 50 pounds overweight but want to be able to jog/run on a daily basis without stopping. I push myself and am excited when I ran a cross country track up and down a hill on dirt and bark chips in 96 degree weather for 7 minutes strait! Some laugh but it was great for me.

Not everyone has to be thin to start jogging or even walking. People complain that bigger individuals dont get up and move but when they do, fingers point and laugh. Of course not everyone is like this, but these are reasons why I would not leave my house to enjoy the outside to jog, now, I say screw it! I have every right to be out there with everyone else.

Thank you Nike for this inspirational ad!:bigsmile:

^ You. Are. Amazing. :drinker:

I fail to see any reason for controvery. Obviously he and his parents agreed to do the commercial-not exploitation. And running isnt harmful to children.

omg double post wtf lol

Just saw it, and I really loved it... I don't see what the controversy issue is.. just motivation..

I don't think there's anything controversial about it at all, but honestly, everyone has been praising it saying it's so powerful......I wasn't moved by it at all.

Hooray to him for running to get healthy....but I don't know, it just didnt seem as deep, and inspirational as people have been hyping it up to be..

I read an article the other day about him getting sick while he was doing it, like, ran off the road and had to go throw up in the ditch because he has eaten a big lunch before shooting . But afterwards he wanted to finish to prove he could do it (they used the footage after him getting sick so he looks extra exerted) and once he watched it back he decided he wanted to be fit so he was inspired by himself. Why wouldn't anyone else be? Also, he's said that Nike wants to check back in with him and his mom now that they know he's said he wants to get in shape so they plan to do a follow up with him.

http://twentytwowords.com/2012/08/06/inspiring-nike-ad-that-made-an-overweight-12-year-old-boy-puke-in-a-ditch/

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Can't believe his mother can show her face on television without explaining how she let him get to that stage in the first place. This is child neglect, just as if you were feeding the child too little or failing to educate them as to why they need to eat enough, feeding them too much or failing to educate them on why they need to eat less, and making better food choices for and with them. It gets me really cross when I see these poor kids struggling to do the simplest of tasks, wasted childhood, this kid must feel like a 40 year old.

How's the view up there on your high horse?

I can see the exploiting side of the argument, but I think the commercial is an ugly truth that needed to be pointed out... child obesity is out of control in the US. I took the commercial's "message" as that an active life style starts at any weight, height, or age.

I guess as long as he and his famliy do not feel that he is being exploited, then all is good. As far as how I feel, I find it inspiring. Running is not easy. It's harder if you're carrying extra weight. But he's doing it. And it sounds like he had a positive experience from filming it and is trying to get healthier.

I LOVE the idea about a series of commercials as he gets healthier. THAT would be harder for me to see as not exploitve because they would have vested interest in seeing him lose weight and change. We should all like ourselves no matter what....even if we haven't made the best choices in the past. Now I need to take a dose of my own advise.

I'm rambling now....I think I need a nap. :ohwell:

Can't believe his mother can show her face on television without explaining how she let him get to that stage in the first place. This is child neglect, just as if you were feeding the child too little or failing to educate them as to why they need to eat enough, feeding them too much or failing to educate them on why they need to eat less, and making better food choices for and with them. It gets me really cross when I see these poor kids struggling to do the simplest of tasks, wasted childhood, this kid must feel like a 40 year old.

How's the view up there on your high horse?

precisely my thoughts. OP needs to chill. I don't think my mom abused or neglected me to let me get to this point. Did OP neglect herself if she's to the point where she wants to lose weight too?