Why is the bbc shoving the women game down our throats?

[Dougal]

Judging by some of the comments since posting this, I don't think it would go down too well with our fans ?

Personally, I'd quite like to check out a women's game at the new stadium if I was around for a fixture. I doubt I'd go ever week though.

I think I remember @Dougal saying he went with his daughter? How was it?

It was proper. Certain innocence to it, definitely less cynical. Fully recommend it, especially with kids as the atmosphere isn’t toxic and players take the time after the game to go over to fans and have pictures taken. The football isn’t the same quality but look at some of the stuff the men’s team have dished up this season and ask yourself what standard do we really expect to see when we turn up for any game?

 

[sausage]

I think Maxtremist (some irony there, in context) has taken a point I've made, and is trying to attach it to the title, rather than the context.

I have no interest in the women's game. I suspect this is similar for many people.

When I look at Football News, I have no exception to seeing news about the women's game - I find it annoying that they have no separation in the ambiguity. If he (or someone else) doesnt find it confusing, well done. That doesn't mean I don't, and it doesn't invalidate my feelings.

Here's an example, right now, on Sky Sports News app:

The article at the bottom is a women's team player. It's news that is, technically, not the same sport. It's football, but it's a different set of leagues in a different set of rules. It seems reasonably recent that they are making a real effort to blend the two together.

I have no problems with women's football, and the sentiment in the title is long past being relevant to the topic - I just find it annoying that they are getting very 'clickbait' in the ways that they are trying to get interest in the sport.

For example, I have no issues with gender or sexual preferences, but if someone was after a bit of filth online, you'd have validity in feeling a bit put out if they blended genders together and made you feel like you were a terrible, evil homophobe just because you were keen on the content with women in, rather than men.

Note, before it gets jumped on, I'm not that bothered about the above screenshot - it's just an example of the strategy. It might occasionally say "Spurs star injured ahead of big game" and its someone from the ladies team I have absolutely no interest in, so I tend to feel annoyed by the fact that they probably know what they're up to when they do that.

Expose the sport, let it have it's own credibility - don't try and trick people into reading about it.

 

[C0YS]

What a bizarre thing to get pissed off about.

Prefixes I can understand why It might be very mildly irritating if not used, bit it’s a tiny thing to get annoyed about, and if that seriously does promote a reaction than stop being a ‘snowflake’ and get on with your life. I don’t see how something that clearly isn’t for you can cause such a negative reaction.

It clearly isn’t being shoved down anyone’s throat, it’s just capitalism being capitalism and just an ingrained part of that, there is a growing audience and the potential to make money, that’s sort of how it works for all products.




And, as mentioned the attention it gets is minute compared to the male game in every website and newspaper I’ve read, the attention it’s getting is also relatively proportional to the increased interest in the game.

The last women’s World Cup was a big commercial success, the games were better attended than the average attendance of some games in European top flight football.

Furthermore ,12 million people watched at least part of England vs USA in the UK in 2019. Those are insane figures. The interest is clearly there and that is why you see it being talked about more often. It’s not moralising or about progress and all that, it’s literally aligned with the demand for it.

But regardless of the motivation the fact that some people feel attacked by things like these, often getting defensive or whatnot. That does not sound like a healthy reaction for something that will only affect your life in the most minimal of senses if that. It’s mind boggling really. No ones forcing you to do anything, you and your identity isn’t being attacked.

 

[Maxtremist]

I think Maxtremist (some irony there, in context) has taken a point I've made, and is trying to attach it to the title, rather than the context.

I have no interest in the women's game. I suspect this is similar for many people.

When I look at Football News, I have no exception to seeing news about the women's game - I find it annoying that they have no separation in the ambiguity. If he (or someone else) doesnt find it confusing, well done. That doesn't mean I don't, and it doesn't invalidate my feelings.

Here's an example, right now, on Sky Sports News app:

View attachment 86742


The article at the bottom is a women's team player. It's news that is, technically, not the same sport. It's football, but it's a different set of leagues in a different set of rules. It seems reasonably recent that they are making a real effort to blend the two together.

I have no problems with women's football, and the sentiment in the title is long past being relevant to the topic - I just find it annoying that they are getting very 'clickbait' in the ways that they are trying to get interest in the sport.

For example, I have no issues with gender or sexual preferences, but if someone was after a bit of filth online, you'd have validity in feeling a bit put out if they blended genders together and made you feel like you were a terrible, evil homophobe just because you were keen on the content with women in, rather than men.

Note, before it gets jumped on, I'm not that bothered about the above screenshot - it's just an example of the strategy. It might occasionally say "Spurs star injured ahead of big game" and its someone from the ladies team I have absolutely no interest in, so I tend to feel annoyed by the fact that they probably know what they're up to when they do that.

Expose the sport, let it have it's own credibility - don't try and trick people into reading about it.

It's not really a different set of rules though? It's just the same game played by different people.

League wise whilst not directly the same it's somewhat akin to in that screeengrab where you have Rangers news in with Real Madrid news. They play in different leagues. Man City play in a different league and this article happens to be about Man City Women.

I just really don't see why Sky Sports of BBC commenting or posting about a football game that happens to be played by Women is such a travesty or issue when it's on the football news sites? Is it not football news?

 

[C0YS]

I think Maxtremist (some irony there, in context) has taken a point I've made, and is trying to attach it to the title, rather than the context.

I have no interest in the women's game. I suspect this is similar for many people.

When I look at Football News, I have no exception to seeing news about the women's game - I find it annoying that they have no separation in the ambiguity. If he (or someone else) doesnt find it confusing, well done. That doesn't mean I don't, and it doesn't invalidate my feelings.

Here's an example, right now, on Sky Sports News app:

View attachment 86742


The article at the bottom is a women's team player. It's news that is, technically, not the same sport. It's football, but it's a different set of leagues in a different set of rules. It seems reasonably recent that they are making a real effort to blend the two together.

I have no problems with women's football, and the sentiment in the title is long past being relevant to the topic - I just find it annoying that they are getting very 'clickbait' in the ways that they are trying to get interest in the sport.

For example, I have no issues with gender or sexual preferences, but if someone was after a bit of filth online, you'd have validity in feeling a bit put out if they blended genders together and made you feel like you were a terrible, evil homophobe just because you were keen on the content with women in, rather than men.

Note, before it gets jumped on, I'm not that bothered about the above screenshot - it's just an example of the strategy. It might occasionally say "Spurs star injured ahead of big game" and its someone from the ladies team I have absolutely no interest in, so I tend to feel annoyed by the fact that they probably know what they're up to when they do that.

Expose the sport, let it have it's own credibility - don't try and trick people into reading about it.

It is the same sport though in terms of the laws and governing bodies.

I kinda get the annoyance and maybe theycould try and make it clearer, you don’t even need a prefix for that, just make it clear like WSL:mancityblablabla, it doesn’t bother me but this is a very minor issue especially because that example there is clearly not about the men’s game, the image makes that clear.

But this is a question about how to format and organise information more than an active attempt to confuse of force you to take note of the female game, not that I’m claiming that’s what you arguing for.

 

[Maxtremist]

Best of both worlds on the BBC Sport page right now, just one article about Arsenal Winger McCabe signing a new deal. It's news so they're reporting it. They're calling her an Arsenal player, not Arsenal Women. But they're also saying what league it's in and (like all the other articles) they're saying what section of football it's related to underneath.

Like... that's what they've always been doing. It's not that confusing. It's not shoving anything down anyone's throat or anything. I just... really can't see why people have an issue with the minimal coverage the Women's game gets?

 

[sausage]

It's not really a different set of rules though? It's just the same game played by different people.

League wise whilst not directly the same it's somewhat akin to in that screeengrab where you have Rangers news in with Real Madrid news. They play in different leagues. Man City play in a different league and this article happens to be about Man City Women.

If it were 'different people', then it would be a mixed sport. The rules are the people who can play it, and that in itself is regularly leading to discussions over whether the goals should be smaller and so on.

It is a different gender, so it is an entirely distinct branch of the sport that has no competitive cross-over. Rangers can play Real Madrid when it is in the same 'sport' (e.g. Mens) but Rangers women's team will never play Real Madrid men's team, so the two are very separate.

I just really don't see why Sky Sports of BBC commenting or posting about a football game that happens to be played by Women is such a travesty or issue when it's on the football news sites? Is it not football news?

As per the ironic username, you're taking an extremist view of an opinion. I say "annoying" or "confusing", you infer "travesty" or "issue".

For example, if we started talking about the Women's team manager in the 'next manager' thread, people would think that's a cross over and find it a little frustrating.

 

[Maxtremist]

If it were 'different people', then it would be a mixed sport. The rules are the people who can play it, and that in itself is regularly leading to discussions over whether the goals should be smaller and so on.

It is a different gender, so it is an entirely distinct branch of the sport that has no competitive cross-over. Rangers can play Real Madrid when it is in the same 'sport' (e.g. Mens) but Rangers women's team will never play Real Madrid men's team, so the two are very separate.



As per the ironic username, you're taking an extremist view of an opinion. I say "annoying" or "confusing", you infer "travesty" or "issue".

For example, if we started talking about the Women's team manager in the 'next manager' thread, people would think that's a cross over and find it a little frustrating.

Are they playing football? Is it football news? Are BBC, Sky etc... reporting it as football news?

 

[alexis]

Let's say that's true, I really doubt women will get annoyed if they see 'Tottenham 1 - 4 Arsenal' in netball to then realise it was the men's team.

Like, is it that big a deal if they report the game without the suffix in the headline?

I think the OP is that some find it a pain myself included that it’s not what was expected therefore click bait. I don’t think it’s a gender thing whether it peeves just being fed up of media sucking you in.

 

[Maxtremist]

I think the OP is that some find it a pain myself included that it’s not what was expected therefore click bait. I don’t think it’s a gender thing whether it peeves just being fed up of media sucking you in.

Understandable to a degree... but then you can go on a whole rant about all of the media's clickbait and titles and headlines. It's certainly not exclusive to the BBC and the Women's game. If we're going on the OP's post and everything it makes it seem like Women's football is the problem when it's not.

Even with the people that I disagree with or disagree with me, I think it's safe to say the biggest issue is the media's reporting and handling on things.

 

[Tucker]

I can see where sausage is coming from, a few times I’ve been watching BT sport and they’ve advertised a WSL Match, and not made it immediately clear that it is a WSL Match and not an EPL match. But at the end of the day it causes a couple of seconds of confusion, it’s not the end of the world.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Just when you think all this feminism malarkey is just another marketing demographic, along comes a bunch of people to remind you why it's a thing.

 

['O Zio]

Another one of those subjects it's increasingly difficult to discuss without everybody jumping to one "side" or the other.

On the one hand you've got people going way overboard and just being outright sexist, but at the other end of the scale you've got people who take whatever anyone says that isn't glowing praise for the women's game and the coverage of it and accuse them of being hard-line sexists as well.

Truth is I think the general feeling from some people, myself included, is that they're happy to see the women's game doing well and happy for it to get more coverage but at the same time get mildly annoyed with the clickbait style headlines etc. that try to sneak women's stories in with the men's stories using intentionaly ambiguous headlines. And that's definitely a deliberate thing that websites have been doing for the past few years so it's not the same as saying "You don't like cricket and you ignore that perfectly well so why not just do the same here". It's just not comparrible.

Some people seem determined to twist these "I find it mildly annoying when..." type statements and respond as if the poster has said it's ruined their weekend and they've smashed the house up because a woman dare play football rather than cook dinner or something. It's bizarre.

Surely it's not that hard to understand how people can find the deliberately clickbait style coverage a bit weird/mildly annoying without them being a massively sexist prick?

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Americans always do it better ..

 

[Maxtremist]

Another one of those subjects it's increasingly difficult to discuss without everybody jumping to one "side" or the other.

On the one hand you've got people going way overboard and just being outright sexist, but at the other end of the scale you've got people who take whatever anyone says that isn't glowing praise for the women's game and the coverage of it and accuse them of being hard-line sexists as well.

Truth is I think the general feeling from some people, myself included, is that they're happy to see the women's game doing well and happy for it to get more coverage but at the same time get mildly annoyed with the clickbait style headlines etc. that try to sneak women's stories in with the men's stories using intentionaly ambiguous headlines. And that's definitely a deliberate thing that websites have been doing for the past few years so it's not the same as saying "You don't like cricket and you ignore that perfectly well so why not just do the same here". It's just not comparrible.

Some people seem determined to twist these "I find it mildly annoying when..." type statements and respond as if the poster has said it's ruined their weekend and they've smashed the house up because a woman dare play football rather than cook dinner or something. It's bizarre.

Surely it's not that hard to understand how people can find the deliberately clickbait style coverage a bit weird/mildly annoying without them being a massively sexist prick?

I think this threads title does NOT do it any help and does make the point worse than it is a lot of the time.

But ultimately it just feels like a mountain out of a molehill. Yes, it can potentially be a little clickbait like... but then so are a lot of other media and news stories. That's what Journalism has sadly become nowadays. So to almost focus it in on the Women's game just feels oddly misplaced to me.

 

['O Zio]

I think this threads title does NOT do it any help and does make the point worse than it is a lot of the time.

But ultimately it just feels like a mountain out of a molehill. Yes, it can potentially be a little clickbait like... but then so are a lot of other media and news stories. That's what Journalism has sadly become nowadays. So to almost focus it in on the Women's game just feels oddly misplaced to me.

The thread title doesn't help, I'll give you that.

 

[ILS]

Right I'm going straight in for it.

What grates me is that we have women footballers who are good footballers in their own right within the women's game are commenting on top level premiership football matches. You wouldn't find a league two footballer being invited to the sky studio to give their opinion?r And the reason why the league two player is not invited because he has not played at the same level and neither has the female player.

I'm sure some moron will try and compare the top level game of WSL to the Premiership. It's like trying to compare the Premiership with the Albanian fourth division...if there is even one.

Anyway I'm off on a sabtical now so look forward to returning to my 500 spam ratings!
When we all know deep down that at least 80% of you agree with me.

 

[PLTuck]

First world problems eh?

 

[Gassin's finest]

Right I'm going straight in for it.

What grates me is that we have women footballers who are good footballers in their own right within the women's game are commenting on top level premiership football matches. You wouldn't find a league two footballer being invited to the sky studio to give their opinion?r And the reason why the league two player is not invited because he has not played at the same level and neither has the female player.

I'm sure some moron will try and compare the top level game of WSL to the Premiership. It's like trying to compare the Premiership with the Albanian fourth division...if there is even one.

Anyway I'm off on a sabtical now so look forward to returning to my 500 spam ratings!
When we all know deep down that at least 80% of you agree with me.

Why does it make any difference what level they've played at? And its demonstrable that not all good footballers make good pundits. How come the likes of Robbie Savage commentates/pundits on CL matches? He was shite.

Anyone who watches and loves a sport, or anything, can be an expert at analyzing it without having actually played/practiced it.

I really don't get why people care.

 

[Marty]

Right I'm going straight in for it.

What grates me is that we have women footballers who are good footballers in their own right within the women's game are commenting on top level premiership football matches. You wouldn't find a league two footballer being invited to the sky studio to give their opinion?r And the reason why the league two player is not invited because he has not played at the same level and neither has the female player.

I'm sure some moron will try and compare the top level game of WSL to the Premiership. It's like trying to compare the Premiership with the Albanian fourth division...if there is even one.

Anyway I'm off on a sabtical now so look forward to returning to my 500 spam ratings!
When we all know deep down that at least 80% of you agree with me.

A good pundit is a good pundit. There is far too much focus in the UK on a pundit's merits as a player when the two most important things in punditry are a) how good a student of the game are you, and b) how articulate are you.

How high a level you've reached in the game is completely immaterial and only useful for marketing. When you get the likes of Neville and Carragher, you hit the jackpot, but playing career is very much tertiary to the other two points above.

And yes, if someone like Bayo Akinfenwa who has one season of Championship football and the rest of his career in lower leagues, wanted to try his hand at punditry, I'm sure Sky would welcome him with open arms even on their PL coverage.