Fenxy Thread: Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

xirclebox — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:20:24

uhh... what?

Oh that was just painful !!!

*sigh*

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Gnorb — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:03:02

Also, I heard somewhere, not sure if it's true, but I heard they get the questions in advance?

In which case there might have a mix-up in the questions. She got prepared for the wrong one, then tripped up the answer when she got the actual question.

Of course, her appearance on Good Morning America (or whatever show she went on, I forgot) doesn't exactly hold any of that up, since she claimed she only heard two of the words in the question, then dumbassed her second try on national television.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

a_romig — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:14:24

Wow. It was a BS question to begin with. Though again, my point about having time to research. Now I say how rude to the judges.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:34:50

If that's the case then I'll have to pull out a full blown

ROFLMAO

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

shadeofgray — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:28:58

Rich that is great! I wish I found that first.
Also, I heard somewhere, not sure if it's true, but I heard they get the questions in advance?

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:03:07

I think the space time continuum would have ripped in half if that were her answer.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Rich — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:39:57

Something else that might be considered relevant.

what she should have said was:

That sounds like an urban legend to me --I don't believe that my fellow Americans are so ignorant. According to the Final Report of the National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs 2006 Geographic Literacy Study, "Nearly all (94%) young Americans can find the United States on the world map".

The last time I checked, 100% minus 94% was 6%, not 20%. So what's your source for the claim that 20% of us don't know where our country is on the map?

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:05:50

Gnorb wins the "Gold Star" for using the word ASS more in one post than one could possibly fathom.

Ass ;)

C'Mon page 3!

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Gnorb — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:00:15

I'm just posting this to get it one more reply closer to three pages.

KEEP IT UP PEOPLE, WE'RE ALMOST THERE!

(Also, the girl's 18, and put herself in a VERY public forum. I'll be willing to bet she's been putting herself in these types of public forums for years by now. This kind of stuff comes when striving for fame (and, I suppose, infamy). RightOn may be an ass for laughing at her for her flub, but he has every right to be an ass, just as I have every right to be and ass and call him an ass for making fun of a girl who made an ass of herself in national television -- TWICE -- showing once and for all that she's just got a cute... face. And ass.)

/Damn -- I should've put that in another reply.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

thesirdanny — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:24:26

edit: wow, there are multiple pages to this note. i think all that has been said, has.

well done people.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:04:19

Man, there needs to be a "close thread" button.

Rich, you're fighting an uphill battle... Article19 is the mother of "last word" posters.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Rich — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:50:15

Well you do a good job of hiding it. What's with the "quotes"? That's my real name. Not a pseudonym.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Article19 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:44:08

considerably older than your 21 years "Richard"

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Rich — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:07:47

like almost everything you write, baseless and no grounding in reality.

Ironic, after your countless contributions in this note decrying personal attacks on Ms Teen South Carolina. No matter though, it's only the Internet.

Baseless is a great word though, isn't it? You can use it almost anywhere and it just sounds good.

Seriously though, how old are you? 15? 16?

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:02:09

LAST WORD!!!!

I GOT THE LAST WORD!!!!!!

Oh wait...

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Article19 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:44:35

like almost everything you write, baseless and no grounding in reality.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Rich — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:49:47

I call bullshit on Article19 never having laughed at Star Wars Kid.

That's about all I have to say here. Everyone else is doing a fine job. Personally, I'm inclined to side with Mary (cdnBlogFan) on the whole thing. But really, this is a bigger deal now than it needs to be.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Article19 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:32:01

@Vitar: "article19, so you're saying star wars kid et al brought it on themselves?"

how do you get that? as stated, the videos are posted without the subjects consent, that's what makes it bullying, that's what makes it vicious!

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

cdnBlogFan — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:40:22

The video of the star wars kid was released online with neither his nor his parent's consent by some classmates as a ill-conceived prank. His classmates were sued and settled out of court.

@Vidar

I don't think anyone could argue that he brought this upon himself.

Mary

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Vidar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:13:55

article19, so you're saying star wars kid et al brought it on themselves?

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

CarsonClay — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:52:08

I literally buried my face in my hands while watching this. Poor shame, not only that 1/5 Americans can't locate the U.S. but that while listening to this, I was more confused than she was answering.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Article19 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:17:56

Good points well made:

as with the Star Wars kid and every other humiliating video on the web, it's tantamount to bullying except it's more viral, persistent and vicious in many ways.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

cdnBlogFan — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:11:19

@Ozone42

So a public official who was elected by a representative democracy shouldn't be protected, but a young adult who purposely put herself in front of an audience with the express purpose of being judged should be protected from judgement?

While I'm certainly no expert on the US political process, I believe that one chooses to run for the presidency and is subsequently elected to speak for the republic. Thus, in each case, they made the choice to that ultimately put them in front of an audience with a microphone. With regards to coaching and training, however, I argue that the president (a lawyer and life-long politician) has considerably more experience than a high-school student.

I don't feel that either should be "protected" from critical thought and analysis based on the answers they have given. However, neither deserves to be personally attacked and, as RightOn (ironically) points out, one shouldn't assume or generalize about an individual's intellect based on the goofy answer to one question.

Stop treating seventeen and eighteen years olds like fragile China, That which does not kill them will make them stronger .

Irrespective of her age, there is a point where public humiliation and insults are not helpful and become hurtful.

I dislike beauty pageants anyway and now I despise them.

I never understood the point of them myself.

Mary

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Vidar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:09:41

where were you guys when star wars kid was being laughed at? and what about the numa huma fat guy?
the could have used your help i'm sure

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

cooper — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:54:17

Stop treating seventeen and eighteen years olds like fragile china. That which does not kill them will make them stronger.
I dislike beauty pageants anyway and now I despise them. To bad for her, but she did gain some notoriety from it. With our luck she will probably get a reality show.

I happen to agree with Right On, and am so far left from his ideology it isn't funny.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

a_romig — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:34:13

What she said on the NBC's Today show this morning:

"Everything did come at me at once. I was overwhelmed and I made a mistake. Everybody makes a mistake. I'm human," she said Tuesday. "I seriously think I only heard about one or two words of the actual question."

I think that's perfectly understandable. It's just pressure, no matter if she practiced for this. I still would think it's hard to practice for a random question and give a reasonable answer under that kind of pressure. Sure it's easy to think of something from the comfort of your desk or living room when you've had time to think. She didn't have time to research or put together a solid thought. I believe she was scrambling inside her head to grab the words the judge was saying and only was able to grasp a few.

She answered the question again:

"I would love to re-answer that question," the Miss Teen South Carolina said. "Well personally, my friends and I, we know exactly where the United States is on our map. I don't know anyone else who doesn't. And if the statistics are correct, I believe there should be more emphasis on geography."

It's a "well, duh" type of answer but really, without research what could she say?

Adam

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

cdnBlogFan — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:24:39

@Ozone42,

cdnBlogFan is poking fun at the president. Is this a double standard, a triple, or what?

Please, re-read

Do you suppose she had more or less training than the current US president?

and

While I may disagree with president Bush's politics, my point is that it is rather easy to find examples of well educated and experienced people who become befuddled answering questions publicly. As it stands, it sounds as though you are holding a 17 year old child to a higher level than your president.

I probably should have stated it more explicitly in the original question, but in referring to the current president I was trying to highlight that no matter how much training and experience you have, it is very easy to flub a question when it catches you off guard. Given the frequency to which experienced world-leaders give incoherent answers, I'm not surprised that this young woman gave one under pressure. It takes a surprising amount of confidence and composure to reply with "I don't know."

Mary

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:20:24

I think they're talking about me.

Given that Article19 has a penchant for giving people a pass for stupidity and tends to berate those of us on the opposite side of the political wheel as (s)he is.

I know who I am, and I'm happy with myself. You have just as much of a right to your opinions as I do so think anything you want of me... it doesn't affect who I am. (and if you think you can change me with your opinions then get over yourself)

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Ozone42 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:15:23

I'm happy and proud of who I am thanks.

I brought out the liberal card? Where? If I did it was completely subconcious and unintentional. I meant to bring out the over-reacting, protect everyone from everything card, or is that the same thing?

Just to be overly clear. I've got nothing against the girl. I doubt she's as stupid as she seems, and I even wish her well.

That doesn't change the fact that her flub up is embarassing and hilarious to anyone she's remotely associated with.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Article19 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:14:13

"So a public official who was elected by a representative democracy shouldn't be protected, but a young adult who purposely put herself in front of an audience with the express purpose of being judged should be protected from judgement?"

Yes you did miss something. If the President says something moronic or stupid or screws up then a lot of people are affected or even killed. It is a civic duty to speak out, reprimand, imprison, etc, etc.

Some kid fluffing lines in a pageant and getting slaughtered by right wing nut jobs (since you brought the liberal card you can take the same thing back) and keyboard warriors is, as I've said, pathetic. Just sit there, live with what you are and get used to it!

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:07:33

So a public official who was elected by a representative democracy shouldn't be protected, but a young adult who purposely put herself in front of an audience with the express purpose of being judged should be protected from judgement?

EXACTLY!

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

cooper — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:02:57

No one was asking her a difficult question. A second grader should have been able to answer that question better than she did.

This was not a goof up it was a wake up call.

I actually posted this on my site after seeing it here.

The girl has had to have spoken somewhere in order to get as far as she did.

People make fun off all types of things on the internet, some of it is shameful. In this case everyone is making fun of a girl who trains for this kind of thing all year long. A Seventeen year old is not delicate little flower. She will not have longstanding psychological issues from this; she may even learn to speak and learn a few new words. She may learn the difference between South Africa, Asia and Iraq.

That would be a good thing because if she ever decided to compete for Miss Universe she might know a little bit about the countries in the universe.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Ozone42 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:57:56

So a public official who was elected by a representative democracy shouldn't be protected, but a young adult who purposely put herself in front of an audience with the express purpose of being judged should be protected from judgement?

I think I missed something.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:57:42

Yeah I think she's a moron... case and point made.

So what... apparently you're her mom because you've got your panties in a wad over my PERSONAL opinion that I decided to share with the world.

Who needs to grow up...

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Article19 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:53:46

the evidence is right here, it's not opinion at all.

you started this note, so we know where you're at!

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:47:04

Emphasis on "trying" there Ozone...

...and he's as stupid as a sack of hammers.

Personal opinion.

More to the point, adults should use their own internal ethical and moral compass when it comes to beating down on teenage girls.

I'm not "beating down" on teenage girls... I'm mocking and tossing crap at someone who seems to lack comprehension while under pressure.

If you choose to follow the path of pointing and staring then I guess we know where you're at!

Again, personal opinion.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Article19 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:46:31

The President is a public official, so fair game, and he's as stupid as a sack of hammers.

More to the point, adults should use their own internal ethical and moral compass when it comes to beating down on teenage girls.

If you choose to follow the path of pointing and staring then I guess we know where you're at!

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

cdnBlogFan — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:36:12

if she can't hack someone being mean to her then I'm sorry, she's not fit to function in reality.

I'd say that your comments go beyond being "mean," but at least we are all clear on what your intent was.

Mary

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Ozone42 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:29:26

cdnBlogFan and Article19,

Where do you draw the line in who it's ok to make fun of? Article 19 is trying to make RightOn look bad right now. cdnBlogFan is poking fun at the president. Is this a double standard, a triple, or what?

I think this was funny because they ask an american girl a question about an obvious education problem in america... and she can't even give a coherent answer. The first time I saw the vid, I wondered if she had heard the question. It doesn't matter who the girl is. I twouldn't matter if it had been a news anchor that was asked the question, or the president. If the girl hadn't been an american, it probably wouldn't have been so hilarious, just odd.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:00:54

Mary, it's called a sensationalist headline. I over emphasized the obvious to grab your attention. It got you in here didn't it?

I still don't think that I need to retool my words so they're not so harsh for a "child". That "child" is 18... if she can't hack someone being mean to her then I'm sorry, she's not fit to function in reality.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Article19 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:46:57

@RightOn

Mouth: check
Opinion: Check

Brain: Missing presumed dead

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

cdnBlogFan — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:42:35

Somehow I half expected you to pull a jab on Bush somewhere in this thread... thanks for that.

In fact, I merely asked a question regarding the "coaching" and "training" you cited. While I may disagree with president Bush's politics, my point is that it is rather easy to find examples of well educated and experienced people who become befuddled answering questions publicly. As it stands, it sounds as though you are holding a 17 year old child to a higher level than your president.

I will say that the current President IS a poor public speaker and that fact leads to the assumption that he's missing a few bolts.

It seems that there are quite a few people here who are willing to make an "assumption that [she's] missing a few bolts," as well.

I guess no one told her that it [special effects] requires a computer and brains.

I agree that she stuck her foot in it and her answer was utter nonsense. But what makes you feel that she, personally, "embarrasses the human race" or "would have a hard time thinking herself out of a wet paper bag?" Likewise, you write that she makes you "SAD [sic] to be an American?" These are incredibly harsh criticisms to make of a child. Feel free to have a chuckle, but you crossed the line with the personal insults IMHO.

Welcome to life... just because you make a stupid gaff doesn't mean you get a cuddle pass so no one can make fun of you.

After reading the OP and the above comment, I think I quite understand your reasons for posting it. I know that there are many folks who find amusement in others humiliation and suffering. However, when someone calls you out, please don't pretend that you are making a noble statement about the American education system or the role of narcissistic pageants in modern society; just nod your head, point and laugh with the others.

Bah,
Mary

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:39:44

Gnorb... you're such a smartass (good kind though!) ;)

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Gnorb — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:37:02

@Righton:

How about the fact that I was born with a mouth, a brain and an opinion.

You know, most people are born with mouths and brains, but they usually don't start developing opinions until a few days after coming out of the womb. The fact that you already had one at birth is nothing short of amazing. Still, I can't say I'm at all surprised.

@hthth

A 5th of Americans can't locate the US on a World map?!! Forget posting videos of the meat-in-a-dress there and start posting maps!

The problem is that even if you gave those maps out, that bottom 20% would have no interest in looking at them. My mom used to work for the phone company, and it happened more than once that she spoke to someone who didn't know what their state was, only the name of their county. I'd blame the school system but the fact is that a good portion of those people never went to school. Of those that did, knowing what P Diddy had for lunch was much more important than knowing who the current Chinese premier is, what "the Iraq" has to do with anything, why they should be concerned about government overreaching its authority, or where the US -- or North America, for that matter -- is on a map.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:32:51

Article19... apparently you have your undies in a tight spot because I have the right to my opinions.

I have the right to say what I want, just as much as you do. Just because my opinion doesn't fall lockstep with your huggy bunch pile of liberal garbage doesn't mean I'm any more/less intelligent than you are.

What the hell gives me the right? How about the fact that I was born with a mouth, a brain and an opinion. She didn't just mess up an answer she TOTALLY lacked comprehension.

Welcome to life, people don't play nice just because you want them to. If you get up in front of thousands of people to have random questions fired at you, you had better be prepared. She wasn't. End of story.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Gnorb — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:11:36

cdnBlogFan: To those who are so quick to criticize, when was the last time you were asked a question in front of ~50 peers, a live audience and rolling TV cameras?

About 2 1/2 years ago, and various times before then. (Most prominent spot was during the 2000 election -- interviewed in a short "politics in college" segment by Faux News.) Do I pass?

I agree, people screw up in front of cameras and audiences all the time. It happens. It's happened to me. However, this is... beyond screwup. This is a complete lack of comprehension of the question. It's not a matter of bumbling a talk. The "uh's" and "um's" don't bother me. What is disturbing is the apparent misunderstanding of the question and the subsequent... whatever the hell that was. Attempt at an answer, I guess? A BAD attempt at an answer?

(Remember: We judge ourselves by our intentions. We judge others by their actions. The key to compassion is to reverse the judgment criteria.)

Sorry, but this deserved to be made fun of. It just so happens that this faux pas was amplified by the megaphone that is the Internet, which means that by next week no one will remember. Except her.

@Rich, from your link: "Don't laugh too hard at poor Miss Upton until you've successfully answered a few geography quiz questions under TV lights, that's what I'm saying."

So... I have a right to laugh then, gotcha. (Been there, done that. Never in a beauty pageant, though. I'm sure if the positions were reversed I would've screwed up the walking on high heels part pretty badly.)

Actually, though, I agree with the article. Again, everyone screws up. EVERYONE. ("Is our children learning?" Do you "work hard to put food on your family"? And do you spell it "Potato" or "Potatoe"?) This doesn't say anything about the intelligence of the young lady in question, so before people keep on laughing, they should put themselves in her shoes. Unless they've been there/done that, they have NO idea what it takes.

However, if you put yourself up in a public forum you better be able to take what comes at you when you DO screw up. It's called developing a "thick skin". If she can't develop that then she shouldn't be speaking in public in the first place. When you raise your head above the crowd, get ready for the tomatoes that will inevitably come your way.

She screwed up, she'll get made fun of, and hopefully she'll get over it. She shouldn't care about everyone else's opinion, only those opinions coming from people who matter. Everything else is just noise. Very, very loud noise.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

Article19 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:52:22

@RightOn

you really are a moron! what the hell gives you the right to publicly ridicule anyone? just because it's on TV you get to humiliate someone by saying they are an "embarrassment to the human race".

grow up.

"it doesn't make her immune to ridicule simply because there is a segment of our society that thinks the only solution is hugs and kind words."

So your making a stand for society, don't make me laugh, which you won't because you haven't the intellect.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

estarla — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:51:45

I vow to use "cuddle pass" 3 times in conversation today.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

LorriM — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:50:58

Dave: I laugh at myself, too, when I make silly mistakes.

No cuddle passes from me.

Teen South Carolina Embarrasses the Human Race!

RightOn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:47:52

Welcome to life... just because you make a stupid gaff doesn't mean you get a cuddle pass so no one can make fun of you.

Sorry, she knows just as well as the others the kind of pressure she will be under. She messed up and made a fool of herself. Yeah she can laugh it off and move on but it doesn't make her immune to ridicule simply because there is a segment of our society that thinks the only solution is hugs and kind words.