Children are watching and listening! How well did we do this year? Oy. Not so good.
Well, this list was inspired by one of the comments I recently got on an article I wrote ages ago on Selma Blair and her interest in dropping acid. The commenter, identified as Peter wrote: “I think that dropping some pounds can increase fat girls self esteem.” Well, thank you, Peter, perhaps you can join the running for this year’s “dumbest things people said in 2009.” But I have to warn you, you have some stiff competition.
(11) “He says he was hiding in the attic.” (Richard Heene) Remember Balloon Boy? Good times. The family claimed their son Falcon was taking a joy ride in a mylar balloon when really the boy was playing in the attic. The whole thing turned out to be a hoax. Children learn that it’s OK to make the authorities chase their tail…er…their balloons…for hours…if a potential reality show is on the line.
(10) “Doing God’s Work”. (Lloyd Blankfein). I had no idea God was so into banking– and hoarding up $20 billion dollars in bonus money for top executives! My goodness, religious schools are SO behind the times. Children should learn early that sometimes, a devil is working in God’s clothing.
(9) “Imma let you finish”. (Kanye West). How kind of Kanye West to take that very “heavy” microphone away from Miss Swift at the VMA Music Awards! A gentleman! And even kinder that he would pass back the microphone after ruining her speech for Best Female Video.As millions of kids looked on, Kanye Swiftly showed them how impulse control and manners are not necessary if you really want to say something.
(8) “He found her ankles were too fat.” (Christian Louboutin spokesperson). Yes, of course Barbie has cankles– something I recognized as a wee girl. Ugh. Statements like this teach our little girls that even “perfect” female forms in plastic can be considered too fat and need plastic surgery to fix what’s so very, very wrong.
(7) “Her choice to wear shorts is being highly criticized by some members of the media and the public.” (The Examiner). Not sure who said it or why, but some people may or may not have been outraged by Michelle Obama’s tryst with wearing *gasp* shorts. If they really weren’t outraged, then the public was taken for a ride, and if they really were– then everyone really just needs to get a grip. August is hot. The Grand Canyon is dusty. What do you want her to wear? A ball gown? Children learn that when you are in the public eye and news is slow, people should make snarky comments about women’s bodies and what they are wearing– even if nobody is really saying anything of significance at all.
(6) “This is a really good statement here. Marshall and I, we own a record company called… tell him” (Joe Jackson). Yes, 3 days after his son, King of Pop, Micheal Jackson died, Joe Jackson was making a statement…about his record company. Classy. Mr. Jackson teaches our children that grief is short but PR opportunities after a son’s death are priceless.
(5) “I mean, I put my kids out there to every pedophile on the planet, and they never got paid for it?” (Jon Gosselin). I know. Does this guy really need any more publicity? Nope. But here he is. He said lots of stupid things in the past, no doubt, but this one struck me as particularly poorly said. If he really thought he was “putting his kids out there” for “pedophiles” and all that was needed to justify it was getting “paid” what kind of father does that make him? Fans of the show learn that it’s OK to feel as though you are whoring out your children if you are indeed being paid well for it.
(4) “Nothing tastes as good as feeling skinny feels” (Kate Moss). Spoken like someone who’s never had a really dense chocolate torte or a great slice of pizza from Star Tavern in NJ. Whatever. I mean, what’s probably worse than this statement from the waify model is that some people actually believe that she is an actual “role model to millions of girls and young women.” (Even if way too many girls look up to her because of her extremely low body fat…a role model? God help us all.)
(3) “They should see it like a weekend of camping:” (Silvio Berlusconi). Lost in translation? I should hope so…but don’t think so. A very helpful and compassionate quip from the Italian Prime Minister in a poor attempt to comfort the 17,000 people made homeless by the April Earthquake? I should think not. Trauma reduced to reality drama only works on shows like the The Amazing Race…and yet, tells our children that thousands of homeless people is something to make light of if you’re in a leadership position.
(2) “Nobody wants to see curvy women.” (Karl Lagerfeld). Who wants to see women with curves when we can watch gals with impossibly long legs and waists the size of heads walking down the runway? Women love to feel ashamed of their bodies! And we also love to look at clothes that won’t fit anyone who isn’t a size 0. Yes, tons of fun. We wouldn’t want to disrupt the illusion and guilt that comes with fashion. What do our children learn? Exactly what the quote says.
(1) “Keep F—-n that chicken” (Ernie Anastos). Ahh, the news. Powerful Words indeed. Trustworthy and informative. And yet, when one anchor man banters back and forth with the weather man and quips something so out of left field and completely inappropriate as his coanchor looks on in horror, what to do? Parents can rest assured that the news not only provides the top stories of the day but also a vocabulary lesson from the Urban Dictionary. Oh, we are thrilled that our children can repeat that in school the next day…and bring their expanded vocabulary into the New Year.
Yes, I know there are more. Many more. Please add your “Dumbest Things People Said” here or on my fan page on Facebook. Would love to hear!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Good post! I’ll add ‘anything that comes out of Charlie Sheen’s mouth’ after reading his latest dismal diatribes…ugh. http://bit.ly/7dJnuq Talk about a ‘wheel of misfortune’ that needs some serious cycle-breaking. $825K/episode unfazed? argh, what we couldn’t DO with that cash to make a difference in the world, eh? sigh.
That’s a good list. Can’t think of any others for 2009. There are a bunch of Tiger Woods and Mark Sanford quotes but that’s like shooting fish in a barrel.
I’m assuming you saw this travesty…..
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/personal/01/04/dating.site.overweight/index.html