Some people just need to cool down and get a grip.
The CeBit Australian IT business exhibition is on in Sydney. Australian domain services retailer NetRegistry dressed its staff as doctors and nurses for the event.
It was a way to have a bit of fun, and draw some extra attention to their exhibit. They certainly got the extra attention.
IT worker Kate Carruthers said NetRegistry’s depiction of women at a trade show was unacceptable. “I was there and didn’t like what I saw,” Ms Carruthers, who is a member of Females in the Information Technology and Telecommunications.
Shades of something nasty in the wood shed. The blokes were dressed up too, Kate.
NetRegistry chief Larry Bloch defended his company against claims the stunt was distasteful.
“I think there are some people out there that just need to relax,” he said. “It was a bit of harmless fun.”
Mr Bloch admitted the IT industry was challenging for women, but offered no apology for his marketing department’s strategy.
It sounds like the whole concept of humour is a bit challenging for some people as well.
I don’t think anyone who was there and saw the stand could take that woman and her gripes very seriously! Perhaps she is being the sexist here, I talked to the nurses and they were intelligent sales girls who had a good handle on what they were promoting – very different to the other promo models many other stands had who just stood there looking dim-witted and pretty.