Are *they* being unreasonable?

A spokesperson for RNLI told the BBC: ‘We are aware of speculation about the issue on social media but we want to stress that this was not a trivial matter.’

Why let mere facts get in the way of a sensational story?
I have no time for the ‘hard of thinking’ who naively believe anything The Scum prints.

Where did you get that info from, Maryeliza?

The men went to the press

We are now being told that there are other issues and, of course, those must be investigated and dealt with. However, I do wonder if the RNLI have been a little heavy handed. I don't think the RNLI have so many trained experienced volunteers that they can afford to "sack" two and then have others resign.

I would have preferred this was dealt with privately, the men spoken to, asked to remove any offensive comments on social media etc. and warned about their future behaviour.

Of course it is possible this was done and the men refused

Maybe so knickas63 but, it's the small things that build up to the big ones isn't it.
One example is when the Mayor of NYC increased the police force, had any criminal damage (eg graffiti) removed, prosecuted small crimes. Life improved, crime reduced.
I'd say treat bodies with respect and there will be many positive spin offs.

Doesn't bother me at all! I am just as likely to have bought them! The world has gone mad! Bigger fish to fry.

I don't think that pictures of women minus their clothes is acceptable in a public place. What people do in their own homes is up to them but in public this is not on. Full stop. The end. The RNLI have made it clear this about more than these mugs.

Your post just astounds me, VIOLETTE. Have you even read the thread? Have you read the RNLI statement that makes it clear that this is about so much more than a couple of tasteless mugs? Are you actually aware that there are brave women out there risking their lives too, who are worthy of our admiration and the respect of all, including their own team members? Have you seen the following post?

——-Yesterday 07:03 Valbeasixties
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——

Yet to you the alleged victim is just a sour woman with nothing better to do who should get a life? Give me strength.

violette you've not read the whole thread have you.

What “sour woman”????
Have you read the factual info or do you just want to be outraged that some of the population object to the objectification of women.

How utterly ridiculous ......did this sour woman have nothing better to do ? As others have said, I hope she never needs their assistance !!! Where I worked in the 60s and 70s the Pirelli calendar and same such, were hung in most men's offices (ok behind the cupboard doors) We regarded them as a bit of fun don't remember anyone being offended ...after all we could retaliate with the Fireman's calendar (except it wasn't out then !_ Get a life ! My support is with all those brave men who risk their lives saving people in atrocious conditions ..............

That’s an opinion not a fact actually re calendars. I think the jokes over with them actually - boring.

Tastefull is not a weasel word there are plenty of calendars including the WI one that are not offensive, even the girls at the local pub did one a few years ago.

Images of tasteful (whatever that weasel word means) nudes have no place in the workplace - why should they? Just why? And it’s not about being ‘careful’ it’s about being respectful and you know a fully paid up member of the human race in the 21st century.

Reasonable depends on the images depicted, tasteful nudes no problem. Pornographic depictions are unreasonable and should not be in any workplace.
That aside ANY material or comment that might cause offense to a colleague needs to be carefully scrutinized, in this "me too" era you cannot be too careful.

Thank you for your input maryeliza54 , as a result I was interested to read this "We can confirm that the images of the mugs in many of the media articles is not a true representation of what was produced.
A petition that was setup to reinstate the sacked volunteers has since been removed".

The RNLI have tweeted that the actual images on the mugs are so graphic that newspapers would not be able to print them - I believe them - why would they lie when it woukd be so easily proved if they had? Of course we all criticise our managers at some time behind their backs but the idea that posting offensive comments on social media is just idiocy really doesn’t cut it. You are not an idiot when you post offensive comments on social media about colleagues - you are much worse than that - just because they are ‘heroes’ doesn’t absolve them from behaving properly and not bringing their organisation into disrepute. It’s neither normal or acceptable to have depictions of naked people in the workplace. And even more so if your workplace is visited by members of the public of whatever age. What is wrong with some men that they have to behave like this? They should just grow up and realise we are in the 21st century.

Iam, a naked body isn’t in itself ffensive is it, just like an image of a black person or a disabled person isn’t offensive.

Would I find it offensive there had been a picture of the life boat man but he had been “blacked up”. I have to think about that one.

I’m sruggling a bit because there are naked bodies all over the media, magazines, newspapers, tv adverts, selfies. People post naked pictures of themselves all the time. It couldn’t have been this particular woman’s naked body could it? Not unless she’d already posted it somewhere.

Or was the naked body doing something you wouldn’t want a child to see?

What kind of comments were they on social media? Or has the RNLI just thrown that in once it became controversial, to justify themselves.

It’s all open to speculation.

Many years ago the images of women men displayed in the workplace were unacceptable and unsuitable, however things have moved on. There are now calendars featuring naked men. If we accept that these images are now normal then the two mugs in question are just part of that culture. As to what was said on social media, we all know that remarks are often made abut senior staff members in the loo and behind their backs. These two were just idiots for putting such stuff on social media.

Thanks to Val from Whitby for your post. Thanks to maryeliza, Maggie and others who continue to explain that this incident is not only about images on mugs.
So far as I've seen, none of those who minimise/defend/accuse 'the PC brigade" of having no sense of humour etc etc etc, have responded to maryeliza's question about how they'd respond if the mugs in question had held racist images, or comments or been aimed at people with disabilities.

The only images of “the mug” I’ve seen are various silly mock ups of what it might look like by the press. You couldn’t make it up (but they could).

Val, I hope you don’t mind me saying that if you’ve used your real first name you could be identified. Your input is much appreciated though.

The mugs used a naked woman as part of a ‘joke’. Why? Why not a black person or someone with a guide dog or in a wheelchair? Why is it funny because it’s a naked woman? As for your use of language, turning breasts and vulvas into ‘naughty bit’ helps to promote unhealthy attitudes towards sex in general and women into particular.

The mug wasn't making fun of women, maryeliza. It was making fun of the owner's face superimposed on a female body! And ok if you don't like the term 'naughty bits' even though it's crystal clear what it means, how should it be termed - 'private parts'? Nothing private was on display.

Chinese the mugs are NOT the real issue. Have you read the statement from the RNLI ? Having said that, would you have found a mug making fun of black or disabled people funny? Perhaps you could explain why it’s OK to use images of naked women even when their ‘naughty bits’ aren’t showing. Did you mean their breasts and vulva btw - how are they ‘naughty’?