I Hate Reality Tv

[Jeza]

So tonight I watched an old episode of The Bill. One of the police called a villain 'a shirt lifter'. It made me laugh out loud as I'm sure that would not be allowed today. Or would it.

[petal54]

amazing hoow dated some tv becomes relatively quickly

[browntrout]

shirt lifters/pillow biters. those were the days.

[Baldric]

I think it's descriptive rather than insulting, don't see a problem!

[ferlew]

Didn't a comedian get chucked off a cookery prog, for referring to shirt lifters?
Can't think of his name, dreadful little man.

[Jeza]

At the end of the prog it was dated 1999.

[shoota]

Perhaps he was stealing blouses?

[pixie373]

That's a phrase i haven't heard for years!

[browntrout]

it's descriptive alright. whether you find it insulting or not probably depends on whether you are good with colours, travel on the other bus, bat for the other side, etc. personally I think it's fair comment.

[DaisyNonna]

Was that in the days when shirts were not an article which just tucked into trousers?

[sherrardk]

It's not a fair comment, it totally derogatory.

[browntrout]

How can something that is literally true (i.e. shirt lifting) be derogatory.

[hc4361]

There was plenty of that sort of talk in Life on Mars and it's still there in 'gritty' drama set in 50s, 60s, 70s.

[sherrardk]

Because it is, it's a really childish, pathetic thing to say. It just the general, over-riding nastiness, the 'it's wrong-ness', it's so narrow minded.

[237SJ]

I was talking to a gay colleage and he said he is quite happy to be called poof, f@g and quite a lot of other names (he uses them himself as do a lot of gay guys I know) but the one term he absolutely hates is shirt lifter. I think I can see his point.

[hc4361]

Don't be obtuse, browntrout.

[DaisyNonna]

What I really would hate is a skirt lifter.

[anneasquith]

happy to be called a p**f, f*g, but not a shirt lifter ? why ?

[237SJ]

Because they are jokey terms that do not sound that graphic, I think. For example, my mate (gay) doesn`t go to his local gym because (quote) "I hate all the muscle bound fags that go there"

[starone]

I hate reality programmes too.

[browntrout]

how can you be happy to be called a poof, fag, or all sorts of other names (does up-hill gardener sit well) but "shirt lifter" is a no no. surely things like fudge packer are worse.