In the Bars Where It Belongs

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There's a bit in this article about the forthcoming Royal Wedding from staunch republican Polly Toynbee which really made me bristle with anger:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,1410614,00.html

Polly Toynbee
Friday February 11, 2005
The Guardian

"Good grief, monarchy-mania even broke out in the Guardian morning meeting yesterday, as one sentimental old soul called the Charles and Camilla saga the greatest love story ever told. Many guffaws. (But then this sentimentalist blew it by explaining why: Charles stuck to his beloved although she is a woman no man fancies, while rejecting the delectable Diana, every man's dream - loud boos all round.) I'm afraid we're in for a lot more of all that, not just in the bars where it belongs, but everywhere, for months to come."

What is Toynbee saying here by her use of the phrase? I find it really, really offensive if, as I suspect I am, I am interpreting it correctly.

― MarkH (MarkH), Saturday, 12 February 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

It seems like she thinks this topic is only suitable for inebriated ramblings at your local bar with similarly inebriated friends and not worthy of sober discussion.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 12 February 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

I don't get why this is offensive, mark. why would / does it offend you?

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 12 February 2005 15:16 (twenty years ago)

Is it the beer- getting ugly people laid argument?

― Nellie (nellskies), Saturday, 12 February 2005 16:15 (twenty years ago)

Maybe she could have said "in the gilt-lined royal antechamber where it belongs" but it wouldn't have captured the bread-and-circus aspect of it.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 13 February 2005 20:22 (twenty years ago)

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