Prime Junta
RPGCodex' Little BRO
- Joined
- October 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,540
There's a bit of a flap ongoing in my neck of the woods related to sexist talk, feminism, political correctness -- if that's what it is -- and all kinds of other interesting hot-button issues, so I thought it might be interesting to share it here. Not because it's cosmically important, but because it illustrates public attitudes. I'd be specifically interested to hear (a) what you think of the sequence of events, and (b) how you think it would have played out wherever you're from.
Here's the story in brief; I'll try to keep a lid on my biases as far as I'm able, and just relate the facts.
Last week, Esko Kiesi, the director of sales of Audi Finland, gave an interview in a special issue of Anna, a women's magazine. Said issue was created specially for a fairly small forum of media and marketing movers and shakers.
In the course of the interview, Mr. Kiesi expounded at length on his views about women. He compared women to cars, explaining that there are several models useful for various purposes, the main ones of which include to please her man, look good, wear high heels, and iron his shirts. The proper age for a woman is the man's age divided by two, plus seven. It is also hard to forgive a woman for being overweight.
A woman should also be well educated to provide stimulating conversation for her man. However, due to their emotional nature, women do not do well in managerial positions; however, they are generally good at sticking to routines. Women are also meaner and nastier than men, prone to envy, and incapable of understanding large conceptual structures. Despite their failings, other than dealing with tasks of a technical nature, like assembling furniture or lifting things, they are generally capable of taking care of themselves.
These comments caused a bit of an uproar, and today the CEO of Audi Finland apologized on his behalf, and announced that he had resigned from his position at his own request. Mr. Kiesi himself has not been available for comment.
The Net forums associated with the Finnish evening rags appear to be split down the middle. About one third of the commentators think that he got what he deserved. Another third think that this only reflects badly on the humorless Feminazi prigs that Finnish women are. And another third feels that the whole thing was blown out of proportion.
So, what's your take? Political correctness running rampant and claiming another innocent victim? The free market of ideas in action, where a moron spouting moronic ideas gets what he deserves? Something else? And how do you think it would have played out where you're from?
(As an aside, the man's name is an aptonym -- "kiesi" means "carriage," and is colloquially used for "car.")
Here's the story in brief; I'll try to keep a lid on my biases as far as I'm able, and just relate the facts.
Last week, Esko Kiesi, the director of sales of Audi Finland, gave an interview in a special issue of Anna, a women's magazine. Said issue was created specially for a fairly small forum of media and marketing movers and shakers.
In the course of the interview, Mr. Kiesi expounded at length on his views about women. He compared women to cars, explaining that there are several models useful for various purposes, the main ones of which include to please her man, look good, wear high heels, and iron his shirts. The proper age for a woman is the man's age divided by two, plus seven. It is also hard to forgive a woman for being overweight.
A woman should also be well educated to provide stimulating conversation for her man. However, due to their emotional nature, women do not do well in managerial positions; however, they are generally good at sticking to routines. Women are also meaner and nastier than men, prone to envy, and incapable of understanding large conceptual structures. Despite their failings, other than dealing with tasks of a technical nature, like assembling furniture or lifting things, they are generally capable of taking care of themselves.
These comments caused a bit of an uproar, and today the CEO of Audi Finland apologized on his behalf, and announced that he had resigned from his position at his own request. Mr. Kiesi himself has not been available for comment.
The Net forums associated with the Finnish evening rags appear to be split down the middle. About one third of the commentators think that he got what he deserved. Another third think that this only reflects badly on the humorless Feminazi prigs that Finnish women are. And another third feels that the whole thing was blown out of proportion.
So, what's your take? Political correctness running rampant and claiming another innocent victim? The free market of ideas in action, where a moron spouting moronic ideas gets what he deserves? Something else? And how do you think it would have played out where you're from?
(As an aside, the man's name is an aptonym -- "kiesi" means "carriage," and is colloquially used for "car.")
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,540