Gobsmacked.

[Vince G]

Now to consider male midwives...

Let's not be sexist here, surely it's midhusbands.

Good grief....

[veggiechicken]

Let's not be sexist here, surely it's midhusbands.

Good grief....

....midpersons?

[zazen999]

It is quite amusing; by saying that Pots was gobsmacked that someone intelligent wants to be a plumber, he is saying that by default - all plumbers are unintelligent.

[veggiechicken]

It is quite amusing; by saying that Pots was gobsmacked that someone intelligent wants to be a plumber, he is saying that by default - all plumbers are unintelligent.

That's how I read it too! Pots has gone strangely quiet.....

[bearded bloke]

Pots has gone strangely quiet.....

Hardly surprising really,he was paying a girl compliments on both her appearance & her intelligence,at the same time expressing his surprise that she has chosen to work in a profession that is below what he perceives to be her academic standard,another compliment & he gets ripped to shreds for trying to be nice.

[zazen999]

Hardly surprising really,he was paying a girl compliments on both her appearance & her intelligence,at the same time expressing his surprise that she has chosen to work in a profession that is below what he perceives to be her academic standard,another compliment & he gets ripped to shreds for trying to be nice.

He wasn't being nice.

[chris]

A friend of my wifes was going to start up a women-only plumbing service.

Not all single/alone ladies want some big hairy bloke with his backside hanging out of his trousers fix their tap Good idea imo!

[julesapple]

I thought Colin was being nice. It's just a shame that, on such a fair-minded forum as the Vine, he got slated for it. I saw nothing wrong in his original post and I'm a woman. I might be old fashioned for my age, but I think it's nice to see a gentleman!

I still think it's nice when a gentleman opens doors for you, gives up his seat etc. It's no slight on my independence or intelligence if a man pays me a compliment, it's not saying I'm a lesser being that cannot do these things for myself.

Also, I think that Colin might have mentioned his surprise to the young lady herself, and she obviously hasn't taken offence, simply explained that plumbing was her career of choice, instead of jumping down his throat.

Jules

[veggiechicken]

Hardly surprising really,he was paying a girl compliments on both her appearance & her intelligence,at the same time expressing his surprise that she has chosen to work in a profession that is below what he perceives to be her academic standard,another compliment & he gets ripped to shreds for trying to be nice.

Its not flattering to hear that any man looks at a woman and assesses her in terms of what size clothes she wears, her hair colour etc. Would Pots have made the comment if she had been older, larger, mousy and less able to stand up for herself when surrounded by "men"? I doubt it frankly.
But I still like Pots 'cos he's a Nutter!!!

[northepaul]

I agree with Zaz - it came across as patronising and sexist.

However, I am sure that Colin did not mean it to come across like that, its probably a generational thing, and after all, dont we all say the wrong things, and make mistakes sometimes?

[zazen999]

Jules - the very commenting is the issue. Why shouldn't a pretty intelligent girl be allowed to become whatever she wants without people being 'gobsmacked'? Why can't she just be left to be a normal plumber - without her size hair and looks [and intelligence] coming into the equation?

During my time on the Vine I've had a female plumber visit my house twice - but I wasn't gobsmacked. She was pretty, funny, and intelligent and last time she brought a 7ft hairy bloke as an apprentice. But I wasn't gobsmacked. When I saw the ad in the yellow pages I thought 'excellent' - she answered the phone, I thought 'excellent', and she turned up on time. Excellent. A plumber who answers the phone and turns up on time. It's a good first step.

However, I am sure that Colin did not mean it to come across like that, its probably a generational thing, and after all, dont we all say the wrong things, and make mistakes sometimes?

They all say that though don't they?

[julesapple]

No, I'm sorry. I think Northepaul has it about right.

I just hope that Colin doesn't feel like he's been pushed off the forum because he worded something wrongly in other peoples' eyes. He wasn't being anti-feminist, he was just expressing his surprise. He is entitled to his opinion even if not everyone agrees with him.

Jules

[Newton]

I have re-read Colin's posts and it is clear that there is no intention to make any sexist comments. Interpretation is another thing altogether.

I too hope he doesn't feel ostracised by the allegations made. Thea has it spot on........

[SarzWix]

I hope no-one feels pushed off the forum either. I hope everyone has the capacity to accept that the way they think about or express things, even if it's how they've thought/spoken for a long time, might just be a bit flawed.

[zazen999]

I have re-read Colin's posts and it is clear that there is no intention to make any sexist comments. Interpretation is another thing altogether.

I too hope he doesn't feel ostracised by the allegations made. Thea has it spot on........

Aye, that's right. I interpreted every comment like this on a daily basis for all 14 years in Civil Engineering totally incorrectly.

So we can be patronising and sexist but lets not upset the sexist patroniser by pointing this out. Hmm....