The Sophie Choice • Hacker News Board

Re: The Sophie Choice

#11

Post by Mz » Tue, May 10, 2011, 9:24 AM UTC

I cannot fathom why this article was titled this way. I skimmed it solely to find out what diabolical damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't, torment-your-soul "choice" could be involved. That's what the movie "Sophie's Choice" was about: A mother was offered the choice that she could escape a trip to the German concentration camps and save her own life and the life of one of her two children. Pick which child lives and which child dies. (The other "choice" in the movie being between a nice but very young man and the abusive drug addict she was already with. Having lost both her children and being a very tormented soul, she chooses the drug addict and, iirc, they commit suicide together.)

As a literary reference, this title is a completely sucky choice in words. Though perhaps the author is, say, half my age, has never seen the movie and has no idea anyone would interpret it as a literary reference. (If so: "Get off my lawn!")

Re: The Sophie Choice

#12

Post by potatolicious » Tue, May 10, 2011, 10:26 AM UTC

hammock wrote: post #5

The Sophie ad is something different, less an interesting experiment in breaking an internal rule than a simple push for a product (the Chrome browser) that Google wants more users to sample. Except I don't understand how the ad has anything to do with Chrome. It seems more like an ad for Gmail, or maybe just email itself. You don't need chrome to do all that crap.

This isn't a feature pitch, it's an attempt to associate the Chrome brand with all that's positive about the internet.

Heartwarming moment with your child? Chrome. Sharing laughter with your friends? Chrome.

etc etc. This isn't a pitch.

What I am interested in knowing here is how real the story in the ad actually is. Does Sophie exist? Does Daniel? If so, how much of this is make-believe?

I'm ok with a nondescript fictional Parisian love scenario, but it seems a bit dishonest to start using specific faces and names unless there's real authenticity there. But, so long as there is authenticity, I think these are beautiful ads.

Re: The Sophie Choice

#13

Post by unwantedLetters » Tue, May 10, 2011, 11:26 AM UTC

Mz wrote: post #11

I cannot fathom why this article was titled this way. I skimmed it solely to find out what diabolical damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't, torment-your-soul "choice" could be involved. That's what the movie "Sophie's Choice" was about: A mother was offered the choice that she could escape a trip to the German concentration camps and save her own life and the life of one of her two children. Pick which child lives a…

I enjoyed the movie "Sophie's Choice" and I have to say SPOILER ALERT for the above comment.

(I'm hoping the poster edits his comment to include a spoiler alert phrase)

Re: The Sophie Choice

#14

Post by wazoox » Tue, May 10, 2011, 11:53 AM UTC

Mz wrote: post #11

I cannot fathom why this article was titled this way. I skimmed it solely to find out what diabolical damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't, torment-your-soul "choice" could be involved. That's what the movie "Sophie's Choice" was about: A mother was offered the choice that she could escape a trip to the German concentration camps and save her own life and the life of one of her two children. Pick which child lives a…

As a side note, the book was really much better than the movie.

Re: The Sophie Choice

#15

Post by Mz » Tue, May 10, 2011, 12:49 PM UTC

unwantedLetters wrote: post #13

Mz wrote: post #11

I cannot fathom why this article was titled this way. I skimmed it solely to find out what diabolical damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't, torment-your-soul "choice" could be involved. That's what the movie "Sophie's Choice" was about: A mother was offered the choice that she could escape a trip to the German concentration camps and save her own life and the life of one of her two children. Pick which child lives a…

I enjoyed the movie "Sophie's Choice" and I have to say SPOILER ALERT for the above comment. (I'm hoping the poster edits his comment to include a spoiler alert phrase)

(I'm hoping the poster edits her comment to include a spoiler alert phrase)

Sorry, I no longer have editing powers. Too much time has passed. (I logged in just to do as you asked, I don't normally log in from work.)

Re: The Sophie Choice

#16

Post by hammock » Tue, May 10, 2011, 1:56 PM UTC

potatolicious wrote: post #12

hammock wrote: post #5

The Sophie ad is something different, less an interesting experiment in breaking an internal rule than a simple push for a product (the Chrome browser) that Google wants more users to sample. Except I don't understand how the ad has anything to do with Chrome. It seems more like an ad for Gmail, or maybe just email itself. You don't need chrome to do all that crap.

This isn't a feature pitch, it's an attempt to associate the Chrome brand with all that's positive about the internet. Heartwarming moment with your child? Chrome. Sharing laughter with your friends? Chrome. etc etc. This isn't a pitch. What I am interested in knowing here is how real the story in the ad actually is. Does Sophie exist? Does Daniel? If so, how much of this is make-believe? I'm ok with a nondescript fi…

Association by proximity? not very strong

He uses email the whole time (might as well be generic email) and then at the very end for three seconds the chrome logo pops up.

Hey my neighbor volunteers at the boys & girls club. Buy my homemade jewelry! It's awesome!

Re: The Sophie Choice

#17

Post by Pheter » Tue, May 10, 2011, 2:29 PM UTC

potatolicious wrote: post #12

hammock wrote: post #5

The Sophie ad is something different, less an interesting experiment in breaking an internal rule than a simple push for a product (the Chrome browser) that Google wants more users to sample. Except I don't understand how the ad has anything to do with Chrome. It seems more like an ad for Gmail, or maybe just email itself. You don't need chrome to do all that crap.

This isn't a feature pitch, it's an attempt to associate the Chrome brand with all that's positive about the internet. Heartwarming moment with your child? Chrome. Sharing laughter with your friends? Chrome. etc etc. This isn't a pitch. What I am interested in knowing here is how real the story in the ad actually is. Does Sophie exist? Does Daniel? If so, how much of this is make-believe? I'm ok with a nondescript fi…

I assumed the whole scenario was made up until I read the article, yet what I presumed didn't bother me.

Does it really matter if the situation is fictional? It was still an emotive advert and weather the characters were made up, or are real people who I don't know, it doesn't matter to me because the point was still clear.

Re: The Sophie Choice

#18

Post by Pheter » Tue, May 10, 2011, 2:32 PM UTC

Mz wrote: post #11

I cannot fathom why this article was titled this way. I skimmed it solely to find out what diabolical damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't, torment-your-soul "choice" could be involved. That's what the movie "Sophie's Choice" was about: A mother was offered the choice that she could escape a trip to the German concentration camps and save her own life and the life of one of her two children. Pick which child lives a…

Literary references aside, I personally would prefer the submission title to provide some context and description of the content, it would make it much easier for me to scan the front page.