Comments on: What are your thoughts on ‘booth babes’? http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/what-are-your-thoughts-on-booth-babes/ Fri, 24 May 2013 19:50:07 +0000 hourly 1 By: Michelle Greenlee http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/what-are-your-thoughts-on-booth-babes/#comment-117730 Michelle Greenlee Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:48:27 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/what-are-your-thoughts-on-booth-babes/#comment-117730 The length of time ‘booth babes’ have been used at trade shows isn’t a valid argument for keeping them as a fixture at events going forward. As a woman working in tech, I don’t approve of such a shallow presentation of associated high-tech companies or the objectification of these women. The sexualization of technology doesn’t need to continue. Technology needs to sell itself on merit not because it was represented by the most visible flesh at the last trade show.

]]> By: TomLiotta http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/what-are-your-thoughts-on-booth-babes/#comment-117441 TomLiotta Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:07:13 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/what-are-your-thoughts-on-booth-babes/#comment-117441 I am sympathetic to the thought that ‘booth babes’ are a probable negative factor in affecting attitudes about respect. There is plausibility. I’m not quite empathetic, though. Nor am I convinced that it actually is a negative factor as much as a symptom.
 
I see in carlosdl’s linked article that Samsung’s apologist was head of corporate marketing and communications, Michelle Potgieter, a woman. Also, any number of search results can bring advertising examples such as Top 10: Worst Male-Bashing Ads.
 
Men can be portrayed as bumbling fools in many ways. Examples familiar to many of us range from Ralph Kramden and Fred Flintstone to Homer Simpson and Peter Griffen. Adverising, marketing, TV sit-coms… take your pick. If any men could draw booth visitors, they’d be planted up front just for that purpose.
 
It’s simply a human fact. A ‘booth babe’ does attract attention. It’s valid to express being disturbed by it, though, if it has personal effect.
 
Tom

]]> By: Michael Tidmarsh http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/what-are-your-thoughts-on-booth-babes/#comment-117412 Michael Tidmarsh Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:28:27 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/what-are-your-thoughts-on-booth-babes/#comment-117412 Carlos, one of our editorial writers actually just wrote about a controversy surrounding Samsung and it’s Galaxy S4 event. I don’t think this looks good for Samsung at all.

]]> By: carlosdl http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/what-are-your-thoughts-on-booth-babes/#comment-117411 carlosdl Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:49:21 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/what-are-your-thoughts-on-booth-babes/#comment-117411 I don’t like the idea either. 

I wonder whether those companies make some type of analysis that leads them to think that having those ladies will help them sell more.  It would be interesting to perform a study involving similar vendors with and without “booth babes”, to see the real effects (positive or negative) of this practice.

Coincidentally, today a friend of mine brought to my attention the fact that Samsung publicly apologized for some “entertainment” ladies that were dancing in launch of some of their new products at the Africa Forum a few days ago.  Here’s the link. 

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