I'm with the "This Is Beyond The Pale" chorus.....
... My daughter REALLY looks up to you. ...
... however, as I am also a card-carrying member of the Devil's Advocate Club, I do wonder
how much this particlar bit enters into the equation. Protective mom's have been known to
do a lot more than ask intrusive questions...
cee, to join you in the devil's advocate's chair:
well and with the exception of the third question, which i found to be pretty rude, not to mention the tone kind of catty (in the grand tradition of protective moms asking rudely prying questions), i really don't see much wrong (other than the challenging tone of the phrasing) of the first two. i mean, when you approach a creative financing method, people are going to be interested, and they are going to ask questions like this. i don't think it is polite to assume or imply that 1) the bill is getting footed by someone, or that, if it is, this is in any way our business, or 2) that neil gaiman is too 'precious' to fly coach once in awhile; unless you know the details of all his flight information, this is kind of a weird assumption to make; i have seen a few celebrities fly under any sort of ticket they can find, frankly (a frequent flyer should realize this. it's not like every writer is rolling in stephen king's money, and even the mighty king-man has been seen on commercial coach flights). while the question might have seemed a legitimate one, it is asked in a pretty presumptive manner. perhaps even a jealous one? 'flitting about the planet'....sounds like mocking. perhaps the fear of flames comes from the tone? i mean, surely there is a better (and more respectful) way to say 'hey i was wondering, how do you foot what must be a massive transportation bill for touring and recreation on creative financing?' or something along those lines. yeah, a dollar amount is tacky to ask for.....but not taboo.
also, if someone on 'the view' said these same things (as they do daily about any number of people), how would one 'make an example' out of them? or would one, instead, be thrilled shitless for the publicity, understandably? i only ask as an example of perspective.
in the end, i can clearly see that we are a nation(s) that cannibalizes celebrity. from a social/fan standpoint, i can easily understand 'it's not your place to ask' but again, i present the reality of the situation...if someone posts about the intimate recesses of their body and functions that 'should only be asked about in an intimate friendship situation' then it follows logically that they are going to have uncomfortable and even rude questions. it's not, therefore, a question of whether anyone 'should' ask or whether they have the 'right' to ask, it is the fact that they
will. at length they will, and in front of anyone who will listen, and all the while they will point to the blog and the self-taken naked pics and protest that anyone who bares so much of themselves has no reason and indeed, no right to claim privacy. i'm not saying it is right--let me say that again--I AM NOT SAYING IT IS RIGHT...but it is no more wrong than a tabloid paying a quarter of a million dollars to get topless pics of some royal family member who thinks they are well hidden enough to get nekkid. is that wrong? probably, yes, of course it is--from many perspectives. but it exists. i don't think anyone would disagree with me when i point out there are far worse things that can be done to a public figure than embarrassing or snarky lines of questioning. and amanda manages to remove much of that already with her unique brand of self-honesty and self-exposure. i mean really think about it; we are arguing about the 'right' of someone to ask tacky questions instead of, say, about the guy who, i dunno, shot the president to impress amanda or something. that's actually kind of encouraging when you look at what could be, and what is...amanda's very accessibility i think defuses some potential weirdnesses before they even start, possibly.
and perhaps amanda's approach to celebrity will change things; i hope it does, i'm seeing signs of it (after all, how many threads like this does the sb get? for the most parts amanda's fans are respectful and loving, more so than most fan bases you see now or ever will see).....but i wouldn't waste the energy for the indignation it takes to get bejiggety on questions like this. it's not worth defending someone's honor when the honor is ambiguous in the first place; it's like doing 'ask amanda anything' and then complaining when some of the questions are inappropriate. hey----you did say 'ANYTHING'. you can't pick and choose what is appropriate or not when you open the floodgates on your own privacy. but then, i don't really see amanda doing that; i see a lot of others doing it for her.
again i am joining ceegee bee in devil's advocate-ing and not myself saying i approve of this line of questioning; if it were me, i wouldn't like it, but then i am a more private person, and in the same situation would act completely different about my privacy, so i can't answer for amanda based on what i would do, or approve of. i'm just saying to an extent it is inevitable, and even understandable, if not socially pleasant, or nice to see being asked of someone we care about.
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Topic: Questions for Amanda. Fully aware that I will get FLAMED for asking them. (Read 4238 times)