WHO would have thought an off-colour conversation would have started a chain of events destined to have such consequences?

Two of the country’s most popular sports commentators lose their jobs. A talented female football official, a presenter and a mum-of-two are catapulted into a sexism storm.

Despite the probability these three women just want to get on with their lives and careers they have to suffer being championed by questing feminists and harshly scrutinised by chauvinists.

As is always the case with this kind of story, the most interesting aspect is the questions it throws up.

When does light-hearted banter become offensive bile? How do the remarks of Andy Gray and Richard Keys compare with the glut of ‘what are men for anyway’ chat shows that enjoy morning television spots?

Myself and a fellow journalist were debating this when he mentioned we would be visiting a place I might find interesting as a romance pundit and, as an aside, it almost exclusively employed women. It was a bar famed for its voluptuous ladies.

I feared the staple clientele would be leering groups of men guzzling beer with a few menus scattered about to add a degree of respectability.

I have never been comfortable in these environments – they have always struck me as an expensive way of achieving mild frustration.

Also, I have the irrational fear that, mid lap dance, the girl will suddenly stop, cover herself up, and ask in an appalled tone: “Were you staring at my breasts?”

I was therefore surprised to find the establishment pleasant, the food good and the company mixed. More evidence attitudes have changed came when I overheard a man lean over and ask his friend the question that was on every man’s mind: “Is it ruder to look or not to look?”