Originally Posted by HL2037
I'll try to explain something, even though I don't expect you guys to be able to see through your self righteous rage right now.
So why do I have a problem with b.o.b. thread, even though I never open it? That's because it influence the way women in cycling are seen. You sit here on cyclingnews.com and confirm to each other that it is ok to view cycling women as objects who only exist for you to have something to **** over. Weather you are concious about it or not, that attitude will transfer into how you act towards women that you meet out on the road.
I don't want to judge over anyones fetisch, and there are probably many places on the internet where you can share it with others. I just don't think that a serious site like cyclingnews should support that view on women, and I am glad and relieved that they closed the thread.
Ok, I have to disagree with this.
Before I start, let me point out that I don't really care what happens to the BoB thread, it was a mild amusement for a few minutes every now and then, and even then more for the comments and competition to see who had found the latest pic as much as the pics themselves. If the people viewing just wanted to see naked women, it's not too difficult to find that on the internet now, is it? So I'm not full of "self-righteous rage". In fact, this thread has been more amusing than the BoB thread so I'm quite happy!
Anyway, it seems you are taking out on the BoB thread your views on society as a whole. Yes, parts of society do objectify women, but you cannot possibly complain that the BoB thread would cause the forumites who read it to alter how they act to women out on the road. Firstly, their opinions on women will already be formed by society as a whole, this is a microscopic spec compared to what is seen for the rest of the day. Secondly, the people viewing are, have been or have an interest in cyclists/cycling. If there's one part of society that you should not be concerned about, it is this part.
Furthermore, you complain that the BoB thread would influence the way women are seen. Do you have any proof of that, or is it simply your opinion? And if that is the case, perhaps you should start a campaign to ban those who are guilty of this in far more visible forums, I suggest you start with trying to ban the following:
- Daniel Greiger and all who model on his Cycling Passions Calendar
http://www.cyclepassion.com ;
- Liz Hatch
- Julie Krasniak
- Vicky Pendleton
- Hanka Kupfernagel
- Willow Koerber
- Heather Irmiger
- Veronica Andreasson
- Mona Eiberweiser
- Fabienne Heinzmann
(and that is the 2011 line-up alone).
And there are many quotes from some of the above stating that they are happy to do this as it raises the profile of professional womens' cycling. As someone above mentioned, even the BoB thread made many people more aware of womens' cycling.
Finally, on the point of the BoB thread influencing the way women are seen, IMO the current banning and reaction to it will influence the way women are seen in a much more negative light. Look at TFF's response as evidence of this. If women are to react like this, by trying to shut down anything they do not agree with (when it is not offensive), you will find they will start to be excluded from other areas. For example, how many men on a winter training ride would start to complain and exclude women if the presence of a woman meant they could not enjoy the usual banter that comes along with a standard winter training ride? Again, not offensive banter, but the usual banter.
Again, I don't really care what happens to the BoB thread but I think your accusing it of influencing how women will be perceived, rather than accepting it as something that you do not like but is simply mild amusement for others, is misguided.