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Athlete or Model? 29-Jan-2015 At 12:49:48 PM rolsen1

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On 29/01/2015 ajfclark wrote:
>On 29/01/2015 rolsen1 wrote:
>>It seems to me that the author is trying to demean her by suggesting
>that she is somehow devaluing climbing. He also complains her ability is
>misrepresented by someone in the media, which is strange because the media
>always get everything so right. What is the author's (and maybe your) problem?
>That the attention and endorsements she gets should go to more deserving
>(presumably) males?
>
>I don't have any problem with SBC and I didn't think that the author did
>either. SBC just happens to be a very good example of what they wanted
>to discuss. I thought the focus was that there is a market segment that
>is filled by athlete models, people who are not necessarily recognised
>for their talent (or lack thereof or whatever) but for their marketability
>(looks, social media following, etc).
>
>I thought they were asking questions like:
>
>Is it good that these people are generally more relatable to the average

What do you mean by good?

>Joe than your world class, top end athletes? Will that motivate more people
>to get out and do things or would an image of the world class be more inspiring?

You mean that if a good looking girl can climb I guess everyone can?

>
>Is the blatant objectification of people ok to push products?

Just in climbing or in all facets of life? This is a moral issue then? For the good of the children, less they be tricked into a life of climbing by a pretty girl? Hasn't this been happening forever in all facets of life. Or is climbing different as it one of the last bastions that are dominated by men?

>
>In general, I thought the whole thing was aimed at media and marketing
>in general rather than SBC.

Well her name was in the title and there are sixteen photos of her, but I guess you're right it wasn't about her at all. But if so, where was the insight into media and marketing, and predicting where it might go and what happens in other sports/activities, and what might be lost and gained in climbing by it. I'm not convinced the whole article wasn't just a misogynist crack at her.