<p>Shirley Temple was three years old when her parents made the decision for her that she would be a working actress first and a child second. It’s hard to see that as anything other than exploitation. She was talented and by all accounts professional far beyond her years. But it was not her decision. Miami, you may see her negative feelings as a choice, but let’s not forget that she had much less choice than the average individual in establishing her identity.</p>
<p>That’s my problem with any of the so-called “reality” (actually artificial/scripted) shows that feature children. Even if the T&T kids insist on participating in these bizarre pageants, as their delusional moms say again and again, they aren’t making an adult decision to be portrayed on television in whatever way the producers wish. They aren’t selling themselves for 15 minutes on TV, or even, in the case of Alana, $400,000 - their parents are selling them, even if the kids wind up with most of the money. It’s exploitation, pure and simple.</p>
<p>I’d like to think that $400,000 will be used to get those four girls some kind of decent education.</p>
<p>“Miami, she didn’t have a choice! You’re an adult. Adults are supposed to protect children, not exploit them.”
So, can she change it now? What is a point of thinking about your life in a negative way? Yes, there is a huge reason sometime, if you can change it. People are not satisfied with their current situations, so they develop plans to improve, they turn negatvie into positive. What can one do about their experiences as a 3 y o? One person will feel very proud, another CHOOSE to feel pain for the rest of their lives. Which one I would choose as adult ? Definitely first. You would choose a second, which is fine with me. If one wants to feel miserable for the rest of their lives, their choice. My own D. (her team records are still holding since she was 8 when she was having cruel daily sport practices, yes, I exploited her by all above definitions) is very very proud of her much smaler accomplishements in her childhood. They are hers, nobody can take them away, that is how she CHOOSE to feel after having very rough days many times, very sore muscles, unable to move, and many other daily challenges, for which she still thank me over and over (as a 23 y o)</p>
<p>Miami, Shirley Temple’s earnings were supposed to be held in trust for her. That didn’t happen. All that hard work she put in, only to find out later that her money was gone. You don’t find that to be a shameful exploitation of a young child who did not have the capacity to understand the ramifications of the choices made on her behalf?</p>
<p>I have never watched Toddlers and Tiaras or Honey Boo Boo, but she and her family have popped up on mainstream tv (morning talk shows, night time shows, etc). They seem to be mocking her, and while yes, they are laughing all the way to the bank, I seem to recall hearing her say she doesnt like all the media attention, and actually fell asleep in the middle of an interview recently. What they should provide is a dietician and a therapist.</p>
<p>Does that mean, then, Miami, that exploitation only exists if the exploited individual recognizes it as such? Is there no such thing as the exploitation of children?</p>
<p>So, Miami, we should just allow children to be used as money making puppets and let them deal with the consequences when they grow up? Sorry, but I believe in protecting kids. </p>
<p>And honey has said she doesn’t like being on TV.</p>
<p>I posted a link to that interview upstream, and no, she did not fall asleep. She was pretending to have fallen asleep because she was so sick of doing interviews that she was grasping for a way to keep from answering more questions. It was quite sad.</p>
<p>And yes, that child is already on the road to obesity. :(</p>
<p>Kids are used as money making machines, allowing or not is not relevent, it is the fact. You can pass the law. But then what about all sports and other activities and pushing kids to have good grades? These are result in money saving for parents, you want to label these as exploitation? End result is NOT different. Let’s face it, I am a big exploiter, my D. has saved me about $150k - $200k by her hard work at school. I have to be in jail, I am very ashamed…somehow misteriously my D. is very thankful for all my expoitations…hmmmm, maybe I should resuade her that instead, she should sue me, that would be in line with posters above, correct?</p>
<p>I would hope that the earnings from this go to further Boo Boo’s education. Why do I have a feeling that won’t be the case? Hope I’m wrong.</p>
<p>I don’t feel that she is being exploited as much as I feel she is being raised with extremely skewed values. But then, I suppose that is a danger with all child stars. Success and this kind of attention early in life and then??? There is a fascinating video, Life after Annie, that addresses what it is like to go from having all kinds of attention back to having a <em>normal</em> life. For some of the kids, no problem. For others, it is a very difficult adjustment. </p>
<p>So many kids dream of being a <em>star</em>. Well, Honey is one now, isn’t she. It is a mixed bag, in any case. My girls have all had the theatre bug (one still does). I remind the youngest from time to time that fame comes with a price. Not that that is a problem for us so far, LOL. I try to pass along to her my belief that if you love doing something, you will love it no matter what. And the focus should be on doing what you love and enjoying it and getting better at it, and at the same time, staying true to yourself. Fame isn’t the goal. I wonder what words of wisdom Mama June imparts to Boo Boo?</p>
<p>OK, I am the only ciriminal here. Nobody else has saved on education thru Merit awards, no other kid has slaved his way to winning sport competitions or breaking records. Nope, not a single one. I am ashamed, I admit it.</p>
<p>Miami-you seem bent on starting an argument. And yes, many people on this site have kids who have participated in high level sports, and yes, some of those will play sports in college. And yes, if the only reason your child did sports was because she was pushed by you to get a scholarship, then I would call that exploitation. Anyone who participates in a sport with the idea that it will help pay for college is clueless, as only a very small percentage of athletes receive athletic scholarship money. If your child participates in a sport because he/she absolutely loves it, and that sports ends up resulting in financial help with college, then more power to you. People who encourage their kids to do well in school with an eye on college are not generally exploiting their kids in order to get help paying for college. Our kids were aware from an early age that we could afford to pay a certain amount for college, and that expensive private schools would not be an option unless they were able to attain scholarships. It was their choice whether or not to work hard in school, although they are aware that we value education. Not all of them chose to work as hard as others, but they have each been happy with the path chosen. If you are forcing your children to do anything purely for the financial reward, then yes, you are exploiting them. I am not.</p>
<p>^This only right for you in your own eyes, you would never accept that Honey might enjoy what she is doing (which is apparent to me just watching her) and she does not work as hard as many other 6 y o’s simply because she is a natural performer, yes, she is talented, yes, we are all simply jelous, but nobody would admit, which is fine as nobody will face the facts at their true values, And the fact is that the label belongs with the one who is labeling, not with the one who is being labeled. You can have your own opinion in this also, I do not have to agree as have been a criminal by my own admittance any way, so I have no credibility anyway, but it is entertaining, isn’t it?</p>
<p>And no, sorry, I’m not jealous. I’m not jealous of someone growing up in front of cameras, bordering on obese, and being the butt of many jokes. I’m not sure why anyone would be jealous of this young girl’s life.</p>
<p>Just watched Honey Boo Boo on Jimmy Kimmel. In every interview I’ve seen (three I think) , Honey Boo Boo’s behavior is bizarre. She comes in and out of focus, yells things, wiggles a lot. She does not seem to want to be there. And she probably has ADD is my guess.</p>