Get your lulz while there’s still time. Seriously. If you haven’t been mentally steamrolled by this and passed said steamrolling onto your friends, you best get while the gettin’s good.
Anyone want to argue with me that American society is on a nasty downslope? Anyone? Bueller?
Didn’t think so.
9 responses so far ↓
Rollie Pohlie // September 1, 2007 at 12:37 am
Uhhh… I don’t know how to respond…
beanie // September 1, 2007 at 3:30 am
She inserted “uh” speech queues which shows she was trying to think off the top of her head. That is the natural way of speaking, but does sound funny on TV which is scripted and edited. She also has a nice sounding speaking voice.
Her point was schools need more maps and children should be more globally aware. She seem to jumble some of her words, but actors stumble all the time at live events. No big deal.
Jeff Ventura // September 1, 2007 at 9:38 am
beanie: The question was that 1/5 of Americans can’t locate the US on a map. Why is this?
Wonder Genius here then goes on to say “such as,” “US Americans,” and “South Africa” and “the Iraq.” At no point during her answer did she even flirt with answering the question.
Please. I know you like to troll here, but come on brother: it’s getting a little transparent.
SteveP // September 1, 2007 at 11:48 am
SHE messed up under pressure. Something many people would do under the circumstances she faced. Certainly it counts against her in “competition”. Who knows what she is really like.
So I have much less respect for those in the media who are making essentially personal attacks on her when THEY are NOT under pressure and should be a bit more thoughtful - IMO!
I get the impression that she has responded well to the ridicule. If so, THAT says a LOT! She’s only 17 for Pete’s sake!
And NO, Jeff, I don’t really mean you. I’m thinking more of people like Bill Maher and the constant repetition on local and national media of something so inconsequential.
Jeez!
James Fryer // September 1, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I don’t feel all that bad for her. She made the mistake of trying to sound like and expert on all things by trying to tackle the question. She should have done the brave, profesional, and mature thing and simply admit that she could not really address the question.
She threw every keyword she could at it hoping that something would stick. That is intellectually dishonest, and yes Jeff, it is a sign of our floundering culture. We see it all the time now as pundits/talking heads seem to be popping up all over the place.
And now on to the beanie question. I am starting to think that beanie is really a secret alter-ego of Jeff’s. Why else would someone be so blatantly contrarian? Seems to me that Jeff and beanie are yin and yang, right and wrong, good and evil, Steve and Bill… you get the point.
If by some chance I am wrong and beanie is not some ghost in Jeff’s machine, well then beanie needs to go get his/her own blog, he/she has so much to share…
Bill // September 1, 2007 at 5:43 pm
The chick is cute, but she is a bimbo. On Today, she said she was “in shock” and ‘missed most of the words in the question’. It was a contest , and some contestants before her asked them to repeat the question, but she doesn’t have a clue. As a contestant, and knowing that she was to answer a question as part of the contest, she should have been very alert and ready. Unfortunately she was blessed with beauty, but not brains. If she likes pizza, beer and football, then she is the perfect woman.
SteveP // September 1, 2007 at 7:36 pm
James,
I don’t think you can call it “intellectually dishonest” if it was a statement made in a panic as opposed to one made with a clear head - but of equal caliber!
Even kids in simple spelling contests panic and make stupid mistakes. It’s not a reflection of their intellect but of their poise and ability under pressure. THAT is what she lacked.
(Well, she MIGHT have lacked intellect, too, I just don’t think that is what this reflects.
I still say we shouldn’t be dumping on and belittling KIDS who are trying.
Now if it was BUSH…! Go for it!
And what’s with this apparent mis-maligning of my altered ego!
Jeez!
ausurfer // September 1, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Hard to say anything actually. It was more than just a mistake — “US Americans”? the Iraq? South Africa? Reminds me of when I lived in your country, and the idiotic geographical/historical questions/statements people made….such as:
How do Australians celebrate Thanksgiving?
Does Australia celebrate Christmas in July (the person asking that assumed because it was hot during December we would switch to winter to celebrate???)
Yeah — she got confused…believe that if you will….
Bill // September 1, 2007 at 8:17 pm
No guys, cause’ on NBC’s Today show, she was a bimbo.