The Isle of Man government has caused a stir online after claiming Storm Eunice had 'changed her mind like most women'.
People have slammed the comment as 'sexist' and 'misogynistic' after it was shared in a post by The Department of Infrastructure on Thursday, February 17.
The post was intended to warn local residents about a potential road closure near Peel Beach and claimed that the wind had changed direction.
Furious locals quickly took to social media to brand the department's joke as 'outdated', while school librarian Helen Jessopp said it was 'offensive' and claimed the Government 'needed to be called out' for it.
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The government have since claimed the message 'fell below the standards expected' and admitted it would 'not happen again'.
The Facebook post said: "A road closure is in place for Peel Promenade 10am Friday 18 February 2022.
"Due to a change in the wind direction this closure will not go ahead unless required.
"Thank you for your patience and understanding, but like most women Eunice changes her mind what she's doing."
Several bemused social media users responded with shock, branding it a 'microaggression' against women.
School librarian Helen Jessopp hit out at the government, claiming it was 'beyond a joke' and an example of 'everyday sexism'.
Helen, from Port Erin, Isle of Man, said: "I thought it was a bit outdated and close to the wire for a government department to post something that could be considered quite inflammatory in this day and age.
"This is an example of everyday sexism. It's the sort of microaggression that needs to be called out.
"It's so normalised and a lot of people don't realise that it's offensive and outdated.
"It comes across as it being just a bit of banter or a joke, but when it's constant and it comes from a government department, that goes beyond a joke and a bit of banter.
"It's the small things that add up."
Clapping back at the government, Helen then posted an equally 'sweeping' and inflammatory statement mocking the initial post.
On Facebook, she wrote: "Weird how it's not named after a man then, seeing as like most men it's going to get violent and unpredictably damage property and maybe people haha."
Helen said: "I thought I'd banter back and make a comparison with a different sweeping statement.
"The post very quickly got deleted almost immediately after I posted that.
"The fact it was taken down so quickly and the writing style of it made me think it might have been someone who isn't normally in charge of social media.
"They might have thought it was an off-the-cuff, flippant comment and not really thinking it through.
"I think it was probably someone who doesn't have those comments aimed at them and realise it's not just a stand-alone thing, but one of many that people can encounter in a short period of time from different places."
However, Twitter users were divided over the comments, with some claiming it was 'very disappointing', while others suggested it was merely 'old-fashioned' humour.
One person said: "2022 and casual misogyny is still alive and well on the Isle of Man and from an @IOMGovernment department too."
Another tweeted said: "Very disappointing to see!"
A third wrote: "Poorly judged, poorly worded, poorly executed. The joke isn't even funny, don't understand why the OP thought it was a good idea."
Someone else posted: "Or take it in the way intended it is called old fashioned humour not offensive or I maybe a grumpy old man can I say that."
"Are people really offended by this?! What a world we live in," shared a different user.
Speaking about the original post, a spokesperson for the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure said: "The Department of Infrastructure is aware of a message posted on its Facebook page this morning, and subsequently amended, which fell below the standards expected of our organisation.
"Measures are being taken to ensure this does not happen again."
What do you think of the post? Let us know in the comments below.
