This is the same old straw man argument that has been trotted out every time racism or misogyny has been mentioned.

No one is saying that everyone who dislikes Joanna does so because of racism or misogyny.

There are, however, a few posters who post negative comments on every thread where they have the slightest excuse to do so.

Whilst there's nothing wrong in pointing out where you see a candidate's faults or, indeed, just mentioning you don't like them, these few people just obsessively repeat the same old insults over and over again.

Unless you believe that there is no longer any racism in the UK it beggars belief that there is no coincidence between the set of obsessive anti-Joanna posters and the set of racists.

It's no strawman argument. It is wrong is for people to assume race and gender automatically have something to do with it, not the character of the person criticised. If an FM has a history of posting that way then it's a justified accusation. There may well be some misogynists and racists here, but why should that be why some people don't like Joanna? I'd say it might have much more to do with her way of speaking to people than it has with her ethinicity or gender.

If the answer to criticism of a black or female candidate is "you probably hate woman/black people" the implication is that such people are immune from criticism.

Back to age since i've posted here but completely ignored that question, I'd say she looks here age, moreso on You're fired, when she was out of her boardroom clothes. In the boardroom she looked older, but most of them do. I'm always surprised to hear the age of some of the candidates because when you're dressed for business you seem to look older, couple this with hearing about their (albeit often exagerrated) achievements and it's natural to think they are older than they are.

Congratulations.

You completely ignored the gist of my reply and just repeated your initial point.

Let's try again.

1) The accusation of racism/misogyny does not apply to everyone.

2) Most cases of criticism are based on factors other than racism/misogyny.

3) Given the totally out of proportion number of threads existing to bash Joanna - particularly given that she was the most popular candidate on this forum and clearly highly regarded by AS and his team - and the known fact that there are, still, a lot of racists/misogynists around together with the fact that there is a small number of posters who repeatedly make negative comments at every opportunity, it seems likely that at least some of the negativity and bashing is motivated by the two attributes under discussion.

You've also described anti-Laura posters as being "haters". Are they racist too? If not, why are they in Joanna's case and not in Laura's case?

I'm guessing it's because Joanna is black, and you find the racism stick is therefore ready to hand in her case.

Not one of you better posts, Brangdon. Not very well thought out at all.

The majority of people in this country are white(ish) so it is far less likely that a white(ish) person is going to be the target of any racially motivated dislike. Joanna is non white in a predominately white country and is therefore more likely to be the target of racially motivated dislike. Plus there have been far more Joanna bashing threads than Laura bashing ones. You may want to live in a la-la land where there is no racism (I'd like to live in one where there really is no racism) but, alas, we're not there yet.

And there is a distinct difference between most people who make reasoned posts explaining why the don't like a candidate and the odd few posters who make one line derogatory posts about a candidate over and over again on any thread where they can find the vaguest excuse.

You've failed to address it, though. Your reply merely repeats what I said: that in Joanna's case, racism is available as a stick with which to beat her critics, and in Laura's case, it isn't. You've not shown any evidence that Joanna's critics are racist.

Ignoring the straw man that I've never said ' that Joanna's critics are racist' but only that it's probable that some are:

I've never suggested for one moment that there is concrete proof that any particular person is racist.

Even the most obsessive haters may generate that hatred from something inside them other than racism.

I'm simply saying that as there is still racsim around and there were far more people bashing Joanna than anyone else despite the fact that she was by far the most popular candidate (as witnessed by the 'rate the candidates' thread), then there is a very significant probability that some of the bashing is racially inspired.

The observation that you can't call say that white people pick on a white candidate for reasons born of racism is asinine. Of course you can't.

Of course, that doesn't rule out misogyny.

So far all these 'Joanna haters' have not answered my question.
NAME ME A TASK THAT SHE DIDN'T DO WELL.
Or even where the other candidates did better than her.
The most one has come up with is the book one, where no one did better.
I am white and have no reason to favour her. I wish the posters here would consider her as though she were white. As to the way she got on with the other candidates. We can only see the edited versions. I think Sandeesh praised her. She seemed to get on with Stella. Altogether she only didnt get on with Jamie who is a loner.

Quite.
To attribute racism to those who take a contrary view on this Thread and about this topic which has nothing whatsoever to do with race, is plain spiteful and stupid.
There is no evidence whatsoever for it on this Thread.
To attempt to justify it by referring to this country's racial mix is even more stupid.

It's very likely to be only a small minority who are motivated by her colour.

I noticed in the previews of the final task that she has a shouting match.
Now that she is not a candidate her 'real self' comes back out again!
I suppose for a woman to manage a group of bitches who have nothing to lose is no easy task, and something even Stella cannot accomplish.

I like Joanna, I thought she had a great journey and really did take on board some of the early criticisms. I also found her departure rather emotional.

However I felt in the London bus task she was well out of order with her comments to Jamie about feeling threatened by him were pathetic. She was doing my head in then as well.

But all in all I liked her. She is the sort of person who makes this country Great. A hard worker who starts her own business and makes a success of it. Good for her.

I also find it odd people are accused of racism with regards to Joanna when she cas a conviction for 'causing racially aggravated fear or provocation of violence'

I rather liked Joanna from the start, but she is much easier to like when she is calmer. I didn't like the "old Joanna" that came back a couple of weeks ago.

I think that a cleaning company to run well and make a success must be very hard. The money is always bad, the hours terrible and the staff not much better so if Joanna provides good cleaners and has a good reputation with her clients, then that is more than just "getting by".

As for her age, I would say 30ish.