Christopher Bantick wrote a concerned piece about Bindi. The first two comments don’t agree with his–which was just posted.
People seem to feel that they know celebrities because they see them so often in the media. I blogged about my concerns over Bindi’s stage presence soon after the loss of her father and said that ultimately it is Terri Irwin’s call as to how she raises her child. What I find interesting is that everyone has an opinion and many thrash out at those with the one that disagrees, in this case a minority opinion when compared to the masses.
The professional scuttlebutt in many circles is that it is best to stay mute about such matters based on the backlash and unwillingness of the masses to hear anything that goes against the popular opinion. What a shame. I recently had a behaviorist ask me what I thought about Croc Hunter series and such matters–she breathed a sigh of relief to hear what I had to say and explained why she and others were staying mute.
What ever happened to free speech and the right to voice an opinion? Many companies or schools spend more time bending over backwards for the minority because they don’t want to be sued instead of on educating and managing kids.
Now if you have an unpopular opinion you get attacked instead of dialoging and exploring WHY the opinion is different–people don’t seem to want to consider any other options these days.
On the animal training and management front it is the same thing. Popular opinion versus professional opinion. The domestic animal realm suffers from it when people still use archaic techniques instead of opening up to newer ones.
Okay, enough of a rant today!
About Ark Lady
When it comes to children, it is the exclusive right of the parent to make decision regarding their upbringing. Other people’s opinions, (and as I’ve heard you say, everyone has one), do not matter nor should they.
Bindi is not being abused. She is not suffering, hungry, dirty, or lonely. Quite the opposite in fact, and she appears to be a happy, well-rounded and stable little girl.
Children are much more resilient than adults. An example would be if a playmate rejects a child. The rejected child skips off to go find someone else to play with and never gives it another thought. An adult in that situation, would brood for days.
Additionally, every person deals with grief differently.
You are entitled to share your opinion but don’t expect anyone to think you’re an expert on children or that your opinion should be valued in this particular case.
Thanks for chiming in Susan.
I think time will tell as to what actually happens with Bindi. Hopefully she won’t end up like a lot of child stars.
My concern comes from being in the media where youngsters (or those who can have a long career the company can invest in) are in the forefront.
In today’s media there is a pretty bizarre attitude toward death and loss.
Irwin’s death video or the court battle for the video of Dawn Brancheau are two videos I believe should not be released for media or public viewing.
When that child got on stage for a memorial and performed it disturbed me because nobody questioned it.
I could care less what people do or don’t do when it comes to their children–except when it infringes on my life.
However when you are in the public limelight it begs to question where the line should be drawn.
Now there are a lot of other parents who have their kids involved in pageants and doing casting calls for media work–and it would be interesting to see how those kids fare in the long run too.