(Credit: Twitter.com/Melissa Screenshot: Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)
Sometimes, when the obvious joke lurches into your head, it’s best not to be in possession of instant publishing tools.
However, those tools seem to have been far too readily available to someone at Asus.
For today, the very fine electronics manufacturer that likes to be known for “Inspiring Innovation” seems to have reached for the humor of a perspiring Neanderthal.
I am grateful to Gizmodo for explaining that Asus had tweeted a picture of a comely lady from behind. She was holding a fine new Asus machine. The accompanying text read: “The rear looks pretty nice. So does the new Transformer AIO.”
Naturally, many will have been disappointed with the sexism of the tweet. Others might also have been disappointed with its sad banality.
It seems that someone at Asus might have had second thoughts about this jest, for the tweet was removed. But not before alert Twitterers like Melissa had kicked Asus to posterity. (See above screenshot.)
The company has now admitted that perhaps this wasn’t its finest of corporate hour.
It offered this on its Twitter feed: “We apologise (sic) for the inappropriate comment on Twitter earlier. We will take steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Some have juxtaposed this careless banter with a lawsuit being brought by a female employee against famed Silicon Valley VC company, Kleiner Perkins. Partner Ellen Pao is accusing Kleiner Perkins of sex discrimination.
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Still, not everyone seems entirely disturbed by the thought that there might be sexism lurking in the technology world.
In response to the Asus tweet of apology, a poster called Craig Salisbury tweeted: “@ASUS apologising to over sensitive idiots for a stupid over reaction?”
This was a follow-up to his hearty thought: “Wow. can’t believe people have been soo shallow and retarded over the @asus tweet! It IS a fine rear, and? Grow up people!”
(Credit: Screenshot: Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)
Related Links:
Dell apologizes for hiring sexist summit moderator
Why we need to keep talking about women in tech
Thinnest (and lightest) 10-inch tablets
Robot takes your protest tweet to the street
Asus to bring Android to Windows with BlueStacks
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