Comments

• Francis

  2007-05-28 13:23:59

  You're radically oversimplifying the fact and aim of those two first Linux adverts; it's also pretty sexist (and incredibly offensive) of you to propose that Novell are using "sex to sell" simply because they posited Linux as a woman in the advert. Please stop trying to desperately bend everything to "Novell must be evil". I wish you would read: --- So we decided to turn the concept on its head. Why should the character have to be a dude? Aren’t we just re-inforcing stereotypes about the IT industry? There are too few women in technology, and they seldom get represented well. ---

• Roy Schestowitz

  2007-05-28 13:51:16

  There were discussion in other Web sites which referred to some as these spoofs as videos suggesting that Linux was "slutty" (referring to behaviour therein). Also see:
  
  http://digg.com/linux_unix/According_to_Novell_ads_Linux_is_a_cute_girl_who_needs_a_haircut

• Stephen

  2007-05-28 14:28:05

  Well Roy, technically speaking one could argue that Linux is slutty. It's freely available to everyone and is the result of many late nights of glee from many, many people :-)
  
  Also, Novell using sex to sell anything makes me cry laughing given that the videos were created out of the Utah office, where sex definitely doesn't sell ;-)

• Roy Schestowitz

  2007-05-28 14:48:09

  Haha. Well, Utah passes other laws too. They are against many things, such as placing anti-Linux ads in among search results for 'linux'.
  
  http://senatesite.com/blog/2007/04/identity-theft-next-generation.html Identity Theft: The Next Generation
  
  "We passed a bill this session that would protect the value of trademarks held by Utah companies. People who own a trademark or hope to own one will love this new law. People who want to carjack someone else's trademark will hate it."
  
  Spotted a couple of hours ago:
  
  Microsoft Makes Fun of Itself [Picture] http://blog.analogpoint.com/microsoft-makes-fun-of-itself/

• Francis

  2007-05-28 16:13:50

  Roy, some of the stuff you're saying now is just a little disturbing and very offensive. Please consider what you're saying.
  
  We all know the trash that digg comes up with, but for you to even cite them as well is... astonishing. Novell used a woman to portray Linux in their ad, and you conclude (i) that they're using sex to sell (ii) that they're saying Linux is a slut?
  
  Can you not see how unbelievably sexist and ridiculous this is? It's this exact sexist and abusive attitude that keeps some women away from Linux, and you're just contributing to it. The type of trash said on here really needs to be exposed, hm...

• Shane Coyle

  2007-05-28 20:54:42

  Well, I agree with Francis here - this conversation is somewhat "sexist and ridiculous".
  
  I never bother to watch the spoofs, but short of a Paris Hilton/ Pam Anderson (Lee? Rock?) being semi-nude and lewd, I doubt Novell was looking to play the sex angle, but rather like the rev Ted entry said were likely trying to do precisely the opposite.
  
  Then again, like I said, I never did bother to watch 'em...

• Roy Schestowitz

  2007-05-28 22:42:55

  You're right, Francis. Citing Digg wasn't needed, so I'll retract the argument.

• shane

  2007-05-29 00:25:48

  Now, here is a blatant (yet somewhat amusing) use of (implied) sex in advertising by MS