Are *they* being unreasonable?

Funny, there's a thread on Mumsnet where the mums are discussing this. A lot of them are very pc and taking the opposite line, how it was a dangerous to any visiting children etc and these brave unpaid volunteers deserved to be dismissed. Ridiculous, how have the younger generation become so humourless!? The offending mug didn't even show any naughty bits! Kids see more than this every day! I despair!

Legs women are NOT wimps- they can and do work in a predominantly male environment - but if a man behaves inappropriately it is NOT wimpish to complain or not laugh it off. It’s misogynistic to call the woman a wimp whilst therefore implicitly accepting that men can do what they want and women have to put up with it. There are many things women had to put up with in the past that no one took seriously - just a woman's lot - both domestically and in the workplace. And thank goodness things have changed ( although there is a way to go obviously). Val thanks for your measured post - sadly the misogynistic sexist gutter press as personified by the DM is actually thought to report facts by some posters rather than its own twisted version of reality. I appreciate you can’t say much on here - I expect you’ve been advised not to make comments to the media on the matter and I hope you don’t mind my saying that the DM trawls our threads and they may end up in there or on Twitter or FB ( which GN sometimes do)

I am an RNLI volunteer in Whitby and am saddened that social media and the gutter press have at times misconstrued and incorrectly reported the facts about this issue. I feel incredibly sorry for all those involved including the fact that the only female crew member has been blamed for something she seems to have played no part in. The entire incident has made me remember to keep a balanced and open mind next time I read any 'sensational' news headlines.

I support the RNLI & will continue to do so. I had not come across this story before today so have no comment to offer. I do wonder (depending on the exact circumstances which we don't know) when women became such wimps that they can't deal with working in a predominately male environment, I have worked in predominately male workplaces & found I have been treated with respect, perhaps I've been lucky but I'm also capable of a suitable "put down" if required. I suspect there is more to this sorry tale but to cancel support of the RNLI is a stupid response.

Right now I'm putting my tin hat on & settling down behind the parapet

Neil FFS it is not just about the mugs - do you not believe the RNLI statement or is the DM to be trusted? Do you honestly think that the RNLI would stand two men down over just the mugs? Really? Really? I expect you believe we’re not allowed to say Happy Christmas either. And what do you mean by today’s stupid PC brigade? You think racist; sexist, disabilist language and behaviour is just a jolly good laugh,banter you know and that we shouldn’t treat each other with respect and that as long as you’re just ‘’aving a laff’ then no harm done? And yes Jal there’s a lot of misogyny on GN - it’s not just the preserve of men. As for common sense, where’s the common sense in thinking the DM was telling the full story?

How absolutely bloody typical of today’s humourless, stupid, PC brigade. I have always supported the RNLI financially but this does make one seriously wonder if that is the best use of my ‘spare’ cash.

^ misogyny rules - it’s pretty active on GN.^

So you are saying that Gransnetters, who are in the main women, have 'a hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women or girls'.

I don't think so.
I think that common sense usually rules on GN
I think that we do not as yet know the full facts and therefore should perhaps not make a judgement.

Why anyone should expect volunteers to put themselves in danger to rescue them often because of their own carelessness whether it's on the sea, up a mountain, down a pothole or wherever is beyond my understanding.
Do you eat fish quizqueen?

Not everyone goes to sea for fun.

We do fund raising for the RNLI and will continue to do so, even, if and when the full details emerge, it turns out to be more serious than the first post indicates. This is one small example of silly behaviour amongst hundreds of serious lifeboat crews.
In the light of the publicity about how offensive such pictures are to an increasing number of women, the men should have thought again and, since they may be looking for a scapegoat, let’s look at fining those who source the beakers.
I wonder if those who walked out in support knew the full details?

You're telling me maryeliza54 - shocking and very disappointing that so many of our fellow oldies aren't aware that the majority gender no longer wants to to be defined and regulated by the minority and is happy to say so

Of course they do - seakay misogyny rules - it’s pretty active on GN.

Interesting.

RNLI sacks two men for their actions and behaviours
Majority of public blame woman

qq If you could be bothered to RTFT you’d see it was much more serious than the stupid mugs.But having said that would mugs making fun of disabled people or black people be OK or is just women that are fair game?

Why anyone should expect volunteers to put themselves in danger to rescue them often because of their own carelessness whether it's on the sea, up a mountain, down a pothole or wherever is beyond my understanding. Anyone who involves themselves in such sports and activities should pay a premium which should go to cover these services or be charged a suitable fee afterwards to cover their rescue. However, if there are decent men out there who volunteer to do this for nothing and they came out to rescue me if I needed them, I would be very grateful and I certainly wouldn't give a toss if they wanted to drink coffee from a mug with a picture of naked woman on before they set out!

Or fuss but I guess fuddled is quite apt in the circumstances - a lot of people seem fuddled about the fact that there should be standards of behaviour in the work place

Barmey please explain ‘fuddled about nothing’.

What a fuss about nothing and now more volunteers are needed and more money spent on their training.

Eglantine my post was a spoof on the range of excuses given by men ( and sadly plenty of their female apologists) as to why the whole range of inappropriate sexist behaviour is deemed acceptable and that it’s ALL the women’s fault and men should never have to take any responsibility.

Not a joke. A genuine enquiry. Your reply to Saggi indicated you were in possession of facts. So was your post based on facts and where did you get them?

Or did you make it up?

That’s a reasonable thing to ask, isn’t it?

There is clearly more to this story than is in the public domain. I'm sure the RNLI would not have acted as they have without good reason.

I agree Iam and the RNLI have made it clear that it goes way beyond those pathetic mugs. It’s amazing isn’t it - Oxfam and Save the Children get castigated for unacceptable behaviour towards women and girls and then the RNLI get the same treatment for actually dealing with unacceptable behaviour towards a woman.

Eglantine is that supposed to be a joke?

In regard to facts Maryeliza, did the men actually say she wore oilskins that were to revealing and then objected to banter, or did you make that up? ??‍♀️

Saggi, we don't know the full story. The RNLI have said the way the press portrayed it as being about naked women on drinks mugs is not the full story. We can't be told the full story in fairness to the men concerned, should they wish to challenge the decision they should leave.

I find it hard to believe that some women see it as 'normal' and acceptable for men to have this kind of mug in their workplace. It's offensive, demeaning and sets a tone so far as relationships in that workplace are established. IE the men are entitled to say and do things that the vast majority of women (and men) find offensive.
We're beyond the point where racist comments on coffee mugs would be seen as acceptable. It isn't "pc gone mad' to have similar expectations. Men can "ogle naked women" if they choose to but not on calendars/mugs in their workplace. As grannyactivist says, there's a deal of evidence that women can be put of joining workplaces which are male dominated. That used to include the Police, much less so now but it still includes many other uniformed services. I'm pleased the RNLI is taking a measured and appropriate response to this situation.

Saggi I know you will say you have every right to your opinion but you have not read the full story and so anything you post is simply not worth it. What your objection to facts?