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AIBU?

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Original poster

To feel really sad that an athlete's moment should be soured by criticism of their looks

60 replies

WhyTheBigPaws · 09/08/2012 13:47

I know ours is a very image-obsessed society but I almost wanted to cry when I saw how unkind some online wankers posters had been about gymnast Beth Tweddle. I'm not going to repeat what was said but it's easily Google-able. It's really sickening that after all she's achieved she is still judged by how she looks rather than the fact she's just won an Olympic medal.

Sure there are many other examples but this really wound me up, she seems such a sweet girl and I just think how it must have made her feel to read those sort of comments. My DD is a gymnast and looks up to her so much, I would be devastated if she was ever judged in such a horrible way but I expect it's not that unusual :(

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 09/08/2012 13:51

Well I've just googled and can't find anything

A few comments about her teeth, but many of them complimentary saying it adds to her smile.

Lottapianos · 09/08/2012 13:52

YANBU at all. It's pathetic how some people are obsessed with how other people look and never miss an opportunity to make rotten comments. I'm sure it's down to jealousy and all that but also judging women on how 'shaggable' they are, as if that's their only real value Hmm

LurkingAndLearningLovesCats · 09/08/2012 13:54

YANBU...AT ALL!

There's been some very cruel photos circulating Facebook of a weightlifter because her underarms weren't shaved.

SoleSource · 09/08/2012 13:55

Yanbu I haven't read any of,that cunty bollochs but makes my blood RAGE.

Olympia2012 · 09/08/2012 13:57

There is nastiness about a female swimmer..., and it's from a tv person too. A sustained attack on her looks

maybenow · 09/08/2012 13:57

i don't think her moment will have been soured in any way - she's bigger than that.

there are always haters out there trying to be obnoxious, but nobody with any sense of perspective will let them bother her and i believe that beth tweddle and pretty much any other successful olympian should have a strong enough sense of self to not care what some anonymous wanker on the internet says about their looks.

missymoomoomee · 09/08/2012 13:58

YANBU if someone is famous for their looks and plays on it then I would maybe say its fair game, but an athlete should be judged on their athetic ability.

Lotta just to even the score I judge men on how shagable they are all the time Grin

Cherriesarelovely · 09/08/2012 13:59

I agree, it is horrible. Beth is amazing.

WorraLiberty · 09/08/2012 13:59

I suppose it's the same with Singers and Actors, they're often judged on their looks rather than their talent sadly.

TheDoctrineOfEnnis · 09/08/2012 14:00

YANBU.

Good time to re-post this fabulous riposte from Zoe Smith, weightlifter.
Zoe

TroublesomeEx · 09/08/2012 14:04

Well Beth Tweddle might not be the most attractive girl in the world. But she hasn't entered a beauty contest.

I'm not the most beautiful girl in the world either.

And neither, would imagine, are any of the people discussing her looks online.

YANBU.

piedaterre · 09/08/2012 14:10

What Frankie Boyle has repeatedly said about Becky Adlington was just appalling. Vile man.
Mind you a lot of people have also been rude about Michael Phelps, because he has this model/waitress girlfriend. That seems to be ok. I don't think so.

KellyElly · 09/08/2012 14:18

You are always going to get twattish people making comments like that, more so about women than men. Then you get the ones (usually by women) about the beach volley balls girls and what they're wearing - what message they are giving out etc. All very sad and unnecessary. People should just let them get on with what they do best and keep the personal attacks in their own small minds.

hackmum · 09/08/2012 14:20

Frankie Boyle is a cunt. I do wish I'd seen his Twitter message saying that Adlington had an advantage in the swimming because she had a face like a dolphin - I'd have replied saying it was a shame that there was no sport in which having a face like a rat gave you an advantage.

Latara · 09/08/2012 14:39

It's annoying & pathetic; YANBU.

My friends & i all say 'oh he's got a cute face, nice muscles' etc; if we fancy a male athlete - or 'wow, she's got an amazing figure' if we envy a woman's body - but we never comment negatively on the looks of any competitors.
Basically the Olympics is about sport & not a model competition!!

So athletes shouldn't be subjected to horrible comments about any imperfections in their appearance.

I hate it when people are nasty about other people's looks; whether male or female.

It's pointless to be rude about looks anyway - because in RL i've often found that someone who is quite plain can become very attractive or seem prettier due to a nice personality.

'Comedians' & others who pick on people for their looks do it because it's the only way they think they can get a laugh - it just means they are rubbish comedians if they feel the need to resort to personal criticism.

bobbledunk · 09/08/2012 14:41

yanbu, it's always women being judged as well, men are respected for their sporting achievements.

carernotasaint · 09/08/2012 15:35

Piers Morgan is another twat. I stopped watching reality shows the night that this group of female singers auditioned on BGT and all he could go on about was the fact that they were over 35 and overweight. He is a mysogynist of the highest order.
And now hes been banging on about Bradley Wiggins not bowing and scraping to the monarchy when he won his gold medal.
Morgans twattishness and mysogyny knows no bounds.
And its fucking rife in the media as clearly demonstrated by the posts on this thread.

piedaterre · 09/08/2012 15:40

Piers Morgan has always been a total arse. It was a lot more obvious when he was editor of the Mirror and was constantly being exposed for the poisonous toad that he is by Private Eye. Now he seems to have been rehabilitated by the media and welcomed with open arms. Nice to see he is letting his true colours show through here and there. Maybe the public at large will catch on one day.

Original poster
WhyTheBigPaws · 09/08/2012 15:43

I used to really like Frankie Boyle on Mock the Week. I've no idea why he felt the need to start taking the piss out of disabled people or any one else, he had no need to because he was funny anyway, but it's made him seem incredibly unfunny now and I can't stand him.

I'd love to be as talented, disciplined and dedicated as Beth or Becky Adlington and I really hope that what idiots have to say about their looks doesn't affect them although I think they'd have to be very thick-skinned for it not to.

As an aside I saw a picture today of Beth dressed up for a night on the town in heels and a slinky dress that showed off her cracking legs and I thought she looked fab - leotards and tracksuits don't do many people any favours as with any practical sporting gear. I know by saying that I am kind of judging on appearances myself but I think it's in our nature to do so - there's just no need to be nasty.

OP posts:
Original poster
WhyTheBigPaws · 09/08/2012 15:44

Re Piers Morgan and Bradley Wiggins, this cracked me up

OP posts:
carernotasaint · 09/08/2012 15:49

A gold medal AND putting Piers Morgan in his place. Bradley Wiggins you are a LEGEND.

violathing · 09/08/2012 15:56

It is a shame we dont have more role models who are judged on ability and achievement. What has Jordan ever done FGS? Apart from expose her body and marry Peter andre

hiddenhome · 09/08/2012 16:03

Personally, I find the fashion for looking a certain way (blonde hair, fixed noses and teeth, skin tight sexy dresses etc.) very boring. I call them 'generics' because they all look the same and it's so contrived. There's virtually nothing to tell them apart now, they could just be mass produced tbh.

I miss the way people looked in the 60s, 70s and 80s tbh. People had interesting faces back then, and there was a certain attraction about that. Everyone was individual instead of just being a clone of the next singer or actor or whatever.

hiddenhome · 09/08/2012 16:08

wish I looked like this

I can't believe people are criticising her. I didn't know who she was before googling her, but she looks fine to me Hmm

EnglishGirlApproximately · 09/08/2012 16:10

The Bradley Wiggins reply to Piers Morgan was brilliant! I'm from the same area as Becky Addlington and while the vast majority of the local community are extremely proud of her, I've still seen some nasty comments about her looks on FB (not from a friend but commented on by a friend so appeared in my newsfeed)

A lot of people, sadly many women I know, joined in the criticism. A couple of lone voices saying it wasn't right were told to get a sense of humour. The next day on FB the same people were laughing that people had de-friended them because of their comments. Apparently if you object to sexist bullshit you must be humourless with no life. Needless to say my friend list has got smaller.

The thing that saddens me is that at least half of the people commenting were women. Frankly, our local town is pretty depressed with high unemployment, a bad reputation for a night out due to binge drinking and violence and very little investment. We should be looking up to Becky as someone to show us that you can achieve if you work hard. We should be celebrating our town becoming known for something positive.

But no, we'll slag her off for being a normal looking woman.

Sorry, bit of a rant but its really wound me up over the last few weeks!

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