Podium Girls

[Radchenister]

Resal, so it's a case of being 'exploited' again IYO, are they really exploited though; do they whisk them off to apres-stage bondage parties or something?

I am beginning to think we have a cackle of new age Mary Whitehouse impersonators on board.

Your chosen scenarios and the connectivity between them might be a touch David Icke perhaps - if you can give me a 'dead in their bed from EPO' equivalent for the podium girl's role, then I'll bow to the parallel example though of course.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Cycle sport has no need to exploit these girls whether they want to do the job (which undoubtedly they do) or not.

But the debate here is whether Podium girls are genuinely exploited or merely employed?

 

[Crackle]

The vast majority of the entertainment industry has a big throbbing vein of sexuality running through it. If the women doing countdown looked liked Sharon and Tracey, how long would they last in the job ???
the eye candy bit is there to hold the interest when the subject itself is less than so....which is very much the case for countdown
To deny the value of this in the name of empowerment is to run against hundreds of thousands of years of evolution. We are programmed by nature to like looking at people who have 'healthy genes'

I've not really denied it, just said it's not done on an equal footing and therefore contributes to an unequal society. Just because it happens and people choose it doesn't make it a good choice.

But I'm not sure how you got to

Now the reality is that we run the risk of projecting our own moral code onto those who chose this lifestyle, and that is as bad as any other form of meddling done in the name of religion or anything else....

From
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15522279

This is a report about migrant sex workers from fairly desperate situations trying to climb the social ladder and make a life for themselves and using sex to do it.

The equivalent of you not having any prospects or future and being offered a job down the sewers whacking rats with a shovel. High risk of drowning/being eaten by a sewer living crocodile, and still not paying enough to live. Or deciding to work as a rent boy for a few years and hoping you get some liberal minded chaps like Slippery Squid who respects your right to proffer your posterior, whilst actively hoping you don't come across some lefty liberal like me, who wants you to have a better life without needing to whack rats with a shovel or proffer your posterior.

 

[Haitch]

Yes. It's a disgrace.

The only thing worse than margarine is traces of margarine in the honey jar.

 

[ColinJ]

Are BikeRader members more enlightened than Cyclechat folks ?

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/vie...d=53e4b841ec436115cecbc14e28ff9ebe&start=2720

No, which is why I hardly ever visit that forum any more!

 

[Monsieur Remings]

I'm seriously glad that most of the regular knowledgeable posters on this sub-forum - Pro Cycling and Racing - have taken the stance they have regarding this issue. I hope it means something to female cyclists and racing cyclists on this forum alike that not all of the sport is of the opinion that this anachronism is worthwhile. To me, the podium girls are crap, end of and what they represent is even lower. It has no place in the sport - a sport that involves and has involved women at the highest level. Demeaning is not enough of a word - self-destructive would be better, along with embarrassing. Sagan might be young but he acted like a twat and whilst I have no doubt that these women agreed to the role, this alters nothing as has been inferred all along. Impressions are everything...

One of the best things I saw this year indirectly cycling related was the way that Fabian Cancellara gave his wife (?) a massive hug after he'd won the Tour of Flanders. It almost brought a tear to the eye. Behind every man....etc

And a big well done to the Mods from a regular on this sub-forum for removing what you did and a massive downer on those who've taken it upon themselves to turn such a great sub-forum into pity.

As an aside how many men out there have been 'dropped' by female cyclists who are simply either stronger, better, more technically able than you on either a competitive event, a sportive or a race? I have. Whilst I'm no Chris Froome, I'd suggest that some on here have a think about how they perceive that and whether given this, they still think it fair or appropriate, to have them on the podium instead, handing out flowers? May be you should do it instead?

 

[Radchenister]

Ah, another preacher, are your last 7 words a genuine offer because I would be happy to do the role?

I will shake their hands and give them flowers, even pose for a kiss if they wish .

Disproportionation and over reactions are rife, are you on the pull or something?

 

[Linford]

Is it though?

For whom?

Why?

People like looking at beautiful people....even other beautiful people like looking at beautiful people (heck, I see it all the time with my sprog) This is human nature. Their presence makes watching the program easier on the eyes (whether some like to admit that or not) It is no accident that they employed Vorderman and Riley (obviously they wouldn't have employed gargoyles even if they had the same amount of brains)

How many times have I seen people posting up here about Vicky Pendleton. Her huge fan club is in no small part to the fact she is a very attractive lady.

 

[400bhp]

what a load of crap

 

[Linford]

what a load of crap

If that was for me, you might elaborate ?

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Ah, another preacher, are your last 7 words a genuine offer because I would be happy to do the role?

I will shake their hands and give them flowers, even pose for a kiss if they wish .

Disproportionation and over reactions are rife, are you on the pull or something?

And who might I be on the pull for?

Your comments say it all...you address what you perceive I'm saying whilst failing miserably at addressing what I actually said.

And Linford, have you thought of the possibility that perhaps the reason she is so attractive to so many people is that she is doing what she is good at? Cycling, not handing out kisses and flowers?

 

[400bhp]

If that was for me, you might elaborate ?

Yes it was for you. No, I'm not elaborating as, given your MO, you won't listen.

 

[Fab Foodie]

As an aside how many men out there have been 'dropped' by female cyclists who are simply either stronger, better, more technically able than you on either a competitive event, a sportive or a race? I have. Whilst I'm no Chris Froome, I'd suggest that some on here have a think about how they perceive that and whether given this, they still think it fair or appropriate, to have them on the podium instead, handing out flowers? May be you should do it instead?

I'm struggling a bit with this topic, because I'm not connecting girls that ride bikes better than me or do maths better than me or do anything better than me with girls that look nicer than me and hand out flowers better than me. I'd be happy to hand out flowers if it helped or having Baroness Dr Susan Greenfield handing out flowers or Professor Steven Hawkins, I didn't think it that important, though given a choice of flower hander-outer I would not be unhappy if they were attractive or otherly interesting (like a former sport star). I sadly admit that I also enjoy looking at pretty girls (and on occasions men too), on TV, on the tube, the high street wherever. If that makes me a bad person, then I'm a bad person.
I've also been thinking about my own daughters and how would I feel about them being Podium girls and I can't say I'd object. I've also asked the Biology Student daughter what she thinks and she's OK with Podium girls. There again she is doing some 'clothes modelling' later this week so maybe she's not the right candidate to ask...

 

[Radchenister]

Yep, MsrR, hands up, I admit it, failing miserably to take the thread seriously anymore and resorting to bored trolling - have fun all, out of this one now .

 

[Linford]

And who might I be on the pull for?

Your comments say it all...you address what you perceive I'm saying whilst failing miserably at addressing what I actually said.

And Linford, have you thought of the possibility that perhaps the reason she is so attractive to so many people is that she is doing what she is good at? Cycling, not handing out kisses and flowers?

There are plenty of people who have competed at the top of the game very successfully, but have had nowhere near the exposure (or sponsorship) of her. She is now earning over £1 million a year through her contracts with hair and makeup companies. You don't have to like it to acknowledge the validity of it....