divine angst

Has everyone seen those tax preparation service commercials? There are two, and they have the same scenario: a husband is sitting at a computer and he’s either found out his family is being audited or he’s doing their taxes and he’s stuck. And the wife comes in and says, “What’s the matter?” and he responds by saying they’re being audited or that he’s stuck.

She replies, “Well, maybe we should ask the people who helped us do our taxes/Maybe we should ask some people to help us.” And then she says, “Oh, wait, we didn’t use people. We used a box. Honey, ask the box.”

I hate these commercials.

First, the sarcastic wife ridiculing her inept husband? Old stereotype. BAD stereotype. Because, seriously–sarcastic wife? If you don’t like how your inept husband does the taxes, DO THEM YOURSELF. Hey, I do our taxes–not because I am better at it than Mr. Angst, but just because that’s how it’s fallen out over the last three years. So every time I see these commercials, I get angrier and angrier. I don’t like the image it portrays of marriage, I don’t like the general image it portrays of relationships. Finally, it’s not even a very interesting ad. Had I not paid a little attention to the last one that came on because I was so pissed, I wouldn’t even remember what company it was advertising. And I am now thoroughly inclined to boycott them forever.