Outrageous sexism alert.

[derxa]

I was at an agricultural trade fair/show today (AgriScot). I went to look at quad bikes because ours is knackered. i asked the salesman about one of them. He said, 'Do you want it for a toy?' What would be the perfect MN response?

How is that sexist?

Did you want it for a toy?

I'm not sure I understand?

Did he mean do you want it for work or leisure?

How is that sexist?

He assumed I wanted a quad bike as a toy because I was a woman. I run a sheep farm.

"Yes, I plan to play at rounding up toy sheep with with it on our 1000 acre toy farm, you twat".

Depends if I wanted it for a toy or for any other use.

I'd pressume it would be used for fun and not for actual work though. Male or female.

Meadows presumably because OP thinks this wouldn't have been said to a man looking to buy a quad bike?

I think the perfect response would have been, "Yes, i have some land i mess around on." or "no, i need it for [insert reason]."

"Yes" or "no" perhaps!?

The salesman wants to know what you'll be using it for, so that he can help you get the right one!

I'm fucking outraged on your behalf, he gives all salesmen a bad name, trying to help you out like that.

^^ Sheep was a lucky guess, derxa!

Well if I had been a man he would never have said that. Farmers don't use quad bikes as toys/leisure.

You don't know he assumed you wanted it for a toy as you're a woman. You are assuming that.

I bet there's not as many women as men who run sheep farms. He made an assumption based on his experience - wrongly, but it wasn't a terrible one. If he'd continued in the same vein after you'd put him straight, that would have been sexist.

He assumed I wanted a quad bike as a toy because I was a woman

Lot's of people buy them the mess around on.

How did he 'assume' you wanted it for a toy, when he asked a question?

if I had been a man he would never have said that

Actually he probably would have,

I don't think he would have said it to a man either.

I am about as urban as you can be but I understand that quads are a vital bit of kit on a farm these days.

Perhaps people are responding to you in a puzzled way because they are not aware of this?

(I only know because I have friends who farm, otherwise I would be clueless)

He assumed I wanted a quad bike as a toy because I was a woman did he? Or maybe he was the type to describe these really cool quad bikes as toys. Many people do. Once my DH bought a tractor and the salesman said 'you are going to have a lot of fun with that big toy'

I'm sorry, I missed the sexism completely and even after explanation can't see it.

Over sensitive maybe?

"you can't have a bike you're a woman"

Would have been sexist.

Asking if it was a toy isn't....

You don't know that he was being sexist. You are assuming. And how the hell is this AIBU?

If he'd asked if you were buying it for your husband that would possibly be sexist.

Jesus wept

I think you're assuming far more than you're accusing the seller of assuming here.

Anyway, what did he say when you pointed out you thought his question was sexist?

You could have asked him some technical questions so he realised that his initial comment was out of order. Then told him that you were going elsewhere where the sales person doesn't make sexist assumptions.

Channel your inner Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman.

Once you've got your quad bike, go back to the sales man and tell him 'big mistake'

How was he being sexist?

Being sexist would be if he said "Is it for your husband/son?"