Microsoft converts a black guy to a white guy

As much as I am frothing at the mouth to verbally attack Microsoft for its anti-competitive behaviour, its crappy licensing schemes, its continuing sabotage of open standards, etc, etc - I am not going to jump on the MS-hate bandwagon just because some PR person in a regional subdivision made a bad call.

Microsoft is known for racial and cultural diversity in its ranks. It even has a group called something like 'Gay and Lesbian Employees At Microsoft'.

This is not a company that has to be vilified on racism grounds.

It's advertising, so it is tailored towards the target audience. It seems hypocritical to me to make a fuss about it. Then you could find zillions of other examples (people are always pretty in advertising - discriminating against the ugly ones?).

I'm a PC - not.

Being from Poland (but living in Germany) I have to admit it's not only Microsoft's fault. The Polish tend to be backwards in many ways. For instance the Polish word for "negro" is still common when referring to people of color, especially Africans or African Americans.

When Obama became president the Poles mostly failed to call him African American stressing that the US has a "black president".

"Blacks" are still exotic in Poland even after a substantial influx of African refugees in recent years.

Even African players in Polish sports teams have to deal with racist attacks at sport events.

Actual deep link: http://valashiya.blogspot.com/2009/08/microsoft-plays-god-ch...

The image is very small, even the onclick one. Also "citation needed". There is no source for the Polish campaign. Where did you get the image from, are you in Poland right now?

[edit:] Here is the actual source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/25/microsoft-sucks-at-photos...