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?

Surely if it was a "boys and their toys" thing you'd say it was sexist?

But asking you the same question is also sexist?

Well seeing as all the people there were farmers I don't understand why he said this. Every single stand was focused on farming goods e,g, tractors, cattle pens, liver fluke treatments...

It depends on whether he was as likely to say that to a man as to the OP. I have to say I think it's fairly likely that there was some everyday sexism going on - this sort of thing isn't "outrageous" in the sense of immediate or direct damage but is pernicious and infuriates me. I'd have been at best and at worst.

If he'd demanded to speak to your husband, that would have been outrageous.

Not this.

Bit unsure about this, did he know you were a farmer? My neighbour has one, he's a bloke and yeah it's a toy. I think lots of people buy one for this reason.

I'm not sure i see the sexism never mind outrageous sexism, honestly I wouldn't know sheep farmers use quad bikes even if he did know uou were a farmer.

My uncle has a farm, He has an empty feild to mess around on too.

"what does you husband want to use it for?" would have been sexist

but asking you if you want a quad bike to prat about on or use as a work horse is hardly Sexism 101.

Farmers don't use quad bikes as toys/leisure.

And that's ^^ completely wrong for a start.

My cousins in Ireland have endless fun, whizzing around their farm on quad bikes.

I suspect that most people at such a show are buying things they need for agriculture.

A decent sales person should have assumed the potential client was buying for the farm until otherwise.

He wasn't being sexist
You are being assumptive
Reactionary nonsense like this really boils my piss.

user that would have been sexist too, but can you really not see that assuming that a woman will only want a quad bike for a toy whereas men want them for serious stuff would also be sexist?

can you really not see that assuming that a woman will only want a quad bike for a toy whereas men want them for serious stuff would also be sexist?

He didn't assume that....

ego - exactly!

All the men I know with quad bikes ( 3 of them ) have them as toys

I am sure they do.

I bet that the majority of men at an agricultural show would be interested in buying a quad bike for the farm.

I bet that most farmers at such an event would be interested in buying a quad bike for the farm.

Because it's an agricultural show.

Just - perhaps not, but you can't say he definitely didn't either, and it's a weird comment at the sort of event described. Perhaps it wasn't sexist, but I do find the number of people piling in to say it's ridiculous to think it might have been a bit .

My cousins are farmers and bought a quad bike principally for leisure.

I bet that most farmers at such an event would be interested in buying a quad bike for the farm.

And becuase most would, you must never ask anyone if they are buying anything as a toy ever!!!

Some people just look to be outraged.

I think that there would be a higher male to female ratio in the play purchasers than the work purchasers.

Given that this was at an agricultural trade fair , yes, seems likely this was a sexist assumption. If it had been in some sort of showroom maybe not.

There is no perfect response to such idiocy. Smile and nod and walk away. He has lost a sale. I'm sure there are other sellers of quad bikes.

There is no arguing with stupid.

And becuase most would, you must never ask anyone if they are buying anything as a toy ever

It's not the first thing I would say.

What would Lord Sugar say? "You were trying to sell what most farmers see as a useful piece of equipment at an agricultural show and you asked the potential customer if she wanted it as a toy?"

"You're fired"

Given that this was at an agricultural trade fair , yes, seems likely this was a sexist assumption.

Why?

It's clear most people even farmers, buy them to pratt about on. Why is it sexist to ask?

It's clear most people even farmers, buy them to pratt about on. Why is it sexist to ask

Is it?