Should we have podium girls?

[Caruut]

In the wake of the Peter Sagan-podium girl incident at the Ronde, opinion has been divided as to the rights and wrongs of the incident itself and the wider situation and culture that it could be argued led to the incident.

One of the obvious things which, in a sense, led to the incident was the fact that the girl was there in the first place: no bum, no grab. Is having podium girls acceptable and just harmless fun, or is it a relic of another era?

 

[Netserk]

How can Vino possibly don't know?

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

How can Vino possibly don't know?

was about tos say

Yes, we should have podium girls, it is a tradition. if the female cyclists want podium men, sure (do they? )

 

[Netserk]

I'm pro podium girls, so voted yes.

There is a reason that despite the fact that the Sky thread has the most replies, it's the Babes on Bikes that are the most viewed.

 

[mattghg]

Either they should get rid of podium girls, or else the should have podium blokes for the women's races.

 

[Netserk]

Yes, we should have podium girls, it is a tradition. if the female cyclists want podium men, sure (do they? )

I certainly wouldn't mind to volunteer for that.

 

[saganftw]

stop whiteknighting you retards,its getting rediculous aaaw poor women cannot fight for themselves,we must defend their honor by taking their jobs...

its not even your business,if sponsors want to have podium girls,there will be podium girls,if they want pink giant bunny with "i love Bush" tshirt giving out 1st place prize there will pink giant bunny

if you want to start fighting for women rights,maybe you should start with those two girls from "2 girls 1 cup"

 

[SafeBet]

Podium girls = testosterone enhancers = doping =get rid of them.

 

[auscyclefan94]

LOL, I have had this debate many times before. In an Australian forum board, keeping the podium girls was always the winner of the debate. not surprisingly, it is more closer on here.

My view is, that that girls are not forced to get up on stage and kiss the male cyclists. They are not slaves. Statistically speaking, the large majority of cyclists are going to be heterosexual and would not want to kiss other male models. Finally, allowing females to be podium girls has helped develop future modelling careers, so it is good work experience and has helped form many romances.

 

[wannab]

maybe an additional contract clause should be added: may include occasional pinching

 

[ElChingon]

If they ban the podium girls then what role will women play in Pro Cycling? Race? Pay's way too low for the effort put in, as been proven by the current crop of women racers complaining. Podium Girl, little work and it still pays in more ways than one. We shouldn't penalize those with looks and low work desire should we?

Wouldn't banning Podium Girls also be sexist? Especially if the job is given to men? As who else would present the trophies if the women don't?

(PS: only using the work banning because its so cycling hip to)

 

[Caruut]

stop whiteknighting you retards

Attack the post, not the poster. As soon as you call someone a 'whiteknighting ***', it looks to me like you have nothing to say against the substance of posts.

its getting rediculous aaaw poor women cannot fight for themselves,we must defend their honor by taking their jobs...

This has nothing to with honour. It's about whether it's right for a sport to institutionalise the objectification of women.

its not even your business,if sponsors want to have podium girls,there will be podium girls,if they want pink giant bunny with "i love Bush" tshirt giving out 1st place prize there will pink giant bunny

Totally irrelevant. The fact that we don't have the deciding vote on it in now way means we can't discuss it. In fact, if the sponsors are doing it, then the aim is presumably to please the fans, so the opinions of fans are in fact highly relevant.

if you want to start fighting for women rights,maybe you should start with those two girls from "2 girls 1 cup"

I'm impressed that you managed to include a sentence more irrelevant than the last one. Pure deflection. Personally I think the objectification of women in everyday situations is actually worse than pornography, on principle. Pornography is perceived as separate from everyday behaviour, and is only as sexist as the acts it depicts. Having women paraded around as pieces of meat when there is no particular reason to do so is more insidious, as it normalises that attitude. That being said, in practice pornography has big problems with regards to the way women are portrayed.

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

Why would you want to replace the podium girls with fat, aging, politicians/UCI-crooks/ex-dopers or whatever the alternative is?

 

[Caruut]

If they ban the podium girls then what role will women play in Pro Cycling? Race? Pay's way too low for the effort put in, as been proven by the current crop of women racers complaining. Podium Girl, little work and it still pays in more ways than one. We shouldn't penalize those with looks and low work desire should we?

Wouldn't banning Podium Girls also be sexist? Especially if the job is given to men? As who else would present the trophies if the women don't?

(PS: only using the work banning because its so cycling hip to)

Yes. It's terrible that the casual cycling fan will see the Tour podium girls on TV more times in a year than they see Marianne Vos on TV.

 

[ElChingon]

if you want to start fighting for women rights,maybe you should start with those two girls from "2 girls 1 cup"

Yea, how that never became an issue as far as woman's rights or non-rights to two cups, but I guess its a case for sharing is caring

 

[King Boonen]

I think it shows someone's true character when the only alternative they can think of to podium girls is podium men.

There does not need to be anyone else on the podium other than the top three riders. Things could be presented by local dignitaries, those involved with the race, even local children who win a competition to meet their heroes. The possibilities are huge.

 

[ElChingon]

Yes. It's terrible that the casual cycling fan will see the Tour podium girls on TV more times in a year than they see Marianne Vos on TV.

Casual Cycling Fan is lucky to see a race before the 5K to go mark without even considering women's racing as a sport.

 

[Caruut]

I think it shows someone's true character when the only alternative they can think of to podium girls is podium men.

There does not need to be anyone else on the podium other than the top three riders. Things could be presented by local dignitaries, those involved with the race, even local children who win a competition to meet their heroes. The possibilities are huge.

I must admit handing it over to McQuaid and co. was, in my mind, the major flaw in the plan. Giving it to kids seems a good alternative.

 

[The Cobra]

I'm pro podium girls, so voted yes.

There is a reason that despite the fact that the Sky thread has the most replies, it's the Babes on Bikes that are the most viewed.

+1

Sex sells. Most cycling fans are men and most men like looking at hot women, end of story.

 

[ElChingon]

I think it shows someone's true character when the only alternative they can think of to podium girls is podium men.

There does not need to be anyone else on the podium other than the top three riders. Things could be presented by local dignitaries, those involved with the race, even local children who win a competition to meet their heroes. The possibilities are huge.

Yes, how can I leave out Podium Androids (aka Robots), the new species that is up and coming, sorry.

Local Dignitaries? Aren't they in enough trouble with their shenanigans (aka Sexual Escapades) without getting them (he or she) up on a podium with rock hard athletes?

 

[Bavarianrider]

Personally, i always felt podium girls are a bad thing for cycling, and i am not talking about women's rights issues.
Podium girls more than often make cycling look pretty silly to be obvious.
As a matter of fact,inost cases the guy on the podium is a rather small and skinny guy.
In the races, this doesn't get so obvious, but when you put them next to those beautiful women, the "midgedness" gets exposed.
In my oinion it doesn't look all to good for the sport if the winners are looking like little boys next to beautiful women. It gives the impression of cycling as a very unathletic sport.
Get rid of them, they are not good for the sport and it doesn't need a SAgan to proof that.

 

[Caruut]

+1

Sex sells. Most cycling fans are men and most men like looking at hot women, end of story.

How many fans actually watch for the podium girls? Almost none, I would venture.

 

[saganftw]

Attack the post, not the poster. As soon as you call someone a 'whiteknighting ***', it looks to me like you have nothing to say against the substance of posts.



This has nothing to with honour. It's about whether it's right for a sport to institutionalise the objectification of women.



Totally irrelevant. The fact that we don't have the deciding vote on it in now way means we can't discuss it. In fact, if the sponsors are doing it, then the aim is presumably to please the fans, so the opinions of fans are in fact highly relevant.



I'm impressed that you managed to include a sentence more irrelevant than the last one. Pure deflection. Personally I think the objectification of women in everyday situations is actually worse than pornography, on principle. Pornography is perceived as separate from everyday behaviour, and is only as sexist as the acts it depicts. Having women paraded around as pieces of meat when there is no particular reason to do so is more insidious, as it normalises that attitude. That being said, in practice pornography has big problems with regards to the way women are portrayed.

*edited by mod*

 

[Caruut]

*edited by mod*

Simply brilliant.

 

[Netserk]

How many fans actually watch for the podium girls? Almost none, I would venture.

So? It's always nice with some eye-candy

(there is a reason why woman's beach volley is more popular than men's)