Podium girls

You obviously missed my (one sensible) post on this thread. Totally wrong battle mate.

mikewsmith’s mum earlier …

Hope that just a shit joke Dr J.

they shouldn’t be employed in the job on those two criteria alone

What criteria should they be employed under, out of interest?

Lol – some pretty idiotic arguments here.
The Queen is on the podium beacause of who she is. Same as if Laura Trott or Victoria Pendleton were presenting a trophy. They are already famous or high acheveirs in the sport and their looks are irrelevent.

Podium girls are on the podium as eye candy pure and simple and it is starting to look very dated. No they didn’t get forced to do it and I’m sure they are loving their moment but its the 13 year old self harming in the school toilets because she can’t conform to a ridiculous media fetish ideal or the women trafficked from eastern europe, raped and then dumped in a back alley who ultimately lose from all this.

the women trafficked from eastern europe, raped and then dumped in a back alley who ultimately lose from all this

You’re right – the sooner we eradicate sexual thoughts, the happier everyone will be.

In the meantime, I’m going to insist that my daughter doesn’t go out of the house looking attractive. We don’t want that human trafficking on our consciences.

Winston – exactly. +1

You’re right – the sooner we eradicate sexual thoughts, the happier everyone will be.

Nope your just being objectionable then. Guessing you failed to read my points earlier and just went for cheap shots. Well done have an Internet point.

What criteria should they be employed under, out of interest?

A valid reason for being there, local sports people, town council folk, anything non-fluff related, you know that anyway.

I think it’s insulting to everyone frankly – like we all need some decoration for our eyes to light up what is really an exceptionally boring ceremony only for the sponsors to get their logos on’t tele. Oh, hang on…

They could have jugglers or something. Wild animals – who doesn’t like a panda bear ?

They could have jugglers or something. Wild animals – who doesn’t like a panda bear ?

Most Pandas can’t juggle.They also complain incessantly.

It’d be pandemonium.

They could have jugglers or something. Wild animals – who doesn’t like a panda bear ?

Only if the jugglers are town council folk, apparently.

Are the spectators seeing them as positive role models who add a bit of glamour to the occasion, or as gratuitous T&A to be perved over?

Agree entirely with this.I see it as the former, and as such not an issue.

I’m guessing some posters see it is as the latter

Are the spectators seeing them as positive role models who add a bit of glamour to the occasion, or as gratuitous T&A to be perved over?

I’m guessing some posters see it is as the latter

And isn’t that a sad indictment of the “anti podium girl” people? It suggests they can’t see beyond the girls’ looks, making judgements on their value/intellect/worth on the very criteria they are moaning about.

worst troll ever
What do you think podium girls attributes for the job are if not their looks?

Do you think they only recruit form mensa and local charities and its all about what is inside ?

Dumb and sexist what winning combination 🙄

worst troll ever
What do you think podium girls attributes for the job are if not their looks?

Do you think they only recruit form mensa and local charities and its all about what is inside ?

Dumb and sexist what winning combination

Far from trolling. From experience knowing a: the (female) owner of a highly successful PR girl agency (herself an ex PR girl) and b: the previously mentioned grid girl mate of mine who is now EU marketing manager for the brand she was a grid girl for, it’s not just looks – they need to be able to carry themselves well in terms of social interaction, engage with the client at events around the presentation (the podium/visible to the public bit tends to be just part of the job), report back to the brand/employer on interaction numbers/metrics like samples given out, and any number of other things too.

Making an unqualified judgement of “she’s just a podium girl” is as demeaning to them as saying airline cabin crew are just waitresses in the sky.

Like I say, speaking from actually knowing people in this line of work and seeing how good they are at all the elements of the job, not “just looking pretty for titillation” as some would like to think.

Nice bit of sexism justifying fifth-form level logic, TPB and ARM… try harder…

Lovely to see how “pro podium girl” people skip the key issues, which have been stated here. None of this is about empowerment, and it is an embarassment that it continues.

Yes, in a fundementally patriarchal system they can choose to do this negative irrelevant demeaning job. That doesn’t mean the job should exist. This isn’t about portecting them, it is about moving towards a better society which values women more, and gives young girls good examples of what they can achieve.

And, Andyrm, so why aren’t there podium boys as well? Or do a load of perhaps predominantly male sponsors prefer age-inappropariate girls to “interact” with? 😡

it’s not just looks

that will be why we see such a cross section of sizes, shapes and ages then its because they value people skill so much 🙄
Clearly they only use attractive ones so you can try and deny this as much as you want and ludicrously suggest its only the detractors who use this criteria but its not even close to a credible description of reality and its self evidently untrue.

it’s not just looks – they need to be able to carry themselves well in terms of social interaction, engage with the client at events around the presentation (the podium/visible to the public bit tends to be just part of the job), report back to the brand/employer on interaction numbers/metrics like samples given out, and any number of other things too.

If this is true, I’d like to see a job description! 😆

Crikey … some of the replies …

Mr Woppit – Member

chewkw – Member
If all the podiums/grid girls are banned, what are they going to do?

Help you with your mealtimes and potty training. [/quote]
Poor standard of response. In fact very week. I can better that many times. 🙄

You have not thought this through have you?

What alternative employments do you intend to create for them if this is the extra income they enjoy?

So are you saying you want to take away the rights of the podiums/grid girls to earn their income?

🙄

that will be why we see such a cross section of sizes, shapes and ages then its because they value people skill so much

it’s not just looks

The funny thing is, the guy in the middle of the 2 podium girls is there purely because of physical attributes as well- I suppose the difference is that to an extent his attributes can be acquired through training. So there’s an element of discipline and dedication to training,and society agrees that that’s something we can admire and aspire to.

So there’s an element of discipline and dedication to training,and society agrees that that’s something we can admire and aspire to

So when you actually started typing this bit, you didn’t realise the first bit was meaningless? 😆

why aren’t there podium boys as well?

There are – been posted in this thread.

If this is true, I’d like to see a job description!

I bet you it doesn’t just say ‘pretty’. You can bet they want articulate people who are cheerful. They’re representing the organizers, even if you regard it as quite low down the hierarchy. The last thing the organizers will want is miserable podium girls rambling incoherently. But does that make any difference to your argument? If 13yo girls are self harming because the podium girls are prettier than them they will also self harm if the podium girls are more articulate than them, or if they see a female doctor or documentary presenter who’s academically brighter than them. To solve this problem we should surely only see the very worst examples of mankind in the media.

The Queen is on the podium beacause of who she is.

So are the podium girls.

that will be why we see such a cross section of sizes, shapes and ages then its because they value people skill so much

*All* the decent pubs near me employ relatively attractive people (male and female) for front of house work. That’s not their only attribute, but it’s certainly one.

the 13 year old self harming in the school toilets because she can’t conform to a ridiculous media fetish

Wheras the physical attributes of TdF winners can be easily replicated by us all!

They could have jugglers or something. Wild animals – who doesn’t like a panda bear ?

Both would get my vote. But wouldn’t Badgers start self harming because they weren’t as cute as the Pandas?

Um, not respect (cos I find that word is so over-used that it’s become meaningless) but rather treating others as you would wish to be treated yourself. You know, some women can be just as guilty of leering but the difference could be that they don’t shout ‘nice ar$e’ etc.

No problem with podium boys so long as they don’t look as though they’ve walked off the Love Island set.

So… that’s exactly “respect” then, no? Those “some women” are appreciating the male form, but are managing not to make it personal, not to make it invasive or aggressive.

Apologies Cougar for not replying, bit of a rubbish day. OK, I had a look in my (Oxford English) dictionary to clarify this word “respect”. So we have “feeling of admiration for someone because of their qualities or achievements” and “consideration for the feelings or rights of other people”.

So, yeah, I’d go for the interpretation of the second. To continue my nitpicking, should a word have two such different meanings?

OOB

If 13yo girls are self harming because the podium girls are prettier than them they will also self harm if the podium girls are more articulate than them, or if they see a female doctor or documentary presenter who’s academically brighter than them. To solve this problem we should surely only see the very worst examples of mankind in the media

If you were close to a teenage girl with an eating disorder and body image issues, you woulldn’t spout such utter self-justifing piffle. 👿

Apart from G_C and a couple of others that may be lurking, you know you’re trying to determine what’s right for women, a wide range of women at that, without consulting them?

Sound familiar? 🙂

If you were close to a teenage girl with an eating disorder and body image issues, you woulldn’t spout such utter self-justifing piffle.

So my opinion would be different if I was unable to view the topic objectively. Yes that’s true. Luckily, I can.

perchypanther – Member
They could have jugglers or something. Wild animals – who doesn’t like a panda bear ?
Most Pandas can’t juggle.They also complain incessantly.

It’d be pandemonium.

Very well done, sir! You ought to be writing for Michael Macintyre, you’re certainly a lot funnier than he is! 😀

Bellends 🙄

Thank you for that positive and insightful contribution.

None of this is about empowerment, and it is an embarassment that it continues.

In your world perhaps. However I watched the ceremony today (as I do most days) and didn’t see anyone looking embarrassed. Podium girls are a bit of harmless fun that add a bit of colour to the sport. And I guess they have the added benefit of giving some people yet another thing to get worked up over.

And as someone said above, people take advantage of their genetic make-up in terms of intelligence or sporting prowess. Why shouldn’t they also take advantage of their good looks?. In many ways it’s no different. These girls are using their good looks and good personalities to make some money and have a fun job, so good luck to them.

So, yeah, I’d go for the interpretation of the second. To continue my nitpicking, should a word have two such different meanings?

I meant the second, but perhaps both apply and they’re not all that different?

you know you’re trying to determine what’s right for women, a wide range of women at that, without consulting them?

I had the same thought whilst milling round Tesco earlier this evening (cos, y’know, I’m naturally a hunter-gatherer because Man). There’s an irony in that (mostly) a bunch of middle-aged men are arguing about how best to defend the rights and honour of women by suggesting how they should all stop doing something they want to do because us allegedly ‘progressive men’ find it outdated and demeaning.

That’s not the solution, it’s the problem.

You ought to be writing for Michael Macintyre

Ouch.

Why shouldn’t they also take advantage of their good looks?. In many ways it’s no different.

I think I broadly agree.

The problem is when it’s presented in a way that that’s “how you should be,” if you’re not pretty and stick-thin, if you’re not putting yourself out there for the gratification of men, then you’re essentially worthless.

The elephant in the room here is, is that what’s happening here? Are they vacuous dolly-birds strutting round in bikinis projecting an air of “you know, you could have me,” or are they intelligent, professional young women with exceptional social and PR skills who are getting berated because they’re also pretty? I’ve not really seen this stuff first-hand so I don’t know, but from others’ comments it would seem to me to be the latter.

I’ve not seen many air hostesses who aren’t immaculately turned out, with their hair and make-up polished to the n’th degree. Is this vastly different? (That’s a question not a statement, I don’t know as I have the answer.)

Nice bit of sexism justifying fifth-form level logic, TPB and ARM… try harder

Eh.. What justification did I make exactly? I simply agreed with cougars point that it depends how you see it. How is that 5th form logic exactly ?

Back in your box..

I know someone who worked s one once

She was a model and she was picked from her portfolio based entirely on her appearance without an interview
She was not once assessed for her skill set in dealing with people or anything else.

When she went – Moto GP or some such as a brolly holder she said she was pawed relentlessly and told if she complained or challenged folk she would not get any more work

She did not pass a rigorous exam and interview that assessed her PR skills, her social interaction skills, her witty banter or customer service expertise

she was picked on her looks and nothing more.

The elephant in the room here is, is that what’s happening here? Are they vacuous dolly-birds strutting round in bikinis projecting an air of “you know, you could have me,” or are they intelligent, professional young women with exceptional social and PR skills who are getting berated because they’re also pretty?

No they’re just good looking women earning good money for literally nothing, and why wouldn’t they?
Why does everything have to be over thought FFS?

Yeah, we’re sick of these “thinkers.”