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Is the show assuming most viewers won't find the idea of a middle-aged person trying to look like a teen-ager pathetic?
Or, is it one of those shows where the viewer is expected to laugh at the benighted?
I was actually ON this show. Yes, I'm a former high school cheerleader and what you have to understand is that none of the women on the show were there because they were vain and seeking to look like a 16 year old. For the record, I personally NEVER felt like everyone wanted to "be me or date me," in high school or otherwise. Actually believing that WE, the people on the show, live the copy written by the producers makes me question your level of gullibility.
I also don't think of any of us as "poor women" or "sad and pathetic." We are all people who decided to take a chance and make a positive life change. That in itself took a level of confidence that most do not posses. We all made an effort and by the way, Jay and Lin didn't "bully" any of us, they were amazingly helpful and supportive.
I think the show more focuses on our tribulations in weight loss than any effort to try and look like a teenager. When we were asked to put on cheerleading uniforms for the first time, all of us were reluctant and not just because we felt out of shape. All of us were trying to recapture a time when we felt healthy, not necessarily to look like some ideal vision of "CHEERLEADER."
Also, I think it's wholly unrealistic to believe that it should be so easy for one to accept negative things happening to their body that aren't a result of the natural aging process. Sometimes people feel bad about themselves. It's a fact of life. I'm not supporting the fact that they do; I'm saying that it's probably not going to change any time soon and trying to act like it doesn't matter when it does is NEGATING the feelings of anyone struggling with something they don't like about themselves.
It's not about being fat, it's about regaining confidence. I don't think it's fair for you to judge me on what helps me feel confident.
Finally, I take issue with your statement that cheerleaders don't "share some inherent characteristics." They do. But, it's not keeping a level of exclusion, or weeding out the imperfect. I'm not going to say those don't exist in some enclaves of high school cheerleading, but they also exist in every ridiculous nightclub, or even MENSA, so why blame cheerleading for all that baggage? On the contrary, what almost all cheerleaders have in common is a sense of egalitarianism and teamwork. It's part of the job! You're cheering for your TEAM.
I spent a great deal of time with these 9 other women, sleeping in what amounted to a chicken coop and I expected to at least HATE a couple of them. But almost every one rose to the occasion and we supported each other to the fullest.
-Steph
These "critics" have no idea the fun we had, the friendships we made nor the pure laughter we get by the fact they fell into the trap of the title.......BRILLIANT!
Can't wait to see you!
Lisa
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