John Inverdale, for example ...

[Wuldric]

Women get judged by how they look rather than by how they perform. This comment by John Inverdale has me seething. How is it even remotely acceptable in this day and age?

I'm glad this thread has had a troll infestation.

Because our troll made our point for us, didn't he?

He cannot conceive of women as both intelligent and equal to men. He has to teach us fluffy headed girls to moderate our opinions. A little bit of sexism is okay, surely? Oh and the fact that we air-heads have to pay for our sexism as well, that's just fine.

I'm glad you came to point out the error of our ways.

Meanwhile, and bridge-dwellers aside, I have had a response from the BBC. I am going to point out to them that had Inverdale been employed by anyone other than the BBC, he would now not have a job. I am going to cite the Andy Gray thing. I am truly feeling very militant about this. Get sexist gobshites off the air.

By all accounts you are happy to shout down any attempt to debate. Have agreed that JI is foolish to have uttered the words, and praised an incredibly gifted sports woman.

Calling for his ritual sacrifice as a result is unjustified, but hey I'm not a feminist so clearly don't understand.

No offence intended and apologies if you have been offended by my POV.

Can someone more patient and tolerant than me please explain to this bottom feeder the difference between "your" and "you're"
it is making my eyes itch

Buffy, we agree, wholeheartedly.

No, it's not unjustified. It's absolutely justified and what would happen in any organisation other than the BBC. Sky sacked Richard Keys and Andy Gray for their sexist comments (that were broadcast unintentionally). It comes to something when Rupert Murdoch is more progressive and has a better equality agenda than the BBC.

Casual racism would merit the sack
casual sexism? Go right ahead, John
It's total BS

Okay, Karlos, I'll do it.

Willo, think about the term 'you are'. When you contract that, it becomes 'you're'. So imagine our delightful John Inverdale, coming across Bartoli. He would say to her 'You're not a looker.'

When something belongs to you, as in a car or even an opinion, it takes the possessive form 'your'. As in - you are entitled to your sexist opinions just as we are entitled to think you're a twat.

a cohort of less than obviously attractive women? Dearie me.
I think a public apology would be good. Plus the bbc need to send their employees on some kind of education course. I imagine they are acutely alert to avoid racism. It seems the message for sexism hasn't got across.

It's been a long day. Slightly wearing too. Have had to tell lots of chaps what to do, when they should blimming well know what to do in the first place.

So I missed this one -

"cohorts of less than obviously attractive women"

Dear oh lord. Words fail me. Nasty stuff.

I think Willo you're being diengenuous. Look around at everything. See how it is.

Some people are pissed off with it, me included.

I'm not sure thinking you know the appearance of a bunch of women on an internet forum is nasty so much as deranged.
It's actually quite pitiful and I feel bad for being mean to him now.

No one was pretty in that heat. Her picture in the Independent afterwards shows her to be very attractive. If I were single, I certainly wouldn't kick her out of bed.

Of course the issue isn't actually her looks. It's the fact her looks are being used by men to determine her personality and whether or not she should win (tw: very sexist and violent twitter comments) and far more stomach turning horrible comments about her solely based on that - not anywhere in the same league as the comments against any male sportman's appearance and their appearance isn't tied to whether or not they should win.

LittleSporks - that public shaming link is indescribably awful.

I've been getting more and more pissed off about this since Saturday.

I've complained to the BBC both about Inverdale's original comments and about their pathetic 'apology', but I would be shocked if he gets sacked.

As someone said upthread, casual racism would get him dumped pretty sharply, but sexism is still seen as somehow less unacceptable .

I am so confused

I think she is beautiful, exceptionally talented, clever, inspirational

I hope JI is fired for being none of the above

Haven't read all comments here but just made my complaint-hope everyone else does too, what a twat!...

www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/

Am trying to complain on BBC online form but it keeps sticking. Am hoping its because so many other people are trying to do the same!!

Man, it's depressing to see how many men out there (on the twitterverse at least) think they have a god-given right to sexual stimulation from any woman with a public profile, no matter what the reason.

Where does that sense of entitlement comes from with some men, the 'right' to judge a woman on her looks? It just doesn't happen with women and men in the same way. Some high-profile male sports stars are ugly as sin and no woman comments on that. Their profile is based on their skill, not their looks.

I would have hoped we had moved on from these backward ideas but it actually seems to be getting worse. I don't remember Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova experiencing this level of criticism of their looks. Maybe I am idealizing the past...?

Me too, Buffy.

I think unthinking comments have wider and more permanent currency now, Napa. People forget that Twitter etc is "publishing".

So back when I was young and mean, I might have said "I don't like Sampras because he looks like (something unkind)", but i would have said it to my mum!

And to be fair I never thought it was Sampras's problem that I didn't like his looks, in the way that the hatred to Bartoli is almost "get off my TV screen, if you don't meet my standard of fuckability, you don't have a right to follow your talent and your dreams because my view of you is more important than your view of yourself"

how do you get people who tweet like that banned from twitter?
I'm sure people on twitter have been arrested or something for other misdemeanours? This makes me feel ill and upset all at once. There were similar tweets about Katie Walsh, the Grand National jockey, earlier this year. I wanted to complain then!