Pretty Stupid

[naomi24]

//BBC tennis pair Boris Becker and John Inverdale faced a volley of criticism after calling a player’s fiancée “very pretty”.//

It’s sexist - apparently. What a joyless bunch the 'Woke' are!! The most intolerant of all.

Thank goodness they didn’t say she was ugly!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/15526778/boris-becker-john-inverdale-sexism-fiancee-very-pretty/

[Vagus]

Sit through a cricket match??? You’re joking, jno ;)

[Deskdiary]

This is a joke right?

Referring to a pretty woman as pretty is now sexist?

Jesus wept.

If he’d have said she’s got a great pair of tits, the permanently offended might have a point, but commenting that a pretty woman is pretty is not sexist.

It just isn’t.

[burlyshirley]

When I was a much younger woman, I was over the moon if someone told me I was pretty. It's a compliment.

[Atheist]

Different people have different attitudes. I'd have loved being whistled at in the street by women and told that I was a sexy man. And so do many women like men whistling at them, but other women don't enjoy that. There's no answer to this age-old problem. I think men have to accept that they don't get treated as a sex object (boo-hoo) and women have to accept that they do. Not ideal for both sexes, but that's life.

[pixie374]

He was stating a fact. Not an insult, not a compliment- but probably not the appropriate time and place. With his friends, in a pub, maybe. As a professional on TV.... nobody cares that an ugly man thinks an attractive woman is attractive. It can just come across as a bit creepy.
I just honestly can't imagine doing a public speech for work, scanning the audience, and saying "ooh, he's alright". Lol. Times and places....

[Deskdiary]

Would the woman who Becker referred to as being pretty been offended at being described as pretty?

I’m willing to bet my left arm she wouldn’t have been.

But some Millie Tant type (if you’ve never read Viz that will mean nothing to you) has taken offence on behalf of somebody who probably isn’t even slightly offended at being described as pretty. Because she’s pretty - in fact she’s stunning. I must be a right sexist a-hole!

It’s pathetic.

[pixie374]

I think you're missing the point, DD. I have no idea how she personally feels about it. But, she isn't some insecure teenager, in what way do you think she appreciates or requires an older unattractive stranger, grading what she looks like? He can, and should keep it to himself. I would be amazed if she was insecure enough to need his opinion. This is a daily, constant thing for most women- it isn't just "she's pretty". And- he was supposed to be in a professional capacity. I was surprised to see he was only 53, I would have guessed 15 years older- from his comment, not from his looks.

[Deskdiary]

You’re over-thinking it Pixie.

It was entirely harmless and innocuous.

[pixie374]

DD, I didn't know about it until this thread. In all honesty, if I had seen and heard it at the time, I would have rolled my eyes, thought "lech" and immediately forgotten about it. I don't personally, either find it offensive or sexist. Just unprofessional.

But, but- I can see what the perceived issue is. This is just one tiny tiny example of an overall picture- which most women are sick of. Being graded on looks, all day every day, and people thinking their opinions actually matter to anyone.

[jno]

just so, pixie

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-57778626

[pixie374]

Thanks jno, exactly. I think people are missing that this is not an issue. It's a weeny example of the entire bigger longterm problem.

[Atheist]

Pixie; why would you immediately label an older man as a 'lech' because he found a young woman attractive? You seemed to think that you could label him like that because he looked 15 years older than you would have thought. I think that both men and women have their own way of viewing the opposite sex, and I think we should both have a bit of understanding of the other, not just immediate condemnation based on the other's sex and age.

[pixie374]

No, no, atheist. Sorry, I tried to explain. Of course it's natural... everyone does it. It was more his arrogant attitude of apparently believing it was a "nice" thing to say, rather than just "irrelevant". He can think what he likes- but his idea that in professional way, it's appropriate to mention, is quite odd.
I don't watch Wimbledon, so I don't know- but I would say exactly the same if a female commentator on the male tennis, said "nice legs!".

[pixie374]

Again, 15 years older, isn't his looks, but his attitude of thinking it's appropriate or even "nice" to say... at work.

[jim360]

I'm glad Pixie understands, at least :)

The idea that I'm meeting myself coming back is clearly nonsense. It's not difficult, really, to judge whether or not a given comment is appropriate for the situation you are in.

[ichkeria]

“Volley of criticism”?

There’s one comment.

In the link anyway

[Deskdiary]

The over analysis with people getting their knickers in a twist (is knickers sexist?) over this utter non-story, is really very laughable.

And pathetic.

[Mamyalynne]

The knickerbocker is truly a garment for all, think you're on safe ground there ;-)

[pixie374]

DD, I have no idea why it's sexist. But if you honestly can't see the whole picture, and what people are trying to gradually change... you have had it too easy :-)

[Theland]

Whoever is moaning probably has a gob like a collision mat!