Anti-Aspie Commercial?

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So I'm sitting here, about to start studying for finals, with CNN going on in the background. This commercial, for a major drugstore chain comes on. The first words spoken in the commercial are: "You could be the best pharmacist ever, but if you don't have good people skills..." The commercial goes on to basically boast and brag about the excessive empathy their pharmacists have.

I mean, to NTs it seems just like another drugstore trying to make it sound like they're nice. But it sounds quite offensive to those with AS if you ask me. Because an aspie really could be the best pharmacist ever, having memorized every possible drug interaction, use, and direction, unrelentingly following every rule and refulation governing the safe handling of drugs, and keeping them out of the wrong hands, but no, according to these folks, they're not good enough, because it's harder for them to make NTs feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

So many aspies, not just in pharmacy but in all industries, are unemployed and/or underemployed for reasons similar to this: discrimination because despite qualifications and actually being able to perform their jobs better than anyone else, they are introverted, and don't give off happy cute vibes to the people around them. This commercial certainly doesn't help that.

Anyone see this commercial, or have any thoughts?

I've had that same problem with job interviews. They like to check out my people sklls to judge how well I can fix computers. The really ironic part is that I fix mistakes that their "fiendly" (and unqualified) technicians make. Same with tech sales jobs. I know most of the details abut all the product's specs my memory, but once again, they prefer some charismatic high school kid who just pump customers full of BS to make a sale.

Lol, welcome to life, AS_Interlocking. It's not fair, but it's how it works. I don't see how you can find it offensive though, unless you're trying to take offense at it. They're saying you don't need good people skills to be the best pharmacist. You should be happy about that.

I'm aware this is reality, and that life isn't fair. I'm just saying that it's not nice when they rub it into people's faces.

I'm not offended, because the fact of the matter is, if you don't have good people skills, you will suck at that job.

The world does not revolve around us, I'm sure they didn't make the ad to offend people who don't have any people skills, just like they don't show people on TV walking to offend someone in a wheelcheair.

I agree with hale_bopp. I'm pretty sure they weren't targetting the ad at aspies in order to rub it in their faces. People don't just get up and think: "Hmm, let's make a good advertisement to rub the fact that Aspies don't have good people skills in their faces." Customers want others they can talk to, they're trying to advertise to that fact and say they have what they want, and that it's something others supposedly don't have.

Understood. I just posted this off of impulse, with that being the first thought that came to mind when I saw it. I'll try to be less impulsive with posts in the future.

Its understandable.

Everyone takes things personally when alot of time it isn't meant like that.

This is why we need our aspie world .

The harsh reality is that if you can't handle people effectively, there is no way you could ever be considered the best pharmacist ever.

Asking an aspie to be the best at any service-oriented job is like asking a 4' tall man to be the best basketball player.

I've work in a service oriented job..... and Im not very tall either.... I "fake" what I cant express, well sometimes......

Retail sucks anyway.....

EXACTLY. I used to do tech support for an Internet service provider. I was very good at diagnosing problems, but interacting with people 8 hours a day, every day, took a major toll on me. I was able to force myself to be courteous and patient, put up with their small talk while their computer was rebooting, etc. But doing that made a mess out of my mental health. Every day I'd leave work being pissed off (sometimes to the point of being violent, which is extremely rare for me), and I'd drink at least 6 beers just to calm my nerves.

I got the hell out of customer service, and have been much happier since.

I couldn't agree more

It's a hard thing to accept, in part, because we wouldn't care if we were the ones picking up a prescription. All we would want is timely service, not a smile.

Good on ya AS_Interlocking, way to reinforce a negative stereotype most of us are trying to break.

That was a keen observation.

nice knowing you.

yes, unfortunately the world is not geared up for people with inept social skills, yet.

i have been noticing a trend of de-personalization going on. paricularily in business practice. Call customer service and you get a maze of voice recordings designed to keep you away from an actual human. Big specialty stores like Home Depot hiring people who cannot answer you questions cause they don't know themselves. and on and on.

who sit on the stoop, waving to neighbors as they pass by? I live in pretentious so. cal. so that may be demographics. Any ways, they people of the world are learning more and more not to socialize. Its just a matter of time.

Since the current fad places AS as a genetically transfered trait condition, the maybe our great-great grandchildren will be the normal people.
On your marks,
get set,
Start procreating.