I would tend to agree with you that South Carolina got a lot of flack that she didn't deserve. However, I think it goes deeper than simply being a kid.
A lot of people take pleasure in ridiculing her because she's attractive, on television, and not the most intelligent girl (I don't think the Today show made her seem much smarter, just less dumb). And people (in America) love to hate people that are famous that we feel don't deserve it. I think it allows people to feel avenged when a famous(ish) person prove themselves unworthy of fame.
Nils Geylen
· 2 years ago
Thanks for sharing that bit of background. I agree, she may not be especially bright or even averagely intelligent; maybe one day she'll be a key speaker on illiteracy and geopolitical awareness, maybe not. That's the thing of course: we don't know, because she is so young. Intelligence, performance, talent, those are all part of a very complex system of identity - something that gets shaped at exactly this age.
To get back to your point, however, if it really is the case, that people (esp. in the US) enjoy personal downfall so much, that is a terrible thing. Of course, I suppose we have it too. Criticizing 'the politicians' over what they do wrong is easy, joining in the debate (let alone offering solutions) is rather harder. Mockery as revenge... I guess scary as that sounds, there is a lot of truth in that.
Thanks again, for dropping by and taking the time. Cheers.
Simen
· 2 years ago
People love stereotypes. Blonds are stupid, beaty pageant contestants are stupid, and (outside of the US) Americans are stupid. When they get confirmed in such a way that you have to see it to believe it, people will laugh. Plus, the stupidest things become memes. What's so funny about lolcats? Now that I think about it, nothing. (Luckily for me, the eternal archives of the internet don't have any examples of me finding them funny, I think.)
But what I don’t get is why we think it’s so effing hilarious to see kids act like they should: like kids. They get confused and intimidated, they get nervous, and they make mistakes.
Perhaps that's part of the problem. Why set up these kinds of contests, why put these people into a position where they've got to answer questions on live tv that they've got no qualifications to answer?
If you're going to put yourself on tv to do something that you are not qualified to do, laughter will ensue. Could it truly be that this person didn't know what she was getting herself into? Is it really possible to be that naive?
Joe
· 2 years ago
Of course you know the Today Show folks weren't hoping she would save face, they were hoping for a repeat performance. As a general rule, not only do we Americans enjoy others' public humiliation (American Idol, for example), but we like it even more the second time around.
Nils Geylen
· 2 years ago
These replies are becoming increasingly gloomy. What a world, eh?
All Comments
A lot of people take pleasure in ridiculing her because she's attractive, on television, and not the most intelligent girl (I don't think the Today show made her seem much smarter, just less dumb). And people (in America) love to hate people that are famous that we feel don't deserve it. I think it allows people to feel avenged when a famous(ish) person prove themselves unworthy of fame.
To get back to your point, however, if it really is the case, that people (esp. in the US) enjoy personal downfall so much, that is a terrible thing. Of course, I suppose we have it too. Criticizing 'the politicians' over what they do wrong is easy, joining in the debate (let alone offering solutions) is rather harder. Mockery as revenge... I guess scary as that sounds, there is a lot of truth in that.
Thanks again, for dropping by and taking the time. Cheers.
Perhaps that's part of the problem. Why set up these kinds of contests, why put these people into a position where they've got to answer questions on live tv that they've got no qualifications to answer?
If you're going to put yourself on tv to do something that you are not qualified to do, laughter will ensue. Could it truly be that this person didn't know what she was getting herself into? Is it really possible to be that naive?
Thanks for chipping in, though.