Reader's views: The great sexism debate

When Maxx, the new Auckland public transport mascot, announced in a radio ad that he was catching a bus to town to see some "nice birds'', Auckland Regional Council member and veteran feminist Sandra Coney was offended. She told a council meeting: "Advertising shouldn't make jokes at the expense of women. I imagine a lot of women use buses.''
We asked readers: Is Maxx sexist or not? The response was unanimous:

I found the complaint about Maxx being sexist amusing. Some people need to get a life.
- Cheryl

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Get the new National Anti-PC spokesman to comment on this foolishness. Sounds like people are scared of this woman and her self-righteous PC ranting. She needs to be corrected in a very public way to cure NZ of this virulent PC. She must have bird flu.
- Andrew

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I feel the only unwelcome relic of the past is Ms Coney. While I have no problem with the feminist movement standing up for the rights of women, and in fact support many of their ideals, we are also a population made up of two sexes. I doubt Ms Coney would have even passed comment if Maxx had been a female making comments about male birds.  We seem to live in a society where sexist jokes about males are acceptable but any comment which in any way relates to females is not. I have heard many comments from female tourists visiting New Zealand about how ridiculous the inequality in our sense of humour is. Perhaps it is time for Ms Coney to realise that a joke in good fun is exactly that and we need some balance in an otherwise male-bashing society.
- David Taylor

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Sandra Coney must have lost her marbles! In case she has not noticed it is natural for people to be attracted to other people, be they male or female. The comment by "the bird" can only be seen for what it is - a compliment to women. What a sad fact of life it is when some women cannot accept that some men find them attractive and then offer compliments.
- Greg Soar

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I thought the days of blue-stockinged feminists who want everything to be gender neutral were gone, but alas, no.
- Kim Hutcheson

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It is probably wise to inform Ms Coney to "get a life" ... this is yet again a fine example of political correctness and women's so called "rights" gone mad. Has she got nothing better to do?
- Douglas Sumner

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Maxx is not a racist and feminists should learn to move on from the 70s. I would imagine however that Maxx should be careful hanging around the wild birds with the arrival of all those new immigrants from Siberia ... bird flu can be fatal.
- Angela Newton

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Ms Coney has again proven how we as a human race are losing the ability to see the light-hearted side of things. I would have thought with so many negative events happening today, and all the hysteria with regard to terrorism, bird flu and the like, a little light-hearted advertising would be a welcome change.
- David Puruto

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Ms Coney needs to stop looking for fights. Would she give it a second thought if the mascot was meant to be a female saw, or hammer, and made reference to seeing "some real studs"? If the answer is yes, she really needs to get a sense of humour. If no, then her blatant double standard is on display and she ought to get it seen to.
- Matthew Poole

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Your article regarding Maxx the bird made me laugh. As a woman, I yet again had to roll my eyes as a feminist tried to perpetuate the myth that all women are victims, when frankly Sandra Coney just needs to lighten up and get a life. It seems that it's okay in this day and age to show advertisements that show men in a not so positive light, but make a light-hearted comment about women and it's sexist. Sandra Coney needs to get a sense of humour. I wonder if she's complained about the McDonald's advertisement where the man is subject to verbal abuse by his paranoid partner who accuses him of lying. That's pretty sexist and it would seem to support the notion that it's okay to abuse as long as it's a male you're abusing. It seems the old catch-cry of "I am woman, hear me roar" should change to "I am woman, hear me whine".
- Kristina Harrison

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No, I don't think Maxx is sexist! It's rather funny and not in bad taste. And I'm a female, and a real one for that! Sandra Coney should get a life and get on with it! The world cannot be changed because she doesn't like something! Instead of spending money and time on a petty thing like that, the council transport committee should use it in a better way. Maybe I should now lodge a complaint with the council that I don't like the colours of the buses. The council should repaint all the buses! The colours are too "masculine". How about pink - for female.
- Liz

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I am absolutely astounded by Ms Coney's objection to the Maxx bus advertisement. She needs to realise what percentage of the population actually share her views. I would love to see a poll on it. These people seem to live in a world surrounded by others with similar narrow-minded and defensive views of nearly every comment made. The vast majority of the population couldn't give a rat's and actually welcome a little humour.
- Richard

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All I can say to the poor, suppressed lady still living in the 70s is get over it and join the real world. Like me, I think most women have no problem with this - harmless fun! There are more important things she should worry about.
- Kay Jonson

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This is a perfect example of outdated political correctness gone way too far. It is a shame that there are still people out there who choose not to exercise common sense when it comes to determining whether a light-hearted advertisement such as this is offensive to women. I am surprised anyone has gone as far as dignifying a comment such as that by reacting to it. If politicians spent as much time concentrating on real issues as opposed to petty outdated issues we may see a lot more getting done!
- Dean

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No, Maxx is not sexist, Maxx is a bird. Ms Coney says she thought we would have got past sexist comments, but since when is calling a woman a bird sexist? I don't hear men complaining that being called a bloke is a sexist comment.
- Lyssa Passmore